Chapter 1 

Justin sat in the coach section of the airplane headed to Montana. Who holds a conference in Montana, in the winter! He hadn't wanted to take this trip but his boss said it would be good for him and the company.  He had graduated last spring and was working as a graphic designer in an up and coming advertising company.  He really did enjoy his job most of the time.  They let him experiment on a couple campaigns and they went over very well so he felt they listened to his ideas but the pay wasn't so good.  He kept reminding himself there was no place to go but up in the company.

He had been offered a few jobs.  Going into the interviews he was sure he wanted to work for Kinnetik.  They were the hottest agency out there and they focused on including everyone.  Their campaigns were always creative but when he went for the interview and met Mr. Brian Kinney he knew he would never be able to work for him. His assistant who actually did the interview was very nice but when the great Kinney appeared he was rude and did little more than grunt his way before he left.  He knew what people SAW in him but what did they see in him.  His looks couldn't have gotten him this far.

There was laughter coming again from First Class.  That same Brian Kinney sat up in that area.  He knew at least one of the attendants had added a notch on his mile high belt.  Just seeing how arrogant he was, Justin knew he had made the right decision in not accepting the job he was offered with Kinnetik even though the pay was better. 

Now Justin sat back and thought about Steven.  He and Steven had met over a year ago.  They had started out as friends but soon it had become a partnership.  After he graduated in the spring, they would decide together where they wanted to make a life together.  Just thinking of Steven stirred emotions.  He had never felt so comfortable around a person.  The problem was he wasn't sure if comfortable was what he wanted the rest of his life. Shouldn't there be more?  He loved Steven's reliability.  He truly was his best friend.  Well, he might be closer to Daphne but she was more like a sister.  They had grown up together.  Was it wrong for him to compare them?  He had been living with Steven for over a year although Steven was out of the country right now.  He was on a class trip to a remote island in the Atlantic Ocean and would have very little chance to connect to the outside world .  When he returned they were planning on making decisions for the rest of their lives. 

Brian watched the attendant walk past and being the only person in first class he reached out and stroked his backside as he walked past. "Mr. Kinney!" he looked at Brian and winked. "I hear it is snowing in Montana.  If you need a room to stay until the weather passes I am sure I have plenty of space in mine."

"I'll remember that.  Is the weather supposed to be bad?" 

The attendant bent over and touched Brian's shoulder, "It is supposed to be pretty nasty in the mountains but not where we are landing." He glanced back and lowered his mouth near Brian's ear, "Did you happen to see that gorgeous blond that walked on just before the doors closed?"

"I vaguely noticed him. I call him a twink with an attitude.  He obviously has something stuck.....maybe he just wants...." 

"Well he can't take his eyes off you but I don't think it's a compliment.  Are you sure he hasn't hit on you sometime?"

"No, but I have a feeling I saw him somewhere once but maybe it was just in a club."  

"He sure seems to have it in for you."

"Maybe he works for a rival agency or maybe I didn't hire him for a job. I have no idea but.."

The lead attendant started announcing the beginning of the descent.

"Remember, Brian, if you need a bed, and someone to warm it for you..." he squeezed Brian's shoulder and went to complete his tasks.  

Brian strode off the plane with a bag over his shoulder.  He had checked bags because he needed things for his presentation.  As he checked phone messages and waited for his luggage he noticed the blond from the plane.  He was getting a rental car.  Brian had to admit he was definitely hot.  He felt his dick twitch as he watched him fill out the paperwork for the car. That ass was choice. The luggage carousel started turning so Brian watched for his bags. By the time he had both bags, he turned to see that the blond had left.  He strode to the same rental car to pick up his vehicle for the trip.  He had a feeling he had seen him in connection with work so maybe he would have a chance to pick him up later at the conference.

The young gentleman had his car ready.  “I was told there could be bad weather up the mountain.”

“Last I heard it wasn’t moving in until around midnight so I programmed a short cut for you which should get you there by 10:00 pm at the latest.”

“Great!  Thanks.  That blond that was just here, do you know where he is going?” Brian slipped $20 across the counter.  The agent took the bill and said, “Well, it just happens that I programmed his vehicle just like I did yours.”

“I knew I had seen him before!  He must be in advertising.  Thanks for the information.  So how long of a ride is it?”

“It should be about three hours with the route I programmed in.  Just remember to take it easy.  You will be driving through winding mountain roads.  I’d hate for you to go over the edge someplace. You’re too pretty for that.”

“Do you have any more cars being picked up in the next…”

“No….” 

Brian walked to the door that led behind the desk and he was buzzed in. Twenty minutes later he came out, tucking in his shirt.  Grabbing his luggage, he located his car and drove away.

As Justin followed the GPS he was still brooding over Kinney.  He didn’t know why that arrogant shit got under his skin.  He was probably born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had never worked for a thing in his life and with looks like that, he has always had men and women dropping at his feet.  The GPS said to turn right in 800 feet.  This was obviously the start of the short cut. “Well, here goes nothing,.” he said out loud. As he moved further up the mountain, he had to turn on the windshield wipers.  There was a slushy mix coming down.  “Damn.” Justin said as he continued to follow the road.  A half hour later he began having trouble seeing the road.  He had driven through a lot of snow in his life but nothing like this. If it was light, he’d feel a lot better.  He wondered how much further it was.  The display kept shifting from thirty minutes to three hours.   

What the hell was he doing up here?  If he got stuck up here he was going to demand a raise. That kind of thinking wasn’t going to help anything. At least all of this snow would make for good snowboarding.  Maybe he would just spend his time on the slopes instead of sitting through the boring seminars.  He supposed Kinney was in charge of one of them.  He definitely would not be attending that one. Why did he keep thinking about that jackass?  “Shit.”  Justin saw a large drift across the road.  Justin knew he had no choice but to try to get through it.  His vehicle had four wheel drive so maybe he would make it.  He backed up just a bit and then he floored it.  It took him a couple tries but he made it through.  He pulled out his cell, no service of course. Well, now that he was through that drift the road looked better ahead.

“Fuck,” Brian said as he saw the first flakes of snow. The road was so dark and he was still on what he figured was the ‘main’ road. The car agent didn’t know shit but at least he gave a good blowjob.  He slowed down a little bit more.  Blondy couldn’t be too far ahead of him, could he?  He followed the directions when he was told to turn but he immediately regretted it.  After 100 feet or so he couldn’t see where the sides of the road were.  Why the hell was he in Montana anyway. Two years ago when he had planned to go to the conference it was on the big island of Hawaii.   Oh, he knew why it was here.  Cynthia, his assistant, looked into it.  The president of the American Association of Advertising had a brother who just happened to own the ski resort. He crept along and felt his car being drug first one way and then the other.  Once in a while he saw a glimpse of tracks.  They had to be the guy from the airport but he should only be about 30 minutes ahead of him which means his tracks are filling in fast.   Brian’s full attention was on the road.

Five miles ahead and a few hundred feet higher in elevation, Justin could not see where the road was anymore. The directions said he should be getting to the driveway to the place in half a mile.  “I have a feeling this isn’t where I’m supposed to be.  That little shit must have programmed the GPS wrong.  He stopped a minute trying to get his bearings.  He pulled out the brochure for the resort and looked at the address and then looked at the electronics on his dash.  “Christ, he put the address in wrong!”  He decided the only thing he could do was hope he found a cabin in the woods.  He had to laugh at that.  Stranded in a cabin on his own.  Steven would not be able to imagine that. For a moment, with Steven out of the states, who would miss him if he got lost up here.  His boss would figure it out when he didn’t show up at the office next week and Daphne would eventually.  So would his mom but, although they were close, they didn’t talk more than once a month or so.  She was out living her life and he was living his.  “Well,” he said to himself, “it’s time to find a place out of the weather….I hope.”

Down the road, Brian was stuck.  He opened the trunk of the car and was thankful to find a scoop.  He wasn’t sure where the hell he was but he was sure this was no shortcut and Mr. Blowjob would be looking for a new job soon.  Brian sighed under his breath as he got the car moving forward.  He wasn’t dressed to be out in a snow storm. And his shiny dress shoes had no traction.  He crept forward, needing enough speed to keep moving forward but not so much he would lose control.  He wasn’t scared yet but he definitely wished he was a praying man. Where the hell was he?

Justin was finally told to turn and even though he knew it wasn’t the spa he hoped there would be some place for him to get out of the storm.  He had only gone a few feet when his car refused to go any further but he was sure he saw a cabin.  He didn’t see any lights inside but he would figure out a way to get inside.  He grabbed his computer bag and his carry on, along with a flashlight that was in the glove compartment and struggled with them all the way to the cabin.  The front door was locked but, leaving his bags on by the front door, he walked around the back of the building.  As he walked he realized it was much bigger than he thought at first and as he got to the back, after finding the door locked, he carefully broke a small pane of glass and was thankful that the deadlock did not require a key on the inside.  He turned the lock and entered the house.  The next thing he did was look for a light switch. He found one but when he flipped it nothing happened.  “Shit!”  He was on a back porch that had a supply of wood and he was thankful that the door into the house wasn’t locked. He entered and was thankful for the flashlight.  

After walking through the house he brought his luggage in and then started looking around.  On top of the mantle he found an oil lamp and matches.  Once that was lit. Justin got a fire going.  There were several logs by the fireplace by the hearth and he was fairly sure he saw more wood in the back where he entered.  Well, he felt bad for breaking in but he would definitely have the window fixed for the owner and pay for their unexpected hospitality.  Looking around he saw the downstairs consisted of a kitchen and a living room, a bathroom and a bedroom.  He figured if he would check out the rest of the place in the light.  He brought some wood into the bedroom and started a second fire in a cast iron stove.  

Now he wondered if there was anything to eat in the place.  He had some airline peanuts and some kind of protein bar in his computer bag but that wasn’t going to last him long.  He was happy to find that the water  was turned on and although he didn’t look in the fridge he found a pantry full of canned goods.  He grabbed a can of chicken noodle soup and found a gas stove so he poured the soup into a pan and turned the flame on low as he went back and found some crackers to go with it.  From the supply of food in there, he wondered if getting snowed in here was common. He wasn’t going to dwell on that right now.  He found a mug and poured the soup in.  He took it into the living room and sat in front of the fire, taking his coat off now that the worst of the chill was gone.

Brian saw he was at the turnoff and managed to start what looked like a driveway..  He wasn’t sure where that would lead him but he had to find a place to stay because his car was not going to take too many more… Before he could finish his thought his car stopped and this time he was sure it wasn’t going any further on wheels. As he got out of the car he was sure he smelled wood burning.  He wondered how far that kind of smell carried?  He hoped it wasn’t too far because he was sure he wouldn’t last long out here.  He was a city person and if he had to be outside he prefered it to be on a beach.

Brian grabbed his small bag and a flashlight and started walking.  He knew there was nothing behind him so he moved forward. The wind was whipping the snow everywhere and soon he was freezing, especially his feet which were now soaked.  He trudged along for a few more yards and then he tripped over something.buried in the snow.  As he stood up his ankle nearly gave way. He shouted, “SHIT!”  He knew he had to keep going.  There was no longer frustration, but fear.  He was not ready to freeze to death.

He struggled onward, but soon could barely propel himself forward against the wind and the pain.  As he looked forward he saw his flashlight glint off of something. He had to make it that far.  He was sure that was a car.  If nothing else he hoped it wasn’t locked so he could get out of the weather.  It seemed like forever but he eventually made it to the car.  It was pulled off the road and was in what it looked like a driveway. The wood smell was definitely stronger here so he had to be close. He pulled at the car door and it opened so he fell into the car. He climbed in and sat for a few minutes.  He was out of the wind but he was so cold he couldn’t stop shivering.  After dozing off for a few minutes he knew he couldn’t just sit here. As he started getting out of the vehicle he accidently hit the car horn.  He thought, ‘why not’?  He pressed on the horn several times and then got back out and started up the drive.

“What the hell?” Justin had drifted off after his dinner.  He looked out the window and of course couldn’t see anything but he felt like he had to go out and look around.  He had noticed some winter gear in the kitchen so he pulled on a pair of boots that were a bit big but they would work.  He also found a coat that was obviously warmer than his.  By the time he walked out the door the only bare skin showing was around his eyes. 

Brian couldn’t go any further. His ankle was throbbing and he was just so cold.  He just couldn’t move his feet one more step. He dropped to his knees in the snow and closed his eyes.

Justin started down the drive with his flashlight.  It looked like it had snowed another 4 or more inches. He had to move carefully because the boots were a little loose and he didn’t want to lose one.  He realized it wasn’t safe for him to go too far. He kept turning to make sure he could see the glow in the cabin window.  He went as far as he dared.  He could just make out the cabin but if he went any further he thought he’d lose it.  As he stood there he used his flashlight to shine out as far as it would go.  “Hello? Is someone there?”

‘Was he hallucinating?’ Brian questioned himself.

“Is someone there?”  Justin called again.

“Help!” Brian shouted.  “I’m over here, near the car.”

Justin had to risk it.  He couldn’t let a human being out there.  He just prayed he could see his tracks until the cabin came back in view.  A couple more steps and he thought he saw something. “Are you there? Can you wave at me?” Brian sat up and now Justin was sure he saw the man.  As he moved closer he spoke, “Are you hurt?”

“I twisted my ankle. I’m so cold. I….”

Justin picked up the bag Brian had been carrying and threw it over his shoulder. He then reached down and helped the man to his feet.  “Lean on me.  The cabin isn’t far.” Silently they moved through the storm.  Justin was thrilled when he could see the light in the window. “See, you can see the cabin now.” 

They stumbled into the living room and Justin immediately helped the man take off his coat and to get him to sit down in a chair right by the fireplace. That’s when Justin recognized him. Could this night get any worse?  Without saying anything he took off Kinney’s shoes and socks.  He grabbed a quilt off the sofa and draped it over him.  

“Thank you. I don’t know how much longer I would have made it.”  

Justin didn’t talk but he walked into the kitchen and started heating some water.  He knew he had to warm him up and no matter how much he disliked the man he would help him if he could.  He brought back a cup of tea and handed it to Brian. “What is this?” Brian asked through chattering teeth.

“Tea,” was all Justin said. He went back to the kitchen and made another can of soup with some crackers and about the time that was ready Brian was just finishing his tea.  Justin took the empty mug and handed him the new mug, “Soup,” he stated and walked away.  Brian immediately started eating it.  

“Thank you for finding me and letting me in your home,” Brian said.  Justin just nodded and walked away.

When Justin reentered the kitchen he took off all the winter gear he had on and hung them back up.  Before taking off the boots he went back to the porch and grabbed another load of wood and brought most of it to the bedroom before finally entering the living room and setting the last couple logs down by the fireplace.

“You!” Brian said surprised to see the young blond. “I thought you were the owner.”

“No, my GPS was wrong. I broke in.”

“Same car rental.”  Brian’s body started to shiver so hard he dropped the empty mug.  He bent and tried to rub his feet. They were so cold.  Justin knelt in front of him and wrapped the blanket tightly around them.  “Name,  what’s your name?”

“Justin, Mr. Kinney.”

Brian looked him right in the eye, “You know me?”

“We’ve met.  I think the bedroom will be warmer than in here by now. Can you walk?”Justin looked at his bruised ankle.  “The cold may have helped it from swelling.”

“I will need your help, I think. And it’s Brian.”  Justin extended his hand and Brian gratefully took it.  It took some time but they managed to get there.  The room was very cozy now and Brian tried to unbutton his shirt but his fingers were still shaking.  Justin unbuttoned his shirt for him.

“It’s wet.”

“Really?” Brian said cynically. Justin dropped his hands. Brian looked up, “Sorry,” he said apologetically. “I am just so cold nothing works.”  Justin pulled off Brian’s shirt and then helped him balance as he dropped his pants.  Now all he wore was a pair of briefs. 

Justin had pulled the blankets back while he stood to remove his pants and said, “Lay down.”  Brian followed his direction.  “I found this,” he showed him a wrap he had found and he put it around Brian’s ankle carefully. Then Justin made sure the blankets were tucked in.  “I’ll be back.” Justin said softly.  He checked in the hall closet and found a couple more blankets.  He figured he would sleep in front of the fire in the living room.  He figured the sofa would work.  He brought one more blanket into the bedroom and laid it over Brian.  He could see how much he was still shaking. He had curled up in a ball but Justin didn’t like the way he looked.  He was sure Brian had hypothermia.  He couldn’t leave him like this.  He would be scared to leave him alone. Justin stripped off his jeans and shirt and started getting into the bed on the other side. Brian looked at him, “Don’t flatter yourself, Kinney, but  I think you need as much heat as possible right now.”  It hadn’t slipped his attention that Brian Kinney had an amazing body, too bad he was such a pompous ass.  Oh well, that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the feel of him while he helped warm him.  Justin spooned up behind him and wrapped his arm around Brian’s mid section, pulling the blanket tight.  Brian was sure if he wasn’t so cold he could be behind Justin.

Throughout the night Justin got up every couple hours to make sure the stove had plenty of wood.  He also looked out the window each time and saw the snow continued to build up. About 4:00 a.m. Justin heard a voice, “Hey, you awake? I need to piss but my ankle won’t hold me.”

“Justin.  I’m guessing you forgot my name.” Justin said as he slipped out of the warm bed and walked around to help Brian. “I’m guessing you don’t care much about names.”

“Fuck, give me a break! I nearly froze to death.  I could have broken my ankle and…”

“Ya, I remember.  I’m the one who went back out into the storm to help you.”

Brian hurt too bad to challenge him but he WAS going to find out what his problem was with him later. Justin left him standing there so he could empty his bladder and then helped him back to the bed. Once Brian  was seated, Justin added another log to the fire and got back in bed.  Soon both men were asleep again.

The next time Justin woke the sky outside was getting light. It cast a glow over Brian’s face. He was beautiful.  He noticed Brian’s cheeks were maybe a little too red.  He may have gotten a little frost bite on his cheeks and maybe his nose. He almost reached out and touched him but he decided he wanted a little piece and quiet before HE woke up.  He needed to check out the food situation and later he needed to check out the wood supply and just see if there was anything nearby that would be useful.  He started the fire in the living room.  He had found a heavy robe and slipped into it along with a pair of slippers.  It creeped him out a bit, not knowing whose clothes he was wearing or whose bed he was sleeping in but right now he was just grateful. 

He found another oil lamp in the kitchen and lit it. The fridge and freezer were totally empty which he had expected. Next he went into the pantry and he started to look at what was there and estimate how many meals worth of food there was.  From the amount of snow, he expected they were going to be here for a while.  He rearranged the food a bit.  He found a big supply of oatmeal along with most of the baking staples.  He was excited when he found powdered milk and eggs.  That would help him make a lot of things along with the flour and sugar he saw.  There was a lot of pasta and sauce.  He saw shelves and shelves of canned vegetables and soups.  The one thing they didn’t have much of was meat.  He found some canned tuna and chicken  but he saw a lot of vegetables in his future.  He brought the  lamp back into the kitchen and was glad to see a cookbook near the stove.  He may have to try his hand at bread.  He and Steven had taken a couple’s cooking class in making bread.  There had been yeast by the flour and sugar so he could make bread or try to make bread.

“Where have you been? I called for you?

“Did you call for ‘Hey you’ again?”

“What is your problem with me?” Brian managed to get to the table and sat by the table but regretted it as soon as he sat down.  “Fuck, it is cold in here.”

“There’s a fire going in the other room.”

“You didn’t answer me.  You don’t even know me so why do you dislike me?”

“It doesn’t surprise me that you don’t remember me although your firm did offer me a job. Oh, and Cynthia is a great lady.”

“Cynthia has been with me a long time.  I don’t know what I would do without her.  If we offered you a job why do you hate me? And why didn’t you take the job?  I know I pay better than anyone else in the city.” Brian wandered into the living room so he could warm up by the fire.  He had pulled his clothes on from yesterday but he didn’t have any other clothes in the house.

Justin followed him disgusted by his comment, “Well, Mr. Kinney, not everyone thinks money is the most important thing in the world. And you probably have never worried about money in your life.”

“Don’t talk about things you know nothing about!” Brian spat the words out and Justin realized he had hit a nerve.  “Do you know how to cook?”

“I can make a salad, grill a steak, boil pasta…”

“Well the only thing of those foods we have is pasta so I am guessing I am going to be in charge of food.  Since I don’t know how long we will be stuck here, I am going to make a few loaves of bread.   If you're not a picky eater we should have plenty of food but I hope you don’t need meat to be happy.  There is a little canned meat, like tuna, but there isn’t much.” Justin looked over at him. “How’s your ankle this morning?”

“It isn’t perfect but it is much better than last night. Thank you.”

“It should probably be rewrapped.”

“I think it is OK for now.  It is feeling better than I expected.”

“We need to talk about meals.  From the amount of snow we had, unless we can get through to civilization we could be here at least a couple weeks, maybe a month.”  I am thinking if we eat a couple meals a day, that will stretch out the supply and we aren’t going to be working hard so two meals should be enough. Agreed?”

“I hope you are wrong about how long we’ll be here but better safe than sorry.  What do we have for breakfast?”

“Hope you like oatmeal because it is going to be our main breakfast food.  Hopefully we can have protein once a day. We have powdered eggs we will have every couple days.  The other days we will have some protein for dinner.”

“I’m hoping you know how to cook better than me.”

“It won’t be fancy but it will be edible.”

“I was raised with very little.  I ate a lot of bologna sandwiches and pb &j I will eat about anything.”

“Well, I’ll go make oatmeal. Rest your ankle.  I might need help later. Oh, and you might want to look around the house and see if you can find more clothes.”

“Are you always so bossy?”

“I’m not bossy, I just make a plan.  You can’t just wing it.  Steven taught me that.”

“Who the hell is Steven?”

“He’s my partner.  We’ve been together over a year.”

“Oh, are you going to be happy homos living in the suburbs?”

“We probably will even get married and have a couple kids once we can marry.”

“Why do you want to tie yourself down? With someone that looks like you, you can’t have trouble finding someone.”

“But I have found someone and he loves me for who I am , not just someone to screw.” And with that he walked into the kitchen to make breakfast. He had never met someone that infuriated him as much as that man did. 

Fifteen minutes later, Justin came back into the living room with two bowls.  They didn’t have butter or milk but he had cooked in a little of the powdered milk and then for flavor he added some coconut oil and topped it with some dehydrated berries and a dash of cinnamon. Brian opened his mouth to say something but Justin cut him off. “Can’t we just eat in silence.  I know you like the sound of your voice but I really don’t.”  And with that chit chat stopped.  The remainder of the day, they only spoke when necessary.  Justin bundled up early in the afternoon.

“It isn’t snowing right now and the wind is fairly calm.  I am going to see if I can find anything outside and bring in more wood. If I don’t come back….never mind.” Justin went out into the frigid cold.  

Brian looked at his watch.  If blondie wasn’t back in thirty minutes he would go out looking for him but in the meantime, shit, what was there to do?  And with that he fell asleep.

Justin wasn’t sure he had ever felt air this cold.  He knew he couldn’t stay out long but he wanted to find the propane gas tank to see how much was left.  That was how the stove worked although they could use the fireplaces. Justin was sure he heard skittering in the woods. He hoped it was rabbits and squirrels and not wolves and bears.  As he turned the corner of the house he froze in his tracks and whispered, “Holy shit…”

Chapter 2 

Justin was shocked and thrilled at what he saw or what he hoped he saw.  He saw a large tank which he was sure was the propane that ran the stove but what he also saw was a box and after he trudged through the snow and opened the box he saw he was right.  It was a generator.  That could mean electricity but he had to check how much fuel there was.  After fighting with the tank to see the fuel level he realized how cold he was getting and how much stronger the wind was blowing.  When he looked up he realized he could barely see a foot in front of him.  Keeping one hand on the side of the house, he struggled to the corner of the house and then moved toward the door.  He remembered to check out the wood supply and then he picked up a load and struggled to open the door, fighting the wind.  He knocked loudly several times but Brian didn’t come to help him.  Struggling he got the first load of wood in and decided he should get a couple more loads, hoping that would last them the next 24 hours. He put it on the back porch but the last load he carried into the house.  

By now Justin was fuming.  He walked into the living room to find Brian sound asleep cozy and warm next to the fireplace.  He dropped the logs onto the floor watching sleeping beauty nearly fly out of the chair.  He turned away so Brian wouldn’t see his smile.  “Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Kinney, did I wake you?”

“What the hell?” Brian shook his head to fully wake up. “What time is it?

“I don’t know but it is obviou you didn’t care if I froze to death. Obviously you have no idea what is going on outside.”

Brian got up and stretched and then  walked to the window. “Oh shit, I can’t see anything out there.”

“But I obviously have magic powers that let me see in blizzards!” Justin pivoted and walked back into the kitchen.  He really was cold but he was excited to know there was a generator and now he just had to find the inside switch for the generator. There wasn’t much fuel but a half hour of electricity to charge computers and phones shouldn’t use too much and if he used the stove twice a day, they should be good and hopefully they could get through to someone on a phone once they were charged.  That was what he hoped for.  The less time with that man the better. Justin turned around and crashed right into the long, lean body of Brian Kinney. “Why are you sneaking up on me?”

“I want to apologize for falling asleep. I really didn’t mean to but the fire was so warm and there is nothing to do.” Brian looked at the young man in front of him and reflexively reached out and brushed his damp hair back and laid his hand on his cheek. 

Justin’s first reaction was to tilt his head toward the warmth of his fingers but then he jumped back. “Next time we are low on wood you’re in charge.” He walked to the other side of the kitchen to get out of his reach.  “I found something outside.  There is a generator but not a lot of fuel.  Maybe we can use it half hour a day to recharge our phones and computers.  I know I have some work I could do on it while I’m stuck here.”

“So how do you know so much about generators and fuel?”

“My grandparents have a mountain cabin that relies on a generator. My boyfriend and I have used it several times to get away.”

“So, is your boyfriend missing you by now?”

“No, my boyfriend is out of town for a couple months for school.  My boss will wonder and so will my best friend and my mom. How about you, Mr. Kinney? From what I hear you don’t have a bed partner that will notice but is there someone else who will.”

“Fuck!  Brian, call me Brian. I have about 100 employees that will notice in a couple weeks because I took some time off but Cynthia and Ted will start wondering by the end of today.”

“Is Ted a secret boyfriend?”

“Ted is a good friend and my COO. He always runs certain expenses past me.”  Brian looked around the kitchen.  “Do we have coffee around here? I would kill for a coffee.”

“We have a little.  We have lots of tea.” Brian went to the stove to turn on a burner. “No!”  Justin knew he was just being a bitch now. “Sorry, I get bitchy when I’m stressed.  Can I suggest that we use the fireplace if all we are going to do is heat water?  I noticed it has a spot to sit a pot like this.  Any time we can save on the gas the better.”

“Ya, that makes sense.  Justin, I am sorry I fell asleep.  This just so isn’t my scene and I have no clothes and….”

“Did you check in the bedroom or upstairs? I have been meaning to go up there and see if there is anything we can use.  Maybe there would be a mattress we can bring down so we don’t have to share the bed.”

“I really don’t mind.” Brian said, a little too quickly.

“Kinney, I do not sleep around.  I wouldn’t do that to Steven.”

Brian had set a pot of water by the fireplace, “Justin, I …...I just meant there is no reason to burn both fireplaces all night.”

Justin couldn’t argue with that. “Ok, well, let's go upstairs while that is heating.  Then we can have some tea and decide what to have for dinner.  Oh, is your ankle up to the steps?”

“Yes, it still aches but it is feeling a lot better.”  

Together they walked up the steps, feeling the air temperature drop drastically as they did so. The upstairs consisted of an open area at the top with two bedrooms, one on either side.  One of the rooms was a typical guest room.  There was a chest of drawers that held very little and the closet only held some extra blankets.

“I don’t think we need these right now but if we need more we know where to find them.”

“Hey, these might be a score.” Brian found a pair of snow boots and a pair of ratty fur lined slippers.  He slipped them on his stockinged feet and signed.  “These are much to look at but my feet are very happy.”

“Well, now hopefully we can find you at least one set of clothes.” Justin walked out and crossed the hall to the other room.  This room was very different.  This was someone’s bedroom.  It reminded him of a boy’s room, highschool or college age.  Justin pulled open a drawer and pulled out a sweatshirt. He turns around and tosses it to Brain.  “This looks like it will be a good fit for you. 

Brian pulled it on, “Ya this is great.” 

Justin pulled out three more and warm shirts from the drawer and threw them at Brian, who caught them.  Justin opened the next drawer and found some sweatpants and jeans.”The sweatpants for sure will work, even if they are a bit short.  Justin then opened the top two drawers and found exactly what he expected: underwear and socks.

“Well, it looks like I can at least get out of these dress pants.”

“Why were you wearing pants like that?  People don’t dress up to fly anymore.”

“I’m working on possibly opening another office in Chicago so I flew there early yesterday morning and then caught the flight here. I had hoped to change but ran out of time.”

Justin took a step and stumbled on the rug and socks and briefs flew into the air as Justin lurched.  Brian  caught him just before Justin’s knees hit the floor.  Justin found himself in the arms of Brian Kinney and it scared him a bit that he liked it.  “Thanks,” he said as he began picking up the clothes they both had dropped.  “I’m sure our water is hot and I am cold.”

As they got downstairs Justin handed Brian all the clothes, “I’ll go get mugs and tea bags while you put these away.”

Ten minutes later Brian came back in a pair of jeans that looked like they were made for him, five pounds ago. Justin couldn’t help but look at his ass. They fit him perfectly.  He wore them with a deep red sweater.  God, that man oozed sex. “I got some tea for you.” He handed him the cup.

“Do you take care of Steve this well?”

“Steven and I take care of each other.  After a year we each have our own chores.  We are very comfortable with each other.”

“Comfortable isn’t what I would call a good relationship. What about lust? What about passion?”

“Did I say we didn’t have that?” Justin bristled. “I just don’t flaunt my love life!”

“Alright, alright,” he held his hands up.  “Don’t know if I have ever met someone so touchy.”

“I can’t be the first person that you bring out the best in.”

Brian sat back in the wooden rocker and brooded. As they drank their tea the sun moved lower in the sky.  “So, what are our dinner options?” 

“I can make beans and rice.  I started soaking beans earlier.  I will make some vegetables too.”

“Sure, sounds fine. Is there anything I can do?”

“You could just look at what’s in the pantry and see if you have any meal ideas.  After dinner I will start the  generator so we can charge our phones and computers.  At least I hope the generator starts.  Otherwise we may have to wait until tomorrow.  I can’t do anything out there anymore tonight.”

As Justin made dinner, Brian pulled his computer out.  He had tried to connect with his phone several times but he had no luck.  He hoped he would be able to get through once his computer had some power.

Brian was adding another log to the fire when Justin came in with two bowls of food.  They were both hungry but neither of them had complained.  They both knew they weren’t going to starve missing a meal a day.  Brian carefully took a bite of the hot food, “This is good, thanks.”  Justin looked surprised at the gratitude. “I don’t know exactly what you think you know about me but I’m not an ogre.  I was taught manners, actually more like had them beat into me. You obviously were raised with some money.  Well, your grandparents had money.”

“I wouldn’t call them rich but they were upper middle class. My grandfather worked hard all his life and he did well.”

“I am picturing country clubs and private schools.”

“You’d be right.  What was your childhood like? It sounds like your parents were strict.”

“More accurately they were drunks. My dad worked for the union and he did his job but at night he drank and gambled.  Then he would come home after losing and my mom would….anyway.  It wasn’t a fairytale.”

Justin could tell he had said more than he expected to.  “If you’re done, I’ll take your bowl and try the generator.”

Brian’s hand touched Justin’s, “I can see you have many attributes that I am sure your boyfriend appreciates.” His eyes skimmed over the younger man’s body.

Justin moved away quickly, “Just when I think maybe you really do have some good traits.”  He walked into the kitchen and put the dishes in the sink. He walked over to the door that gave access to the generator connection and threw the switch.  He heard it sputter but didn’t do anything else. He tried again and still nothing. That’s when he realized his mistake.  He didn’t know if the battery was in it.  He remembered his grandfather always had him take it out before leaving.  He hoped he could find it tomorrow. He knew there was no use looking for it in the dark.  Even if he found it he couldn’t do anything about it tonight. He felt like a 12 year old that had tried their best and still failed.  He dropped back on his ass and just sat in the frigid little area with his head in his hands.

“Hey, do we have power….. What’s wrong?” Brian asked as he came around the corner.  “God, it’s freezing in here. Come on,” he offered his hand to Justin. 

Justin took it and was pulled up, “Thanks.  I’m really sorry. I screwed up.  I….” Brian pulled him into his arms for a brief moment and then guided him out of the cold closet.  After sitting him in front of the fireplace he said gently, “What’s wrong with it?”

“I think it just needs the battery but I didn’t think about that and now I can’t get the power going so we can’t make contact and….”

“Justin, it’s not a big deal.  We are safe and warm and we can check tomorrow if the battery is around.”

“I just...god, I hate being out here.  It’s like I’m claustrophobic even though we are in a comfortable house.  No one knows where we are and….” Brian held him close as he had a mini breakdown.  It only lasted a couple  minutes and then Justin stood up and walked to the fireplace, moving the pot of water back near the fire for the water to heat. I saw a couple boxes stuck next to the generator.  I am going to check it out while the water gets hot and then I will grab mugs and tea bags.”  He needed to separate himself from him. He knew it might be an act but when he was being sweet, he truly was and although he hadn’t showered for a couple days, he still smelled amazing.  He smelled like a man should smell. 

Justin lit the oil lamp and  went back to the generator closet. He opened one of the boxes and brought the lamp near it.  It had a dozen bottles in it.  It looked like maple syrup first but then he pulled it out and it was Canadian whiskey.  He had no idea how good or bad it was but from the look of the bottle and just the fact that there were at least three cases of it, it must be something special.  He picked up two bottles and then picked up the lamp and walked back into the kitchen.  After setting the lamp down he walked back and shut the door before grabbing a couple on the rocks glasses and  he walked into the living room. “Sorry, but I think the tea is going to have to wait.” He set everything on the end table and then opened one of the bottles and put two fingers of the amber liquid in each glass.

“Have I ever told you I love you?” Brian started laughing. “How much of this do we have?”

His back had bristled at the love comment but  then he realized he really was just joking.  He really was more tense about the situation than he had realized. He still thought Kinney was an ass but he had some redeeming qualities. As Brian poured the fourth drink for each of them,  Justin picked up the glass and leaned back on the sofa. “So Mr. Kinney,” Justin’s speech was slurred, “so what did your dad do when he got home.”

“He beat the shit out of me but of course my mom already had.  I Left as soon as I graduated from highschool and after that I saw them a couple times a year.  How about you and your parents? You close? Do they like Steve?”

“Steven.  My dad’s an ass.  They’ve been divorced for almost five years.  He couldn’t deal with me being gay and my mom is amazing.  And yes, my mom loves Steven.”

Brian stood, “I gotta take a piss,” and walked just a bit unsteady to the bathroom and when he returned he picked up his glass and then dropped down on the sofa next to Justin.  “You know you are adorable?” Brian ran his finger down Justin’s jawline.  “Don’t hit me but I’m going to kiss you now.” Brian put a hand behind Justin’s head and  gently pulled him toward himself. He gave him plenty of time to stop it but Jusitn didn’t. He met him halfway and when their lips met, Brian pulled him against him.  Their tongues explored every nook of each other's mouths.  

And then Brian’s hand rested on Justin’s upper thigh as Justin’s hand pulled Brian’s head closer to deepen the kiss. Before it went any further Brian pulled away and stood. He got up and  poured the rest of the whiskey into their glasses and went to stand next to the hearth.  He looked at the flame as he sipped the amber liquid. “So tell me about Steven. Are you in love with him?”

“Of course I love him.  Would I live with someone I didn’t love?”

“Justin, I hate to tell you but people do it everyday and you know what else?”  Brian walked back to where Justin sat, “and there are also a lot of people out there that truly love each other but they will still meet their needs when they aren’t together.   Justin, it is obvious you have a need.” He slid his hand across the bulging crotch as Justin groaned.  I think you and I are grown ups and we should be able to do as much or as little as we like but,” he began to rub the palm of his hand over the fly and Justin drank the rest of the whiskey and then stood, giving Brian better access.

Justin looked into his eyes, “I make the call?”  

“I will not do anything you don’t want to do.”

Taking his hand, Justin blew out an oil lamp before leading him to the bedroom.  When he got to the bathroom, Justin stopped.  “Go throw another log in the stove. I’ll be there in a couple minutes.”

Brian’s mouth came to his as his hand reached around and cupped his ass pulling him against his own erection, “Don’t be too long.”

Justin stepped into the bathroom and shut the door.  Brian went back and grabbed the second bottle of whiskey and got to the bedroom.  He threw another log in the stove and stripped off all his clothes. Just before climbing into the bed he grabbed some condoms and lube that he had in the bag he had carried with him to the house..

Justin looked in the mirror and tried not to really think about what he just decided to do.  He was scared.  He didn’t know what was going to happen tomorrow.  Hell, he wasn’t sure what would happen in 15 minutes but he needed someone tonight, even if it is Brian Kinney.

Quickly he removed his clothes.  He really wished he could shower but he could barely stand and he didn’t want to be alone even that long.  He put on the robe that was on the back of the door and walked down the hall, with one hand on the wall to keep him steady.  He wasn’t sure why but he knocked on the door before he opened it. He leaned against the door frame to get his bearings. He then took a deep breath and pulled the door closed behind him.

Brian pulled the blankets back on the other half of the bed and Justin walked to that side of the bed.  He turned his back to the bed and slowly took off the robe.  Brian felt like time went into slow motion as the firelight first glowed on his shoulders, then down his back, and then the perfect globes of his ass.  Brian felt his cock react at the thought of being pressed between them.

Justin wasn’t sure why he felt so nervous.  Maybe it was because he had never been with a legend before. He slipped into the bed trying to pull the blankets up as he did so but Brian held onto them. He moved toward Justin and then placed his hand on the blonde’s hip farthest away from him, he brought his mouth down first on his lips, then his jawline, his neck, and then his mouth came down on his nipple.  Justin wasn’t sure what Brian was going to him but he had never felt anything like it before.  He could feel teeth and his tongue and his own cock came to full attention.  Brian continued for several minutes and then he began to go back and forth between the nipples until Justin began to squirm.

Brian took that as his cue to move further down Justin’s body.  The hand on the hip moved over and began to gently stroke Justin’s cock as Justin began to arch in need.  Brian moved his mouth toward the erect penis.  It was impressive. He glanced up at Justin’s face and Justin pushed Brian’s head downward and that was all the permission he needed.  His mouth came down around him and he tasted precum right away and then Justin started thrusting upward.  Brian took the opportunity to slide his hand under his ass and his finger began to search for the place to enter.  As his tongue circled the head his finger moved into the space he had sought. Justin could no longer hold back  Waves of pleasure shattered his control and  as Brian finished swallowing, Brian rolled off and reached for the bottle he had brought with him. He opened the bottle and took a swig.  He waited for Justin to sit up a bit and handed the bottle over to him.

Justin took a big swallow from the bottle and passed it back to Brian tipped it back once more and set it to the side.  Brian looked over at Justin without a word.  He bit his lower lip and was about to say something when Jusitn moved toward him and brought his mouth down on Brian’s. He ran his tongue along his jawline and then down the column of his neck and along his collar bone.  He began to drag his teeth over it causing Brian to utter a sigh, “You are so hot!” 

Justin made his way down the gently sculpted torso.  The muscles were not large but they were defined. His body was perfect.  As his mouth moved down Brian offered Justin a condom.  He looked directly into Justin’s eyes and Justin took it from him. First he ran his hand along the underside of Brian’s hard on sending a definite shiver through him.  And then he opened the package and in one smooth motion rolled it down to the base of the cock.  Brian moved between Jusitn’s leg. The air in the room had warmed enough that the chill just added to the pleasure.  Brian put Justin’s legs over his shoulders and bent all the way down to kiss him as he moved inwardly.  Justin relaxed and after the initial pain he closed his eyes and accepted each stroke. God, this man….he had never….Steven  had never.. Brian’s mouth crushed his as he came again as Brian thrust once more and then froze as he trembled through his climax.

Brian rolled to the side and, after removing the condom, rested his head on his hand as he looked over at Justin, whose eyes were closed. “Am I so horrible to look at that you had to close your eyes?”

“You know that isn’t true,” Justin opened his eyes and extended his arm over Brian, reaching for the bottle on the nightstand and Brian grabbed it handing it to him, after taking a big swallow first.  Justin drank from it liberally and then set it next to him. He reached out and ran his finger tips along Brian’s sticky cock and changed his position.“Let’s see how fast you can get this thing up with a little assistance.” Justin took the falice in his mouth and let his tongue get busy. Brian began to respond immediately and when Justin felt he was ready he got on all fours but then laid his chest down giving Brian full access and within seconds Brian had put on another condom and plunged in. Justin cried out but then met Brian thrust for thrust and when they were both nearing the end, Brian pulled Justin up so his back was pressed tightly against Brian’s chest and with the angle change, Justin felt pressure added to his prostate and he couldn’t hold on any longer.  As he orgasmed he clamped around Brian causing him to cum harder than he expected. They both collapsed onto the mattress and they both faced away from each other, falling into an exhausted sleep.

It was about 3:00 a.m. when Justin woke up. He stretched.  His body reacted to the little kinks he felt from that amazing sex.  What had he done? He thought Steven might understand that he was scared and drunk but he couldn’t do it again.  He had made a commitment to him.  He planned to be with him, have children with him… He loved him but, he looked over at Brian, after he had sex like that could he really be satisfied with just good sex after that?

Justin slipped his slippers on and grabbed the robe. Before leaving the room, he added a log to the stove and then shut the door behind him as he left.  He used the bathroom and then walked to the living room.  He threw the last log on the fire.  Shit, why couldn’t Brian do anything? He made the food.  He even had to hold his hand when they went upstairs to get clothes for him.  How did he survive in the real world? He hoped this log would last until it was light. After watching the fire and wallowing in guilt, not to mention he was still a bit drunk, he decided to make bread.  Maybe after that he would make some pasta sauce from the canned tomatoes.  He couldn’t waste the gas on the stove but he could set it on the hearth to simmer.  He set the yeast to the side with some warm water.  Once it was light, if the wind was down, he would go check on the battery.  His mind wandered as he mixed up the bread dough.  

As he kneaded, he got out some of his frustration.  He hit the dough with his fist and started to blame Mr. Kinney but he knew he had found the whiskey.  He wasn’t forced to drink it. The day had gotten to him.  He felt trapped and after he realized he had screwed up the use of the generator…..he just needed to do something while Kinney seemed to be just fine doing nothing.  He sat on his ass while he made the food, got the wood, checked on the outside situation.  

He started shaping the loaves as he made a mental list.  Go out early.  It would be cold but the wind usually picked up later in the day. He would do that right after breakfast. He would check that the generator worked before it got dark.  Since Mr. Kinney….god, that man was an amazing lover.  As arrogant as he was outside of the bedroom, in the bedroom, he attended to every possible need.  Since he couldn’t seem to be counted on, while he was outside he would bring logs in.  If it wasn’t too cold he would bring most of it into the porch and in the next couple days he would have to go find more wood.  

Justin carried the loaves into the  fireplace and set them down near it where it was warm. He sat on the sofa and continued planning his day. After he had everything done outside he would go upstairs and get one of the rooms ready for him.  He figured the one above the living room would be warmest.  He hadn’t looked at the time but from down here it looked like there was a register on the ceiling that would let heat rise into the room. It wouldn’t be comfortable to sit in but crawling into the bed, he would sleep soundly, well better than sharing the bed downstairs.

He didn’t know what time he had fallen asleep but when he woke up there was light coming through the window.  The sun was just peeking over the mountain peaks.  He stretched and looked at his loaves.  They were ready for the oven. Justin carried them into the kitchen and lit the stove.  As it warmed up he pulled a few things out of the pantry and then he put the loaves in the oven.  

He turned and walked right into the arms of Brian Kinney. Instinctively Brian’s arms wrapped around him. “Was that bread?” he asked as he brushed the hair off Justin’s forehead.  “How early did you wake up?”

Justin couldn’t let him play with his mind. He stepped away from him. “You didn’t bring in any more wood last night.  Check if there is more on the porch.  As soon as the bread is done I will go out and see if the generator will work.  I’m going to go get dressed.”  Before Brian had a chance to respond he walked away.

“Was it something I did?” he called after him.  What was up with that kid? He couldn’t figure him out.  He either hated him or he was so hot that he couldn’t get enough..  He had to admit he liked the second personality better. Brian couldn’t remember the last time he had been with such a skilled partner.  It may have been never.  He planned to enjoy it while they were here together and by the time they got out of here, he should be ready to move on but right now….he rubbed his cock through the pair of sweatpants he was wearing.

When Justin came back out Brian had brought a few more logs from the porch.  He noticed Justin inspecting his work, “I know that’s not enough.  That’s what was on the porch.  I’ll bring a bunch of it into the porch soon.”

Justin opened the oven door and cut the gas.  He pulled the loaves out and slipped them out of their pans, setting them on a baking pan to cool.  “I’m going out to see if I can find the battery.  I will bring it inside and clean up the connections and let it warm up.  Of course, that means there is a battery out there. If I can’t find it, there is no power for us.”

“I can think of another kind of power that gives me lots of energy.” He walked up behind Justin and pressed himself against him. Justin broke away and started pulling on the boots and then the coat, hat and gloves. “I’d get the wood sooner rather than later.  The wind has been picking up by mid morning and then it feels a lot colder.  I might walk out to that building across the property and see what is in there, especially if I don’t see the battery here.” Justin walked out the door into the frigid, cold morning.  

Justin blinked at the brightness.  The sun on the snow was blinding.  As he walked around the corner, he heard the door open and an expletive from Brian when the air hit him on the bare skin of his face.  Justin was thrilled the battery was in the generator. It had just been disconnected.  He walked back to the corner of the house and watched Brian take a load of logs into the house.  He was grumbling every step of the way but he could see a lot of wood had already been moved.  There was another pile of unsplit logs that they would have to take care of next.  

“You found it!  Great.” Brian flashed one of his priceless smiles.

“I’m going to bring it inside and then I am going to walk over to that old barn.”  After bringing it in he started moving across the property.  It was hard going when every step had him sinking in up to his thighs. He stopped about half way to catch his breath and then walked the rest of the way. He had brought along a hammer and screwdriver he had found figuring it was locked but he was surprised to find a side door open.  He looked around the dimly lit space.  He pulled out the flashlight that was in another pocket.  He looked around the building.  He started making a small pile of things that might come in handy.  He found a sled which would help him move what he found.  Justin didn’t find a lot of useful items but he did find a pair of snowshoes and a couple snowmobile suits.  Too bad there were no snowmobiles.  

Justin heard the wind picking up and decided he better get moving.  When he stepped out of the building with the sled and made sure the door was shut tight.  He put the snowshoes on and started the trek across the yard.  He couldn’t wait to get in the house.  He was starving now and the homemade bread with fresh honey had his mouth watering.  

Brian had carried in all the split wood and after putting a large pile by both heat sources he straightened up the rest of it on the porch.  He looked out the window every few minutes and as the wind started picking up he started worrying.  He filled a pot with water and set it on the hearth to heat up and then planned to track him down but this time when he looked he saw a figure in the distance.  There were times he couldn’t make him out but then he came into view again. He rushed to the door, “Justin, follow the sound.  If you can’t see the house, follow the sound.” He picked up two pieces of wood and would knock them together every couple seconds.  He saw Justin get closer and closer and finally he held the door open to let him in.

“Thanks, I think I would have made it but there were a couple times I couldn’t see the house.” Justin got in the house and started taking off the outer layers of clothes.  “Cold.  I didn’t realize how cold I was. And hungry!  I’m starving.”

“Well, I have the water hot and that bread you made is killing me.”  

Soon the two men sat on the sofa by the fireplace with mugs of tea and thick slices of fresh bread with honey drizzled on it.  As they ate several slices of bread each Justin asked, “Where did you get the idea to make the noise for me to follow?”

“Don’t laugh but I think it was Little House on the Prairie. I watched it as a kid after school.”

“It worked well.”  Justin set his empty plate on the end table and stood, picking up the pot of water.  “More tea?”

“Sure.”  Justin refilled both of their mugs and they both let it steep.  Brian put an arm across the back  of the sofa, around Justin.  

Justin moved farther away from him and Brian moved closer again. “Mr. Kinney, I can’t…”

“What the hell is this Mr. Kinney shit? I thought we got that cleared up when my dick was up your ass.”

“Last night didn’t change anything.  I just needed….I was freaking out. I told you that.  I have Steven.  I can’t keep cheating on him.  It’s just not who I am.   I plan to sleep upstairs from now on. The room about this room gets residual heat from this fire so it should be fine. Obviously, we are stuck here together and of course I am going to be civil but I think the less we interact the better.”

“How old are you?  I feel like we are back in high school setting up rules.”

“I’m 23.  I ….  I just wanted to let you know the sleeping arrangements have changed.  Now I am going to… I’m going to try hooking up the battery and start the generator.  I am thinking a shower would feel really good.  I think if we are quick about it, at least we can have warm showers to get clean. I’m going to plug both my phone and computer in so as soon as the generator starts supplying power the devices can start charging.”

Brian was not done with his conversation but he understood it was over for now. How was he going to get any sleep know that man was sleeping upstairs 

The afternoon continued in silence except for a pleasantry such as, “Shower’s yours.” and “What’s for dinner?”

Neither of them had used their electronics while the generator was running because it would charge slower so  now that dinner was done they both sat silently in the living room with their laptops. Brian had a satellite wifi hotspot but with the condition nothing promised a connection.  He shared the hotspot password with Justin. “I think it would be best if we both send separately. This is an old one that just happened to be in my bag.  I will send out my messages as quickly as I can and let you know as soon as you can send.”

“Thanks,”  Justin started typing a general email to about 20 people on his contact list. It was just a generic email that told of his situation.  He then wrote one for his mom and Daphne with a little more personal content.”

Brian sent out short emails to Ted, Cynthia, and a couple others at the office and one to the conference they were supposed to be at to let them know his predicament.  As soon as he sent his email he told Justin he could try to send and then it would be a waiting game until tomorrow when they hooked it up again and see if they got any responses.

“Justin, it is really silly for you to sleep upstairs.  We would both be warmer if we shared the bed.”

“So are you saying if I slept in there, with you, you wouldn’t try….”

“Fuck, I can’t promise that!  It is just ridiculous.  You’re a grown man.  You obviously don’t know the rules of relationship edicate.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Never mind,” Justin said as he headed to the stairs.  “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Justin, remember you are always welcome.”

“Shut up, asshole.” 

“Sure taunt me.”   Brian smiled at the steps as he heard first the stair door slam and then the bedroom door. “Well, I guess my only companion tonight is the bottle of whiskey.” 

Brian made sure the fire grate was closed and went to his cold empty bed alone.

Chapter 3

Day 4

Oh Daphne,

I wish I knew if you would get this.  Last night I tried to send out several emails including you and mom but I won’t know if it went through until tonight.  I wish I knew where we were.  The guy at the rental car agency should be able to come close since he sent us both down the wrong road.

Daph, I am stuck  here with Brian Kinney.  Remember when I told you about the pompous ass at my job interview at Kinnetik? That is the man I am stuck with.  If only he wasn’t so damn gorgeous.  You can’t tell anyone but I had a little meltdown on night two.  I don’t know what took over me but, god, I hate to admit this. I slept with him.  You know I’m with Steven but I needed comfort and  it just sort of happened.  We drank way too much but he is the most amazing lover I have ever….  Enough about that. 

Last night I slept upstairs.  I have never slept in a room that was so cold. In fact.  I need to get off this now so I can go downstairs. I’m freezing and I don’t want to drain the battery completely.

Justin pulled on the ugly robe and quickly went downstairs.  He had put on a pair of long underwear he found in the drawers before going to bed and he had to admit, the bed itself was very comfortable and the weight of the blankets really was comforting.  First his mind kept wandering downstairs but soon he had fallen sound asleep. Now he walked downstairs and rushed to the bathroom.  He really needed to…. Although the bathroom door was open it wasn’t empty. Brian stood by the toilet emptying his bladder.  

“Shit, you couldn’t shut the door?”

“It’s not like you haven’t seen it before.” Brian shook off his cock and stepped away.  “It’s all yours.” Brian waved his hand and stepped back.

“You are not going to stand there and watch me pee.  Get out of here.”  Justin knew he couldn’t wait much longer.  Brian finally walked out and Justin slammed the door behind him.

When Justin came out of the bathroom he had dressed, leaving on the long underwear.  He had a feeling he would be going outside again today.  He knew it would be too much to expect Mr. Kinney to go out and look around.  There was one more building he was going to check out.  It should be easier now that he had snow shoes.  If he could find more gas would be perfect.  The only thing better than gas would be to find something that they could use to signal anything, planes, neighbors, anything.

He walked to the kitchen and found out Brian had at least heated the water.  Justin started asking Brian what he would like for breakfast and decided it didn’t matter what he wanted.  There was still plenty of bread he had made yesterday and he started heating the pan as he mixed some powdered eggs and powdered milk into scrambled eggs.  He tasted them and they were edible but they had a lot to be desired. He went back into the pantry and found some salsa.  He put some of the salsa on the plates.  He cut a couple large slices of bread for each of them and put them in a pan with a bit of oil just to warm it up.  He drizzled a little honey on each slice and then put eggs and bread on each plate.  He shivered.  He had a feeling the temperature had dropped drastically overnight.

Brian had stayed out of the kitchen and when Justin carried both plates of food to the fireplace. He was about to make a snide remark when he noticed Brian had a cup of tea waiting for him. 

“Thanks,” Brian said as he took the plate.  He took a big bite of the bread.  “Do you cook like this for Steve?”

Justin sipped his tea. “Steven and I usually cook together. We are a couple.  We share duties and enjoy doing things together.”

“And you really think you can do that for the rest of your life?  What do you do for fun? The laundry?”  Justin kept eating without saying a word.  “I know you go to the LBGT community center in your neighborhood for a thrilling night with all the other twinks.

Justin glared over at him but refused to feed into his taunting. Justin finished his plate of food and drank the remainder of the tea.  He set his plate down by the fireplace and then after going into the kitchen, came back with a pan of water and set it in front of the fireplace.  He had put on his outside clothes.

Justin finally spoke in a flat emotionless tone,  “I’m putting on the snowshoes and checking out the last building on the property.  The dish water should be warm in a little bit. Once those are done, check the wood supply.  And Mr. Kinney, if you can stay awake long enough, check on me if I don’t come back in a reasonable amount of time.  I will make some noise every so often letting you know I’m ok but if you hear a lot of noise come find me.”

“Stop calling me Mr. Kinney!”

“I’ll do that, Mr. Kinney.”  Justin walked out of the room and went out the door.

Brian watched him walk out.  He didn’t know if he had ever met a man that aggravated and intrigued him so much at the same time. He knew he would be in big trouble if he wasn’t here with him.  He got up and did the dishes in the warm water.  He emptied the dirty water into the sink and put the clean dishes away.  He went back into the living room and pulled out his computer. He started it up and started an email:

Ted,

Fuck, I hope you are taking care of my company.  I hope you got my email from last night so someone is looking for us.  We are at least warm and fairly comfortable although I would kill for a long, hot shower.

(Especially with Justin. His mind wandered off to that powerhouse body that had made him feel so amazing. Brian heard a knock from far away.  Justin must have made it to the building.)

At least Justin knows what he is doing.  If only I could convince him sleeping together would keep us both a whole lot warmer and I would be a whole lot happier with him in my bed.  

Ted, I hope you get this and I hope you find us soon.  I’m not sure how long I can eat powdered eggs for breakfast.

Brian shut off his computer and looked out the back door Justin was just poking his head out of the building and banging two pieces of wood together so Brian knew he was alright.  Brian looked up at the sun and saw a halo around the sun.   He knew it had to be cold out there. He found himself pacing.  He wasn’t sure why but he wasn’t going to relax until Justin was back in the house.  He added wood to the fire and then to his relief, he saw Justin coming across the yard pulling a sled which seemed to be full.  

“Brian!” Justin’s excited voice called out.  “Come grab this stuff.” 

Brian came to the door and Justin handed him a box and then grabbed one himself and carried it in. “More whiskey?” Brian asked.

“We aren’t going to get through what we already have of that. Open the box! Inside the box were jars of home canned meat  “And in here there is jerky.  That little building is just  the entry to a storm cave.”

“Do you think it is safe?” Brian asked.

“They are all sealed tight and they are dated last summer.  They should be fine.  I’ll try it tonight. I am going back for one more load.  I found a lot more wood  I want to bring back and it looks like another storm is coming in so we will need all the wood we can get.”

“Justin, why don’t you warm up first.”

“Daylight is going to be leaving soon.  Once those clouds roll in, I don’t want to be out there.”

“Why do I get the feeling you aren’t telling me something?”

“Well, I’m not sure what to tell you but I saw tracks out there.  I don’t for sure what they are.  I don’t think they are big enough for a bear but they remind me of dog tracks so maybe it is a wolf.  I would just as soon not have it  wandering around here at all but if it shows up I don’t want to be out there.”  With that Justin turned and walked out the door. 

Brian watched him go.  He was such an irritating little…. Brian didn’t finish the thought.  He didn’t think he could do what he was doing.  He knows there’s a wolf out there.but he still just walked out there again.  Maybe he should go out with him. Brian shivered. Justin would just call him Mr.  Kinney again.

He opened his computer and opened his computer again and added to his message to Ted.

Now he went back outside and he knows there is a wolf out there. He is to hot to get eaten by a wolf.

As Brian closed the computer he saw it was already 4:00 pm.  It surprised him how fast the time had gone today.  They had eaten late and then he had done the dishes and then stocked both heat sources.  While Justin had been outside he had gone upstairs.  That room Justin had slept in was so cold.  How did he sleep up there although the bed did look very comfortable?  His mind traveled back to the night they shared downstairs and…  Eventually he went back downstairs.

Now Brian realized he hadn’t heard anything from Justin.  He walked to the door and looked out.  As he looked out he was sure he saw something on the edge of the woods.  He had to be imagining it.  Didn’t he?” The sun was setting quickly and he  focused past the building Justin was in.  There was something moving there.  He stepped outside and started banging two pieces of wood together, so Justin would notice him.  He saw the sled was nearly loaded with wood. Justin came out and looked over at him.  He moved his hand telling Justin to come back to the house.  Brian would swear he saw him roll his eyes from across the compound.  He went back into the building but then Brian saw him come back out, drop some logs on the wagon and then he closed the door.  It was then that he saw him look around and notice the movement in the woods.  

What does he want now? Justin had thought when he heard Brian making noise to get his attention but now as he closed the building up tight he noticed what Brian had probably seen. Looking back at him was a huge gray wolf. For a moment he froze but then he started to move.  He tried not to run which took his full control not to do but he couldn’t run in the snowshoes and pulling the sled.  Brian’s focus went from Justin to the wolf.  

Justin glanced over his shoulder every couple steps  When he was about halfway to the house, he could tell the wolf was getting closer to the building, which meant Justin wasn’t making much progress putting space between them. 

“Come on, Justin.  Walk as fast as you can.  I’m watching him!  Just pull the sled into the porch.  Keep coming.  He is not coming closer right now.  He’s still at the building.” Brian kept talking until Justin  was at the door.  He came straight into the cabin with the sled and all.  The door was barely closed before the first howl went up.  Moments later they heard several more yips and calls in return.

Justin’s eyes went big and Brian pulled Justin into his arms and squeezed him tightly.  Justin felt Brian’s whole body tremble  He looked up into Brian’s face, “Why are you shaking? I’m the one that almost became a chew toy,” Justin smiled at him.

“It isn’t funny.  You could have been….Oh, god.”  Brian’s face was as white as the snow outside.’

“Well, I’m in here safe and hope to be warm soon if you’ll let me in.”

“Oh, ya sure.” Justin walked into the kitchen while Brian quickly moved the wood off the sled and cleared the path to the back door.  “How can you be so calm?”

“Obviously, I was nervous but with you  making noise over here, I didn’t expect him to come after me.   Of course I didn’t know the rest of his gang was that close by.” Justin pulled off all the outer close and then looked closer and Brian.  “Are you alright? You don’t look very good.”

“I just don’t like….if you haven’t noticed I am not the outdoorsy type.  That kind of shit just scares the crap out of me.”

Justin really looked at him and he could tell it was genuine fear.  “Mr. Kinney, Brian, we are perfectly safe in the house and I don’t see either of us going out after dark so truly are in no danger.” Justin reached out and touched his shoulder but he drew it back quickly.  There was no doubt there was a physical tug between them.  “I’m going to get on those warm slippers and then I will make dinner.”  Justin walked toward the kitchen and Brian followed him. He almost asked him to stop but Justin saw the look in Brian’s eyes and didn’t say anything.  Justin put the slippers on just as the pack of wolves started howling.

“Are they closer?  I think they are closer,” Brian said nervously.

Justin smiled gently at him, “Come on, tough guy.”  Justin linked arms with Brian and they walked back to the kitchen.  “I was thinking we could try the meat I found and some potatoes?”

“I’ll help.  What can I do?”

“Why don’t you make the potatoes?  Just follow the directions on the box.  I’ll take care of the rest.” Justin was glad the wolves calmed down.  He wasn’t sure Brian could deal with it all night.

Ten minutes later the meal was ready.  Justin had tasted the meat and it didn’t need any seasoning.  All he had to do was thicken the juice a bit.  To finish off the meal he opened a can of vegetables and Brian split the potatoes between the two Brian gave them each a serving of the meat and split the vegetables.  “I’ll put the rest of the meat out on the porch so we can finish it tomorrow or the next day.”

They walked into the living room.  Brian tossed another log on the fire and they both sat down. Justin made himself slow down. He had to admit he was really hungry.  Walking in the snow had worn him out.  He yawned as he finished every last bite.  

Brian looked at him, “I didn’t know you could even can meat in a jar like that but that was really good.”

Justin stifled a yawn, “Ya, it is really good.”

“Justin, why don’t you let me wash up the dishes.  If you take care of the leftover food, I’ll do the rest and then you can do the internet first tonight.” 

“I can help,” Justin said.

“You’re right, you can.  Put the meat away and I got the rest of it. I should be done in less than 15 minutes so you can send your emails while I finish and then I will send out mine.  Hopefully, someone responds to one of us.”

Once Justin had taken care of the food he got his computer out.  He called up the email he had ready for Daphne and added a couple sentences.

‘I did a little exploring today and met one of our neighbors, a wolf.  He has brought more of his buddies with him tonight but we are safe inside for the night. However, Mr. Kinney isn’t fond of them anywhere in earshot but he has helped out a little more today. And fuck, he is so hot.  I love Steven.  I do love him.  I plan to be with  him for the rest of my life.  Please, Daph, I hope you can see this. Love, Justin’

Justin crossed his fingers and turned on the wifi unit.  He waited and waited but nothing came through on his email account.  He hit send on the email to Daph and then shut the computer to let it charge. Brian brought the dirty dish water to the kitchen and emptied it into the sink and then he refilled it again.  He brought the tub back to the living room and put the tub near the fire.

“What’s that for?” Justin asked as he stretched out on the sofa.

“I thought some hot water to wash up would feel good.” Brian grabbed his computer and turned it on.  “Did you have any luck?”

“It didn’t look like it although it said it sent.  Maybe they got ours even if we can’t get theirs.”

“None here either.  I hope you’re right.”  Brian finished up Ted’s email.

Ted, there are wolves out here.  I hate nature.  Get me out of here.

Brian, YOUR BOSS

Brian closed his computer and looked over at the sofa.  He couldn’t see Justin’s face.  His blond hair looked like strands of gold in the firelight.  That was one beautiful man.  He went to get a couple washcloths and towels, along with a bar of soap. It was a bar he had brought with him.  He stood in front of the fire and stripped off his shirt. He washed above the waist and then glanced at Justin, who was still asleep, and slipped out of his pants to finish.  

Justin’s eyes opened and he watched Brian in silence as he cleaned himself.  Justin held his breath as he watched Brian.  He was so beautiful.  Justin put a hand over his growing cock and a soft moan slipped out before he could stop himself.

“Oh, you’re awake.  I’m about done so the water is all yours.” He pulled on some briefs and slipped on a robe he had found somewhere.  “Do you think the wolves are gone for the night?”  They had heard one a couple times through the evening but they had been further away and it had been a while.

“You know we are secure …” he stopped.  This was obviously a fear he couldn’t control. “I can’t be sure but they have been staying further away.” He smiled over at him.

Brian’s cock reacted instantly.  He had never had just a smile do that to him.  Brian dropped into a chair and crossed his legs.

“Seriously, you’re going to sit there and watch me.”

“You watched me,” Brian smirked.

Justin was going to protest but instead he stripped completely naked and took his time using the fragrant soap Brian had used and took his time washing himself from head to toe.  By the time he had finished, Justin could see Brian’s erection through his robe.  Justin slipped on the robe and carried the tub of water to the bathroom to empty it.  He came back through to pick up his computer and filled a glass full of water.  “Good night,” he said and he went up the stairs.

Brian’s hand went under his robe and he began rubbing his cock.  Why wouldn’t that little twit just share his bed? They would both feel so much better. As he began to cum he spoke out loud, “We both would.” As Brian groaned with relief, a yip could be heard clearly followed by a howl. “Fuck!  I hate those things.” Brian stood and picked up his computer and walked to the bedroom.  He stoked the stove so it would burn most of the night and, although he knew it was stupid, he put the little chest in front of the door. What did he think, the wolves would come in from the door?

Brian opened his computer but then set it back down.  He couldn’t think about a future campaign.  All he could think about was the attractive man upstairs and the wolves out in the yard.  Brian laid down and pulled the blankets tightly around his neck and closed his eyes, wishing for sleep. He felt like such an idiot.  Why did those big dogs outside  terrify him to his very soul.

Justin had dropped into bed the second he got upstairs.  His body was sore from all the physical labor he had done today and he really hoped that tomorrow he could spend some time on his art.  He missed it and if his muscles were telling him anything, he didn’t plan to leave the house unless there was an emergency. Maybe he would pull out his sketch pad and a …. Brian Kinney confused the hell out of him.  He really could be sweet but his cockiness overwhelmed that part of him.  And why did he use the word cockiness….his cock….wow, did he know what to do with that. As his eyes fluttered shut in the distance the wolves continued to make their presence known.

Everytime Brian dozed off something woke him up.  As he laid there he was sure he heard footsteps and he was sure it was more than one animal but he wasn’t about to look and see.  Brian sat up and pulled on the robe. He got up and paced first in the bedroom and then he went out to the living room. He was a bundle of nerves.  Even when a log crackled, he nearly jumped out of his skin.  When he was sure he heard a wolf on the front porch only a couple feet from where he stood in the house.  Without thinking about it, he opened the staircase door and after pulling it shut tightly behind him, he took the stairs two at a time.  It was freezing up there, literally freezing.  How did Justin sleep up here, he thought as he stood outside the door but then when a choir of howls and yips sounded he rushed in.

Justin couldn’t see much in the room.  There was a bit of moonlight coming through the window but he still had to blink several times for his eyes to adjust.  “Brian, what are you doing in here?”

“Justin, I just can’t be down there. I can hear the monsters outside my windows. There has to be hundreds, well at least ten.  I wish I knew why but…. I don’t want anything else… well I want but I promise I won’t do anything.  I just need some sleep.  I just….”  Brian’s tone told Justin all he needed to know.  Justin moved over and Brian got in.  “How do you sleep up here? It is so fricking cold!”

“Trust me, you will warm up quickly.  I have enough blankets on this bed to warm anyone.”  Justin moved a little closer to him and put his hand on his shoulder. He jumped but then he relaxed and moved back a little bit so he could feel the heat from Justin’s body.  Justin draped his arm over Brian’s still trembling body.  “Do you just not like dogs?”

“It’s not really dogs. It’s more predators in general.  I know it is absurd for a grown man to react like this. I know it is irrational.”  He took a deep breath, “I really don’t want to talk about this.  I just want to get some sleep.”

“Sure,” Justin moved closer to him instinctively as you would a small, scared child. He wrapped his arm more tightly around his waist  and felt Brian’s body finally relax and go to sleep. Now it was Justin’s turn to struggle to find sleep.  He could feel the lean muscle under his fingers and his body wanted more.  Eventually his mind wandered to the night they spent together and he drifted off wanting more.

Hours later Brian woke to the feel of Justin pressed tightly against him.  He felt his dick react as he felt Justin’s pressing against his ass.  He had promised Justin he wouldn’t try anything  but if he rolled over in his sleep and pulled him close….  Brian turned over and in his sleep Justin rested his head on Brian’s chest.  Brian kissed his forehead and then his temple.  He couldn’t resist and dropped a kiss on his lips but Justin’s reaction took him by surprise. Justin’s arm went around Brian’s neck and, with his hand on the back of his head, he took the kiss far deeper than Brian had planned. As Justin’s body pressed against him, he pulled his hips tightly to his. As his hand moved into the long underwear Justin was wearing his body went rigid.

“What the….” Justin began to protest but as Brian’s hand moved over the bare skin of his ass he looked into Brian’s eyes and gave in to his needs. He left all inhibitions behind and as he moved down Brian’s body and took his erection in his mouth, pushing the briefs out of the way.  He moved his hand between Brian’s legs and began massaging his perineum.  Brian could barely hold himself together.  This young guy he had been with only once, knew just how to take his breath away.  

“Oh, shit, Justin, I’m going to cum do you want me to fuck you?”

Justin’s tongue didn’t stop.  As Brian shouted and began to shoot, Justin caught and swallowed it but with a little gizz still on his lips he looked up at Brian.  “I’m figuring it’s your turn. Flip over!”

“Oh no, I don’t bottom.”

“Well, then, neither do I.” Justin moved away from him, “And when the wolves start up again..”  When he noticed Brian’s face he stopped.  “I’m sorry, that was a low blow.  I shouldn’t have gone there and I won’t again.  I guess I’ll get up and….”

“No,” Brian pulled him close.  He hoped he had made some progress this morning.  He could take it once for more nights like this.  He offered Justin his back.

“I wish I could do this the way I want to but it is less than 32° in here so we are going to have to settle for the basics.” Justin’s hand moved between Brian’s cheeks and began to gently massage Brian’s bud and as he worked it, Brian let his sphincter relax.  After Justin had worked first one and then a second finger deep inside of him and as he moved them, Brian was already fighting to control himself.  Then Justin positioned himself, put on a condom, and in one slow but steady movement he entered him up to the hilt.  Justin didn’t move for several moments but when he started again he angled himself just a bit so every stroke was felt through his very soul. Brian was powerless.  Wave after wave of pleasure ran through his body and as Justin stopped moving and then thrust three more times Brian nearly wept. He had sex thousands of times but he had only made love a handful.  Someone had just made love to him and it rocked his soul.

Justin withdrew and then rolled on his back and stared at the ceiling. “I shouldn’t have….Damn! I’m in a committed relationship!”  Justin refused to look at Brian.

“Justin, have you ever heard of the Gay Man’s Handbook?”

“Is that something off of the best seller’s list?”

“No, it is more a list of dues and don’t gay men have followed for years.”

“Ok? What about it?”

“Well there is a law about stepping out of a committed relationship.  If there is more than 400 miles between you a one night stand is allowed.”

“So what’s your point.  It’s been twice now.”

“Well,” Brian reached over and ran his finger along Justin’s jaw, the only part of his body above the blankets, “If your significant is out of the country for more than fourteen days all bets are off.”

“You’re making that up.”

“Actually, I have a friend, Emmett that knows all the rules and I can’t remember how he words the fourteen day rule but  it’s there.” Brian had a twinkle in his eye as he smiled at Justin.

“Well, that’s not the agreement I made with Steven.”  Justin was uncomfortable with this conversation so he turned it on Brian, “So what did cause your fear of wildlife?”

Brian’s face changed.  Justin could only say it was the look a small child would have when they were unsure or scared about something.  “I just came from a really screwed up family.  I only remember one family vacation.  I think my dad had won some raffle at work.  Well, never mind.  You don’t want to hear this.”

Justin turned and looked at Brian, “Actually, I do.” Justin couldn’t resist brushing the hair off his forehead.

“I think the only person my mom and dad hated more than each other was me. I was about five or six and my mom didn’t want me to get dirty so she told me I had to stay on the porch.  Well, I was a kid. I went exploring.  Mom lost her shit when she saw how dirty and told Dad about it.  After Dad beat my ass black and blue he told me about all the big, dangerous animals in the woods and then left me in my room without dinner.  That night there was a wolf or coyote that came through the area and I lay in my bed listening to the howling for what seemed like hours.”

“Why didn’t you go to your parents during the night?” Justin’s hand had found a resting spot on Brian’s chest.

“That wasn’t allowed. I know it is stupid to still be afraid but I could only picture the stories my dad had told me about being ripped apart by a bear or a wolf.”

“No child should have to go through that.  My childhood wasn’t perfect, not even close, but I could always count on my mom.  I still can.  You never crawled into their bed and snuggled or got on your mom’s lap for a story?  Who kissed your booboos?” Justin laid his head onto Brian’s chest.

Brian laughed at that,  “When I got to Junior High I made a best friend. Michael’s mom, Debbie, although a bit of a flake, was the first person who, in her own crazy way, showed me what it meant to have someone love you.  That’s when I decided if I made it without love for the first 14 years, I could probably make it the rest of my life.”

“You don’t want to find someone to love? Who will love you?” Justin looked up into his face. When you want to be you are very lovable. He gently bit Brian’s chin and then his mouth moved up. “Loving someone is what makes a person complete.  We were made to be with someone.”

“Oh, I never have trouble finding someone to be with.  Hell, there are weeks I’m with three or four different people.”

“But who do you call, who do you want to be with when you are having a bad day?”

Brian thought about that for a moment, “Well, sometimes I’ll call my friend, Mikey.  He has always been there.  He knows me better than anyone.”

“So, you’ve been lovers?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that. He just knows me.”

“I’m sure he does but until you are in a real relationship where you share everything, including your body, it’s not the same. Having someone look you in the eye and saying, ‘I love you’. There is nothing like it.”

“That kind of love is just a fairytale, especially for people like us.  Gay men were not meant for manogomy.  We just aren’t made that way.”

“We are humans, we are made to love and be loved.” Justin took a condom and slipped it on Brian.  Then straddled his body, under the blankets he slipped down onto Brian’s dick.  He then laid forward onto Brian’s chest and kissed him once before flinging the blankets back  As the frigid air hit both of them, Brian began to raise and lower his hips rapidly and with Justin meeting him move for move, it wasn’t long before they found release once more.  

Justin jumped up, slipped on the robe and slippers before grabbing his computer bag and he dashed down the stairs.

Brian laid in the bed and felt the goosebumps rise all over his body.  He wasn’t looking for a relationship.  He didn’t believe in relationships.  He believed in fucking.  Maybe Justin was right.  They shouldn’t be screwing around.

Chapter 4

Day 5

Damn it, Daphne, 

I wish I could talk to you.  I need to hear your honesty and straightforwardness right now.  Last night, well let me tell you this first.  We have wolves.  Last night a pack of wolves came around and Mr. Kinney finally showed his weakness.  I’m not making fun of him.  He was truly petrified and he then opened up and told me a little bit about his childhood.  I was wrong about his background.  It was horrible. Of course that still doesn’t give him the right to be all high and mighty and….

(While Justin wrote, Brian had come down and went to the bedroom where his clothes were.)

Back to last night, we made love.  Yes, Daph, we made love, not just had sex.  I betrayed Steven again.  I love him.  Other than you he’s my best friend but he never rocked my world like Brian has but there have never been wolves howling outside our window either.  I’m sure that’s all it is.  It is the situation that makes this seem special. 

Oh, Daph, I hope you are looking for us. 

Justin closed his computer and walked from window to window.  There were definitely wolf tracks everywhere. He ended up in the kitchen trying to think of something different he could make for breakfast. Those powdered eggs were just nasty but they were protein and they didn’t have a lot of options for that.  He remembered seeing a cookbook somewhere and once he located it he looked through it.  He could tell it was very old and had been used a lot.  He turned to the breakfast section and started  looking through it.   Did he have the ingredients he needed for any of these dishes?

Brian put wood into the stove hoping it still had enough heat in it to get the log burning.  He pulled on some of the clothes he had found in the house and then sat on the bed and pulled out his computer. He opened his email and started typing.

Theadore,

Why haven’t you gotten here yet?  It’s obvious, you aren’t working hard enough.  This guy is going to….

Did you know there are wolves up here?  Do you know how much I hate wolves? If it wasn’t for Justin, I am not sure what I would have done last night.  Ted, I am not sure why he is different, but he is.  Shit, I’m just going to stay away from him.  I swear he must have some way of getting under my skin.  I think I am just done with him. The problem is we are stuck here together.  

Ted. fuck I hope you are seeing this.  I need to get out of here.

Brian, your CEO

The guy who signs your paycheck

The person who gave you a JOB!

Justin mixed some of the powdered milk and the powdered eggs together with flour, sugar, and some salt.  He pulled out a jar of homemade plum jam and started warming it in a saucepan.  Then he started heating up a griddle.  “Mr. Kinney, breakfast is almost ready,” Justin called down the hall.

“Fuck! Stop calling me Mr. Kinney!” Brian shouted back. 

Justin heard him say as he shut the bedroom door and walked to the kitchen.  His hair was tousled from last night yet and Justin had to stop himself from  reaching up and finger combing it into place.

Brian looked over his shoulder, “Pancakes?”

“I really wish we had eggs and bacon and…”

“Shut up, please,” Brian moaned. “But, these look really good.  What’s this?” He picked up the pan with the jam in it.

“It’s plum sauce.  It’s pretty good.”  Justin split the pancakes on two plates and drizzled the sauce over top  and then sprinkled them with powdered sugar. There was hot water by the fireplace so they each carried a plate and a cup into the living room.  

As they ate their breakfast, Brian looked at Justin, “Do you think they’ll be back again tonight?”

“Well, it is likely but if we don’t leave any food out and stay in the house ourselves, I think they will move back to where they came from.  It’s going to be a long day.”

“They all are long days.  Christ, I need to get out of here.” Brian drained his mug of tea.  He looked over at Justin and he knew what he would like to do all day but that wasn’t going to happen.  He needed to keep his distance from the little blond.  He just knew too much already and he wanted more than Brian would ever give to anyone.  “I’m going to the bedroom.  I can work on a campaign at least. Don’t bother me.  I plan to get very drunk.”

Brian didn’t come out of the bedroom until the sun was going down and, true to his word, he was extremely drunk.  Justin had spent the day drawing and then he just heated up leftovers from the night before. Justin handed him a bowl of food without a word. They ate in silence but then Brian started getting nervous. They heard footsteps outside and soon they heard yips and growls. 

“Damn, I was really hoping they didn’t come back.”

“Well, as drunk as you are you can’t be too far from passing out.”  Justin was pissed.  He wasn’t sure what had happened but why was he surprised.  Brian Kinney thought only of himself so maybe it was about timeJustin did the same.  Kinney could fend for himself if he wanted to act like this.

“So this is how you want it?” Justin asked.  “You want to share the cabin but nothing else, fine.  I’m turning on the generator so we can try to send emails again.  I would say if we don’t have anything tonight it probably isn’t worth wasting the gas for the generator.” 

Again neither of them had a message and both tried to send one.  Justin made himself another large mug of tea and then without a word, he went upstairs with his bag.  

Brian watched him leave. “Sure, I’ll clean up after dinner.” As he rinsed off the dishes he said out loud,  “Well, I guess I don’t have to figure out how to sleep alone tonight.”  But what in the hell got into him, the little bitch.  Brian walked to the bedroom with a bottle of whiskey.  What the hell was he going to do for the next twelve hours?  Brian could hear the wolves for a few minutes but tonight soon the howls were a distance away and then they were gone.  As he started to doze off Brian realized he was lonely.  He didn’t get lonely, did he? He probably hadn’t been alone enough to ever find out.

Justin looked at the mountain pictures he had drawn earlier today but now it was too dark to look out the window.  He decided to draw a picture of Steven.  He missed talking to him.  He missed the way they made dinner together and he missed just being comfortable with someone. With Mr. Kinney, he was always just a bit on edge.  

He started sketching the familiar eyes and gentle curve of his jawline. As he went he started making some adjustments and then Justin stopped. He looked closer and realized the picture had somehow morphed from Steven to Brian. He tried again and then on the third try he gave up and created a picture of Brian. It was like his face was burning into Justin’s eyes and the finished product was stunning.  He finally blew out the lantern and closed his eyes.  He tried to see Steven but Brian’s image kept replacing it. What had he done?  Why didn’t he want….  He should be glad the man hadn’t tried to get him in bed again but why did he feel so disappointed.

The next two days were repeats of the day before.  Justin quit cooking for both of them and soon Justin just stayed upstairs.  He couldn’t sit in silence all day with Brian next to him and every time he tried to draw it ended up being Brian. The third day Justin needed to do something.  From the frost on the windows he could tell it was really cold out but if he put on the snowsuit and boots he’d be fine. As he started dressing in the kitchen with the layers, Brian watched him.

“What are you doing?”

“I just need fresh air.” 

“Do you know how cold it is out there?  I got some wood off the porch and….”

“I’ll be fine.  Won’t be long.”

Brian didn’t like it at all, “Be careful. And don’t forget how co…”

“Yes, Mother.”

Justin stepped outside and closed the door.  He nearly lost his breath as soon as he inhaled.  He pulled a scarf up over his mouth and, after stepping into his snowshoes, he began to walk.  The only part of him that was uncovered was his eyes and soon his eyelashes had a frost buildup on them.  He tripped and ended up face planting in the snow.  He got up and started walking again. He headed to the woods.  His mind was racing. He couldn’t draw Steven’s face anymore.  Even when he was looking at a picture of the love of his life the arrogant bastard’s face kept appearing.  After the thought ran through his head he realized, although Brian was arrogant he did have a soft side and the story about his childhood, he believed it. Maybe he had him wrong.  Justin kept going around and around this in his head.

All of the sudden Justin stopped.  He realized he had no idea where he was and the wind was starting to pick up. He realized he was cold.  Thankfully he could see his tracks but as he walked, the wind picked up and it was getting harder and harder to see his tracks. He just needed to rest.  Maybe he could sit for a minute.  No, he needed to keep going. When he looked up he hoped he saw the edge of the woods.  

Brian was getting really worried.  Justin had been gone over half an hour and in these temps that was too long.  He had gone outside and called but  there was no response so Brian started looking for warm clothes.  Just as he started putting on some boots the door opened.  “Thank god.” Brian commented as Justin nearly fell into his arms.  He helped Justin out of his boots and snowsuit.  “Where have you been?  You scared the hell out of me.”

Justin looked at him, “I’m going to go take a nap. Cold, need to warm….”  he headed toward the upstairs door but Brian led him to the downstairs bedroom where it was warm from the stove. Brian helped him get in bed and then covered him with the blankets.  He put on a couple more logs to get it even warmer and then left him alone.

Brian was glad he was home but he wished he knew what was going on in that pretty little head of Justin’s.  Maybe it was time the two of them confronted whatever wall was between them. They both had things to talk about and as soon as Justin was awake they would be talking.  Once Brian hung up Justin’s snow clothes, he looked around the kitchen.  Justin was going to need something warm to eat for dinner.  When Brian thought about it, he couldn’t remember the last time Justin had eaten anything.  He may have had a cracker or two but Justin hadn’t been eating.  

After looking through the cookbook, Brian knew he wasn’t a chef.  He didn’t have ingredients for any of the recipes but after looking at a vegetable soup recipe he just went into the pantry and took a can of every vegetable they had and a jar of the canned meat. He poured all the contents into a pot and then set it on the hearth.  At least Justin wouldn’t say he wasted gas.  All of this food was cooked so it just needed to warm up.  At the last minute Brian added some noodles.  Once that was warming, Brian went to check on Justin.  He had been about an hour since he laid down and Brian thought he might be awake by now.  

Justin couldn’t get warm and both his fingers and toes hurt really bad.  He had had frostbite.   What had gotten into him?  He was just going to get a little fresh air and clear his head.  Instead he lost his mind and nearly froze to death. He sat up and looked at his hands.  They looked horrible.  What if he lost his fingers?  What had he done?

Brian walked to the bedroom and opened the door. The only light in the room was from the stove and the last light in the sky. He could see Justin was sitting up and rocking and as he stepped closer he heard Justin crying.

“Are you alright?” Brian sat down on the bed next to him.

Justin didn’t say anything but held out his hands. Brian saw they were covered with blisters. “I don’t think they are too bad but they hurt so bad. They feel like they are on fire and then they feel like someone is sticking pins in them. Oh, god they hurt.”

“Should we be doing something for them? Do you know?”

“There’s a first aid kit in the kitchen.  Maybe there is a book in it that will tell us.  Hurry, please!” Brian touched his cheek and kissed the other one.  He wasn’t sure why but blondie brought out some weird stuff in him. Brian was back in a few moments later with the first aid kit.  

Brian took out the booklet and paged through it until he found Over Exposure.  Brian read through the short note. “As long as they don’t get infected they should be fine.  I’m sorry they hurt. I’ll go get some warm water so we can wash your hands and then lightly bandage them.”

Brian came back with a pan of water and a cloth and towel.  Brian gently washed his hands and then patted them lightly.  “How are your toes?”

“They tingled but haven’t blistered. Oh, god, I need whiskey.” 

Brian wrapped Justin’s hands lightly.  “This way when the blisters pop they will be covered. Should I look at your feet?”

“No, I just need to get knocked out or something.  I can’t do this!” Justin started rocking again.

Brian walked over to his bag and dug through it until he found a small bag with pills.  He selected one and gave it to Justin.  “Try one first.  We will see if that is enough.  If not I’ll get a second one but now I am going to get you some soup.  You need to eat something.”

“I don’t know what got into me. I just wanted a little air and then….”

“I’ll get us some dinner.” Brian came back with a sleeve of crackers and two bowls of soup. Brian started handing the bowl to Justin but the second it touched his hands, Justin whimpered.

“I don’t….I’m really not that hungry.”  

Brian walked over and set one of the bowls on the stove.  He sat down facing Justin and began feeding him. After giving him a couple bites, he took one himself.  “This isn’t half bad.”

“No, it’s very good.  I didn’t know you could cook,” Brian gave him another bite. “I probably owe you an apology for….”

“Will you just shut up while I feed you? I’m hungry, too.” Brian noticed Justin’s eyes glaze over.  As he finished feeding him the bowl he said, “Is the pain a little better?”

“What pain?” Justin held up his hands, “Oh, these.  They are all better.  See, they can go around your neck.” Justin got on his knees and pressed his lips against Brian’s.

“Justin, you better be careful.  You don’t want to break those blisters.”

“But you are so beautiful.  I just couldn’t bear to look at you and not be able to touch you and I can’t touch you.  I can touch Steven.”

“Lay down.  I need to eat my good soup.” Brian sat on the edge of the bed and ate it while Justin babbled on and on, mostly about Steven.  He talked about how he betrayed Steven. As Brian finished his bowl of soup, Justin dozed as Brian finished his dinner. Brian slipped out of the room and put the rest of the soup out on the back porch. They had been using it for a freezer since they had gotten there. Brian brought a pan of water back to the bedroom along with some mugs and tea bags.  He didn’t know how Justin would react when he came down.  His pain should be gone for a while but he could still have trouble sleeping later.

Brian  washed up a little and then went into the bedroom.  He wasn’t sure Justin wanted him here.  He wasn’t sure he wanted to be here with him, but he couldn't leave him alone. He obviously didn’t have experience with drugs.  He needed to stay close.  

“Where’d you go?” Justin was awake again.

“I just put the soup away. How’s the pain?”

“Bearable now.  What did you give me?”

“Oh just something my disco-pharmacologist makes for me. I take it you haven’t done many drugs.”

“Just a little weed now and then really. Thanks for taking care of me.  Sorry I have been such an asshole the last couple days. I just don’t know what is going on. I am feeling things I don’t understand and I just don’t like it.  It’s like being claustrophobic. I just needed to get out for a while but then I couldn’t focus again.  Shit Mr. Kinney, I can’t even draw a picture of my fiance anymore.  Everytime I start drawing a picture of him it morphs into your face.  I know you aren’t interested so why….”

“Justin, now is not the time to be talking about this. You’re strung out and I’m sober.  Neither of those are good options for a serious conversation.”  Brian laid down next to Justin and pulled him close. “I’m not going to screw with you tonight.”

“I’m not tired, Brian. I slept too much.  Tell me more about you.  Are you parents still alive? Do you ever see them?”

“Justin, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Brian, you gave me this shit and now I am high as a kite. You need to keep me company until I come down.”

“I’m not letting you come down for a while.  That pain is going to get worse before it gets better.” 

Justin rested his head on Brian’s shoulder. “I have a little sister, Mollusk.”

“Mollusk?”

“Molly.  She isn’t so little anymore.  She’s a freshman in highschool.  She’s a really good kid.  I love her and she loves Steven.  She sees my dad once and a while but I haven’t seen him in four years.  And, I really don’t want to see him.  He is just an ass.  He never understood me. At least my mom got away from him.  He hit me once just because I am gay.”

“Hell, my dad hit me just because I was breathing and he was drunk.  My parents never loved each other.  Dad fucked her and being the good catholic girl she was, he had to marry her. He was an ass.  He would call and want me to stop by.  That just meant he needed cash.”

“And you’d give it to him?”

“I have more money than I can spend and he was my dad.”   Justin looked up at Brian and kissed his jawline. “He got cancer and died about four years ago.”

“I’m sorry, Brian.  How did he handle you being gay?”

“Jack didn’t find out until he was really sick.  But he did get to meet my son before he died.”

“Your son!  You never mentioned a son.”

“He lives with his moms in Canada.  I try to go visit once a month.”

“Don’t you miss him.”

“Sure, and I love him but I was never supposed to be a parent for him.  His mom has been a good friend of mine since college so when they wanted a child, I donated.  Later, her wife had a baby girl.  Mel, isn’t my favorite person and they have gone through a couple rough times but they are good parents.”

“What’s his name?”

“Gus,” Brian’s voice turned soft.

“You really do love him, don’t you.”

“I don’t think I’m father material but I will never let a son of mine think he isn’t loved.” Now Brian sounded adamant.

“Of course, you love him.  He is your child. He has your DNA. He is lucky to have a man like you in your life.”

“Even though I’m an arrogant asshole?”

“Well, I guess you’re an arrogant asshole with a heart.”

Brian tilted Justin’s head up and kissed him before getting quiet.  After a minute or two, Justin broke the silence. “I hate to ask but I’m thirsty.  Do you think you could make me some tea?”

“Sure,” Brian got up and brought Justin a cup of tea and poured some of the whiskey into it. “Hopefully that will take off the edge and let you sleep.  I hope that will help you sleep but if you wake up in the middle of the night and need something, wake me up.”

“Brian, thanks for being so nice.” Justin said as he sipped his tea.  “Brian, one more thing.”

“What’s that, Justin?”

“I need to pee.”

“Sure, after I tell you I’m not going to touch you, you’re going to make me hold your dick.  Just remember, you’ll owe me.”

“I’m sorry, I’m such a pain.  I was such an idiot.” Justin started to tear up.

“Let’s get you to the bathroom.  I know you are going to crash soon.” Brian helped Justin with his pants and held his cock while he relieved himself.  

Once Justin was back in bed and Brian pulled the blankets up to his chin and then added more wood to the fire.  He got in bed behind Justin and slid up behind him, resting his arm around Justin’s waist, “Blondie, don’t do that again.  You scared me and I don’t think I could stand being here alone. Who would protect me from the wolves?”

By now Justin was nearly asleep.  In a groggy voice he said, “I’ll never let the big bad wolf get you.”  And with that Justin drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 5 

“Shit, shit, shit, shit!” Justin said as he tried to get up early the next morning.

Brian’s husky voice said, “What’s up?”

“I need to pee and my feet really hurt this morning. Why was I such an idiot? I knew better.” By now Brian was on his feet and walked over to Justin’s side of the bed.  

Brian slipped his hands under Justin’s arms and helped him up.  Justin stumbled a bit and Brian caught him. Their mouths ended up only inches apart. Brian started lowering his mouth but then stopped. “Later, I hope,” he said softly.  “Can you walk if I help hold you up?” 

“I think so. I’m…”

“I swear if you say you are sorry once more….You made a mistake. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.” Justin didn’t say anything until they were back in bed.  Brian had thrown another log in the stove and got back in with Justin as the room warmed up.  He pressed himself against Justin’s back.

“When I got the interview at your agency, I was told that you would fire someone if you didn’t like what they were wearing. I also was told my asshole would be yours any time you wanted it.”

“I have to admit…” Brian ran his finger through the valley between his cheeks.  “I may have fucked a couple of my interns or new hires but it was never without their permission.  If they said no, I would never…” 

Justin turned to face him and placed one of his wrapped hands on Brian’s cheek, “I am sure you aren’t the easiest man to work for but I know you would never do this,” Justin brought his mouth slowly closer to Brian’s and then Brian placed a hand behind Justin’s head and pulled him near so his mouth pressed against Justin’s and then he pressed Justin back against the pillow following so their lips never separated. 

One of Brian’s hands moved into the waistband of the pants Justin was wearing.  Brian moved his head back a couple inches.  “I’m not reading you wrong, am I? You want this, right?”

“Oh, yes, I want this.” Justin lifted his ass off the mattress so Brian could remove his pants.

“Let me know if I am hurting you; your hands, your feet or your ass.” Brian moved so Justin’s legs were over his shoulders and after slipping on a condom, he moved forward so he entered him and then bent forward and claimed his lips. Justin couldn’t actually grip onto him because of his bandages but he rested his hands on Brian’s shoulders as the pressure built in both of them. And then they both exploded.  Justin did his best to keep Brian’s lips on his and he didn’t have to work hard at it.  Brian was still getting his fill.

Finally, Justin had to say something.  His hands were throbbing to the point of tears.  He had fought it as long as he could because he didn’t want Brian to move. “Brian, I, I really hurt.”

“Oh, fuck, why didn’t you say something?” Brian moved away quickly.  

“Because it felt too good,” Justin admitted.  “I think some of the blisters popped overnight.  The bandages feel a little soggy.”  

Brian got up and brought him a pill like he took last night.  “If you need it right now, take it but if you can hold out a little longer, it would be better for you to eat first.  I’ll go make some oatmeal. I’ll be right back.”  Brian grabbed the pot they used to heat water and took it back to the kitchen with him.

Justin tried to relax and thought about their lovemaking to take his mind off the pain.  Brian came back in with some fresh water which he put on the stove to warm up.  “I got the oatmeal started.  I’ll be back as soon as it is ready.”

When he had left again, Justin started to unwrap his hands.  Once he got it started with his teeth the bandages just fell off. When the last of it fell off he could see the raw digits.  No wonder they hurt. The air made them far more painful and he quit fighting it.  He popped the pill and managed to swallow it with no liquid. Brian came through the door moments later.

“I hope this is good.  I thought it was.  I added some maple syrup  to give it a little flavor.” Brian stopped talking when he noticed Justin’s hands. “Oh, shit, no wonder they hurt.  Did you take the pill?”

“Just a minute ago.”

“Well, after we eat, I think we should soak those hands and rewrap them.” Brian kept talking as he fed Justin. He actually had only taken one bowl and he would feed Justin a bite and then himself until it was all gone.  He made a couple mugs of tea and added a big glug of whiskey to Justin’s.

“Did I miss something? It is morning. We just woke up and you are trying to get me drunk?” Justin said, already feeling the effects of the pill.

“You are going to need it when we clean out your wounds.”

“Oh, shit,” Justin said when he looked at his hands.  Using the palms of his hand he managed to hold the cup and sipped at it.  

“I’ll go get something you can put your hands in,” Brian left the room.  While he was out there he reread instructions about frostbite.  It said it would be best to cut off any loose skin to fend off infection and then alcohol or peroxide should be used to disinfect.  When Brian got back he poured more whiskey into the mug.  “Drink it!”

“Bri,” Justin’s words were slurred, “I think you plan to hurt me.”

“Finish your whiskey.” Brian put some water in the pan and made sure it was a good temperature.  He decided to do two things at once. After Justin’s hands were in the warm water, Brian just took the bottle of rubbing alcohol and with no warning poured it over Justin’s hands and then forced them to stay submerged.  When he looked up, Justin had tears rolling down his cheeks.  “Fuck it, that’s enough.” Brian grabbed a towel that he brought along and Justin set his hands down on it.  Brian picked up a small scissors.

“What the hell you doing with those?”

“Just close your eyes and relax.”  Brian carefully and quickly trimmed off the skin from the broken blisters. Thankfully, Justin didn’t react so the skin must be dead.  He quickly got bandaged back on and then, after cleaning up the mess, he got back in bed with Justin.  It wasn’t long before he was sleeping.  Some time later he woke for some reason.  He then realized what was going on.  Whether or not Justin was wide awake or in a black out, he was giving Brian a blow job and it felt so good he started moving his hips gently.  Brian grabbed Justin’s head and thrust a handful of times before shuddering.

“Where did you get so good?”

“Just natural instinct I think. I used to wonder how my dad could think this was gross.”

“It was beautiful, Blondie. My dad called me a fairy.  The only thing he seemed to approve of was my son.   At least he thought I was man enough to have a child.”

The drugs were now causing him to crash and, like a small child, Justin pulled Brian’s arms around him as he put his head on Brian’s shoulder. More asleep than awake he said, “He just doesn’t know what a real man is.”

As Brian listened to Justin’s steady breathing, he struggled emotionally.  What was it about this man besides being one of the best lovers he had ever found.  Maybe he could get him to work for him and then they could just screw from time to time.  He could go back to his precious Steven.  He didn’t care how often he said it, Justin would never be satisfied with just that man.

Brian slipped out of the bed without waking Justin up.  He knew it wasn’t ‘scheduled’ but they hadn’t check the internet for a few day  He really wanted to see if he could connect to the internet and make sure there wasn’t anything else he could do to help but of course, there was no connection.  “Shit,” he said under his breath.  He was getting a little stir crazy in the cabin but his fear of wolves wouldn’t let him. He wandered around and finally, for some unknown reason, he opened the closet that led under the steps.  He had a lantern with him and looked around.  It was bigger than it looked. He was careful around the clothes but once he passed through the rod holding it, he saw there was quite a bit stored back there. He set the lamp down and opened a box.  He found some art supplies.  Maybe Justin would like to use those if his hands healed before they left.

He then opened another box and found an old set of encyclopedias. He looked for the F and looked up Frostbite.  He carried the book out with him and reviewed what it said in the book. After reading through it he felt like they had been treating it the best way they could. It indicated that although it was painful, it was  mostly just surface damage which made him feel better even though he hated seeing him in pain.

Brian went into the kitchen and looked around. He had done very little cooking but maybe he could make something. He wasn’t going to try anything like bread but maybe he could make muffins or cupcakes…. What the hell was he thinking? Brian Kinney didn’t make cupcakes. He was so bored!  He walked back to the bedroom and slipped back into bed.  He wanted to be there when Justin woke up.  Maybe they would at least have sex again. That had always been amazing and it would distract him, distract them both for a while.

Justin was standing up when Brian walked in. He was trying to get comfortable on his feet wearing the soft slippers.  He took a step and grimaced.  “I can give you another…”

“No, I don’t like the feeling that comes after they start to wear off.  Maybe at bedtime but right now I have to move.  I have laid in bed enough today.”

“Let me help you.” Brian slipped his arm around Justin’s waist and slowly they made down the hallway, stopping so Justin could use the bathroom.  Once they reached the living room, Brian helped him sit down and put his feet up on the sofa, tucking a blanket around Justin’s legs. Brian stoked the fire and was just sitting down when the first gust of wind hit the building. “Shit, that was strong. Did you hear the way the windows shook? I don’t remember them doing that when we arrived.”

“Because they didn’t,” Justin said as he put his feet on the floor and stood up.”

“What are you doing?”

“I need to look outside.” When Justin got there it was already snowing quite hard and when the wind kicked up, he couldn’t even see the trees in front of the house.  “Brian, this isn’t good.    Do we have plenty of wood?” 

“Well, we have quite a bit but I can already feel the temperature dropping in here and it has barely started. Any suggestions?”

“I’m thinking we should move to the bedroom.  It is a smaller room and easier to heat.  We can do most everything from there.  We will have to grab food and water and use the bathroom from time to time but….”

“God, I wish I could use my hands.  We are going to get really tired of the same food without being able to have bread or biscuits.”

“Well, tonight we can have the rest of the soup I made yesterday and we have plenty of crackers.   Brian went into the kitchen and found a large empty box in the pantry.  He loaded it with food that they could warm up on the stove in the bedroom.  Justin forced himself to walk into the kitchen and pointed a couple things out to Brian that they would probably need.  If it gets as cold as I think it might, we may have no running water by morning. Damn, I wish I could help.  I will manage to start the bathtub water so we will have that.  Fill up the sink and those two big pans.  

While Brian filled everything with water and organized the box of food, Justin walked to the bathroom. Tears came to his eyes as he managed to get the water going.  He had a feeling it would be frozen over in the morning but at least they could use it ice chunk by ice chunk.  Justin had noticed an old chamber pot in the closet and he put that in the bathroom.  By the time he got the water turned off, his hands were bleeding and his feet throbbed. 

As Justin sat down on the bed Brian walked in with the supplies from the kitchen.  “Awe, fuck, your hands….”

“They’ll be alright. Did you get everything?”

“I just need to get wood.  I am going to get all of the wood by the fireplace in the other room. We have quite a bit here already and with what we have in there we should be good for a while.” Once Brian had all the wood in there he shut the door tightly. He even laid a towel along the bottom of the door. “It’s already dropped at least ten degrees in the rest of the house.”

“From the sound of the wind, that doesn’t surprise me. Can you make sure the drapes are all closed tightly.  Anything that will stop the drafts will keep it warmer here.”

“How smart are you, actually?  I swear you know everything about everything.” Brian said as he put more wood in the stove and then turned his attention back to Justin.  “Let’s see if you did any damage.” Justin flinched as Brian unwrapped his hands. “Other than the bleeding spots, the rest actually look better than this morning. They are actually less raw looking. You didn’t answer my question.”

“I do alright.  I was accepted to Dartmouth but when my father cut me off, I couldn’t afford it anymore and I had been accepted at the art school in Pittsburgh.” The whole house felt like it was shuttering when I gust of wind hit it. Brian helped Justin get comfortable after setting the soup at the back of the stove where it could start thawing and warming up.  

Brian walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.  “Justin, I am going to admit to you that I can’t promise I won’t touch you if we sleep together.  I am not a man who denies himself often but if you say no, I  will try to follow your request.  I can’t go back and forth.”

Justin put a hand behind Brian’s head and using his wrist, pulled him down. “I know I am going to hate myself after all this is over, but…”

As they lay together, catching their breath, the windows seemed to be rattling non stop now.  

Brian reached for Justin and pulled him close. “You can’t be ready to go again?” Justin smiled at him.

“Well, I am sure I could manage it but, let’s eat. I’m hungry.” Brian got up and filled two bowls with soup and brought a sleeve of crackers along with the soup for Justin. He started bringing the spoon to Justin’s mouth.

“Brian, If you set the bowl on the end table, I think I can feed myself.  They still hurt but the pins and needles feeling is gone. I can hold a spoon.”  Brian did as he was asked and then got his own bowl. They sat side by side while they ate. “What do you miss the most?”

“Miss the most?”

“I am craving anything that actually takes some chewing.  I would want a steak.  No, not steak, chicken. There is this recipe.  It’s our favorite. Steven and I….oh, sorry.  You don’t want to hear about us.”

“Well, I’m not sure I want to hear about him but I want to hear about you and obviously he is an important part of you.  So what would you have if you could have anything?”

“It’s this amazing chicken dinner.  We make it on the weekend when we have plenty of time.  The chicken is seasoned and browned slightly and then we add mushrooms and other seasonings and let it simmer very low for a couple hours.  Then Steven makes the most amazing mashed potatoes. They are so silky and creamy.  We usually roast some vegetables to serve with it like carrots and onions, maybe some zucchini or brussel sprouts. The juices in the pan are thickened just a little bit and butter is added and then, oh god, now I really miss food like that. We drizzle the juices over top and I think I almost made myself cum.”

“I suppose you share tasting spoons and touch and kiss when you have time.” Brian made the comment sound snarky.

“Sometimes.  Steven loves to make love but he isn’t all that adventurous outside of the bedroom. That doesn’t mean I am deprived in any way. But that chicken and the mushroom gravy is just so fuckin’ good.”

“It sounds like it.  I am sure you realize it by now, I am not much of a cook.  My mom didn’t want me in the kitchen and she was a decent cook but it was just plain meat and potatoes.  We didn’t have extra money for fancy food. Not that chicken and mushrooms are fancy but my mom would never have cooked it like that.”

“God, I wonder how cold it is out there.  It is freezing in here even with the stove going.” Justin shivered.

“Get under the blankets.  I’m just going to rinse this stuff and put more wood on the fire and then I plan to join you in that warm bed.”  Brian started straightening up. “Shit, I should have brought in something to wash the dishes in. I’m going to go get something.  It is only going to get colder in the rest of the house.”  Brian put on a sweater and then the old robe Justin had been wearing around the house. “Be right back.  I get the warm side of the bed when I get back.”

Brian slipped out of the room, closing the door as quick as he could. He rushed down the short hall and into the kitchen.  He just needed to find a container to wash dishes in. As he opened a cupboard he heard an odd noise.  It sounded like it was coming from outside.  It must just be the wind but then he heard something that couldn’t be the wind.  It almost sounded like a baby crying.  He knew that there was not a child outside the door. He went out on the porch and it took his breath away.  It was so cold!  He cracked open the outside door and once he saw what it was he slammed it shut again.  He rushed back into the house, putting two doors between him and that creature.

A voice came from down the hall, “Brian, is anything wrong?”

“Fuck, yes there is something wrong! One of them is outside the door!”  He called back.

“One of who…..you mean there is a wolf outside the door? Brian, a full grown wolf would never be..”

“Who said anything about full grown?”

Justin appeared in the kitchen shivering.  “Brian we can’t let a puppy freeze to death at our door.”

“Justin, it isn’t a puppy.  It’s a wolf!”

“I am not letting a helpless baby…” Justin started opening the door of the porch.  

Brian pushed the door shut.  “Fuck! You aren’t going out there with only that shirt on.  I’ll get him.  Find a blanket to wrap him in.”  Justin rushed to the living room where he knew there was a box of blankets.  In one fluid motion Brian opened the outside door and grabbed the call of fur at his feet before slamming the door shut again. Brian came into the kitchen and then realized the cub wasn’t moving.

“Here, let me have the little thing.” Justin said, pulling the little furball close to him.

“He was moving when I first saw him.  Not anymore.”

“We all need to get into the bedroom or we will freeze.”  Once they were in the room and the door was shut and the bottom of the door was sealed.  Once they were in the heated room again, Justin started looking at the young cub in his arms. “Well, there isn’t much we can do except wait.  If we were too late, we can put him on the porch in the morning.” Justin brought the motionless bundle to his mouth and kissed his head.  Justin stood and gently laid the blanket on the floor by the stove and wrapped it around the fur covered body and got back in the warm bed. “Poor baby.”

“Justin, you just brought a wolf into the house.  What if we woke up and it is at our throats?”

“Come here, big boy.  Let me protect you from the four pounds of fluff.”  Justin felt him shiver a bit.  He was sure he was cold but some of that was probably nerves. “I’m sorry but I couldn’t let that little one outside.  I bet I can take your mind off of him for a while.” Justin’s hand moved under the blankets and his hand slipped into the ratty old thermal underwear Brian was wearing. 
“Well, it looks like I may have woken something up?” As his hand began to work wonders under the covers, Justin started kissing Brian and then began dropping little kisses between the buttons  His tongue would dip in and out between the fabric as he moved below the blanket and soon the last thing on Brian’s mind was the cub on the floor.

“Oh,,,,,,,,,,,,,, “ Brian groaned as Justin sucked him dry.  Justin moved back up and Brian held him close,  “God, you are so good at that.”

As Justin lay in Brian’s arms he heard something. He realized it was the cub by the stove.  It was whimpering and shivering. Justin slipped out of bed and carefully picked the wolf cub up. “He’s alive,” he said in a soft sing-song voice as not to scare it.  “Is there any of your soup left?”

“You’re going to feed it our soup?”

“Brian, we can’t save it just to let it starve.  Tomorrow I will mix up some powdered milk for it but for tonight soup it is.”

Brian looked at the little furball Justin was holding, “It is really cute.” Justin put a bowl on the floor and emptied the remainder of the soup into it. Soon the cub was eating noisily.  Justin’s whole face shone as he watched the little animal eat.  Brian slipped his arm around Justin and kissed him, “You are so beautiful. I don’t know if I have ever seen anyone as perfect.”

“Ha, I am far from perfect. My legs are too short, my hands are large.”

“I am not bothered by the size of your hands. I know what you can do with them.” Brian saw the cub do what babies do on the floor and then it circled on the blanket and laid down again, falling to sleep immediately.  Justin started to move to clean up the mess but Brian pushed him back down. “The last thing you need to do is get an infection in your hands.” Brian quickly cleaned it up and got back into bed.  “So, tell me more about a night at home with Steven.  After you eat do you clean up together?”

“That might depend on how much we drank along with the meal. We would always put away the extra food and then we would leave the kitchen all messed up and we went to the bedroom.  Neither of us were strictly a top of a bottom.  We would often take turns and on a night like that we might do a lot of playing.  We would take different toys and, well, play until we were both sore and exhausted.  But it was the best kind of sore….”

Brian could hear a bit of sadness in his voice. “What is it?”

“I doubt Steven even knows I’m missing.  I understood why he wanted to go on this study trip.  It will be really good for his resume but ….I had an uneasy feeling about him going away and...I know who went on the trip with him and even though I know he loves me but sometimes...I just don’t understand him.  No matter how long I’m with him, there is always a small part of him I just don’t understand.  I so hope to marry him and grow old together …..”

“Why’d you stop?” Brian asked as he stroked Justin’s hair.

“When I came on this trip, I believed that.  Now, well, I wonder if I am limiting myself. I always thought I wanted average, a routine, ordinary.  I’m not sure that is all I want anymore.”

“Blondie, you are so much more than ordinary.  You might be one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met.  Now, shut up and get some sleep.”

Brian fell asleep long before Justin.  Extraordinary, Mr. Kinney thinks I’m extraordinary.  Justin drifted off more confused than he ever had been.  What did he really want out of his life?  He looked at Brian and was sure he knew.

Chapter 6

After four days the wind finally calmed down. Justin’s hands were much better.  There were still a few tender spots but the skin was no longer weeping and there was no sign of infection.  “So do you think we can move into the rest of the house again?” Brian asked as the cub nawed on his shoe.  He grabbed it and it’s partner and put them on the dresser.  “Those are $1200 Italian shoes.  Can we put him back outside now that is calmed down?”

“Mr. Kinney, would you put a lost child back outside because it got light out?” Justin scooped up the cub and cuddled him. “GC is going nowhere unless his mother knocks on the door and asks for him.

“First of all, don’t even joke about the wolves coming back and second, “Gray Cub is a stupid name. GC….really?”

“Go light the other fire before I forget I like you sometimes.” Justin kissed GC and set him down just as Brian pulled him close. “A couple hours ago you were showing me just how much you liked me.”

“Just because I can’t get enough of your body, doesn’t mean I like you anything.”

“And here I thought I had a new sex toy.”

“One more comment like that and I am sleeping upstairs again.”

“God, no, don’t start doing that. I hate sleeping alone.”

“I’ll let you have GC,” Justin grinned up at him.

“Hell, no you won’t.” Brian let him go and headed out to the living room.  He was back in a few minutes.  “It is freezing out there but it is a sunny calm day.”

“How is our wood supply?” Justin asked as he pulled on a flannel shirt.  

“We are going to need to find more soon. Ever chopped down a tree?”

“Just some small ones when I went camping as a kid.  I know there is more out in the building  but that supply is running low.  Do you have any idea how long we have been here?”

“I haven’t been keeping track.  If my computer still has a charge I could see but my guess is a month. How is the food supply holding out?”

Justin looked at Brian, “We still have food but our options are getting less and less.  We could get really tired of beans eventually.”

“Maybe we should cut back to one meal a day. We don’t know how long it will be after the last blizzard. I was thinking they might be looking for us.  You know pretty soon they will totally give up on finding us alive.”

“Thanks for that little bit of sunshine!” Justin rolled his eyes.  Brian looked a bit guilty. “Don’t worry, I have had the same thought. Since it looks nice out, let's go out together and collect the wood and take a look if we can find anything else out there.”

“Justin, I really don’t…”

“If we do it together, it won’t take us long.  If you put on those old boots and the long underwear under those jeans, you should be fine for half an hour. Plus if we are working we will keep warm and I am not doing it alone.”

Justin picked up GC and walked out of the bedroom leaving Brian alone to put layers on.  “Come on, baby, let's find you some food.”

“Sure, the cub eats and we starve.” Brian called after him through the door.

Twenty minutes later the three of them were out in the snow.  Even Brian had to smile watching the cub jumping in the snow and disappearing only to pop up a few feet away.  They were thankful that the back door would open.  There were spots where the snow was up to the second story but whoever built the cabin knew what they were doing when they put up the house and the attached porch.  They did have to scoop some or they wouldn’t be able to get the wood back to the house. As they walked they did warm up and the sun made the snow sparkle like diamonds.  Justin lagged back a bit while the pup played.  Impulsively, he packed a handful of snow together and nailed Brian in the back of his head. 

Brian turned around angrily but when he saw the impish look on Justin’s face he grabbed a handful of snow himself and caught Justin on the shoulder.  It was now on. Soon they were only a couple feet apart and the cub got caught in their feet causing them to tumble into the snow. 

“You know, Mr. Kinney, you are even more beautiful when you smile, really smile.”

“I haven’t had a lot to smile over in my lifetime.”  Justin brushed some snow off Brian’s face and Brian pulled him close.  He turned them both over and lowered his  lips to Justin’s. After kissing for a few minutes, Brian separated abruptly. “We should get going.  I’m getting cold.” 

Justin wasn’t sure what just happened but he was right.  It was getting cold.  Together they loaded the sled with wood and then together they pulled it on the path they had cut in the snow. They made several trips until all the wood had been moved near the house or on the porch. By the time they got back in the cabin, the living room was warm and both men were hungry.  “I’ll find something to eat if you want to start heating some water.  By the time the meal was ready, the sun was going down.  They sat side by side on the sofa as they ate.  Once Justin had finished eating, GC whined to get up so Justin put him on his lap and stroked his thick fur.  

“Brian, what happened outside? I mean we were kissing and, face it, we were both enjoying ourselves and then you just shut down.”

Brian’s hand moved to the wolf and he started petting him. “I … just my life hasn’t had a lot of levity in it.  I remembered the one time I was in junior high and one of my teachers asked if I wanted to go to the mountains with him to ski.  Most of my teachers knew I had a shitty life.  I mean I had a black eye once in a while and I would stay late at school as often as I could.” Brian shifted in his seat and he placed his elbows on his legs as he rested his head on his hands.  “Mom and Dad were just glad to get rid of me and I always wanted space between them and me. I should probably go back a little further.  One day a couple weeks earlier, I volunteered to help the PE teacher and when I arrived at the locker room he was showering.  He was young and beautiful and well, I gave him a blowjob.  That was the first time I had touched a man like that.  I knew I was gay but I was probably 13. I hadn’t done anything yet until that day. When I had finished he assured me I was very good and he would love to show me a few things.”

Brian got up and as he made tea for them both he continued to talk.“That’s when the guy made up a story to my parents and whisked me away for a weekend of fun that  I thought would be snow and slopes.  It ended up being a weekend of sex and booze in his cramped little apartment a couple miles from my house.”

Justin moved the sleeping pup to a stack of blankets and then took a cup of tea from Brian, leading him back to the sofa.  By now it was dark outside and the only light was from the fireplace.  Justin reached for the lantern but Brian stopped him. “The first night I was upset that we weren’t going anywhere but as he gave me booze throughout the night I decided I was glad I at least wasn’t with my parents. And then he gave me my first blowjob.  I was sure I was in love. Hell, I didn’t know what love was.  I still don’t.  That just cemented my belief that love wasn’t for me. I would never know what it meant. I think I have talked more than I needed to tonight.”

“You’re not going to tell me about the rest of the weekend?”

“It’s none of your fuckin’ business,” and with that, Brian had shut down for the night.

Justin didn’t say anything else.  He went to the bedroom and collected his things.   He then picked up the cub and he walked toward the door to the stairs.  “Shit, Justin.  I …..fuck you!”

“Not tonight, you won’t,” and with that Justin was gone.

“Damn!” Brian threw the mug he was holding and it shattered into thousands of pieces in the fireplace. “Why can’t I ever be reasonable?” he said softly as he walked back to the bedroom. 

Justin laid with the cub. The little guy had gotten under the blanket so he could curl against Justin to stay warm.  “You know, GC, it is warmer up here now since the snow is nearly to the roof on this side.” He had heard the mug shatter.  Brian Kinney was the most infuriating man he had ever met.  However, the more time he spent with him, the more he understood why.  He had no family support.  He had a feeling the story Brian was about to tell him was another big part of the story.  Rumor had it that Brian had been with hundreds maybe thousands of men but it was rare for him to ever sleep with the same man twice. He wasn’t sure if he had never loved or if it was because of his past he couldn’t love now.  “Mr. Kinney, if only you would let yourself be vulnerable once in a while….” with that he pulled the cub close and fell asleep.

Justin was up before Brian.  He let the cub out and once they had come back in, Justin did the same.  GC now followed him everywhere he went. So, once he finished washing up a bit, he went to the kitchen to make up some breakfast for the cub.  He wished he had something better for him.  Too bad there wasn’t dog food anywhere.  That would be better for him.  After mixing up a few leftovers to feed him, he set it on the floor and the wolf began to eat it.  Justin threw another log in the fireplace and then just opened the storage under the steps. He realized he needed some light so he lit the lantern and by the time he went back in, GC was next to him.  

Brian had mentioned the art supplies so that was the main thing Justin was looking for but he was so bored he needed to find something to do or he knew he would end up in bed all day.  As he pulled out a box of paints, he noticed GC pawing at the old rug that was on the floor. “Did you find something, GC? Let me move the rug, boy.”  Justin rolled up the rug and for the first time he saw a trap door. “Well what do we have here?”  Justin put the lamp near the opening and started to descend  the built in ladder.  GC nudged the lantern, “Careful, boy, we don’t want a fire.” Justin picked up the light and started scanning the discovery. It took him a moment to process what it was.  It was a root cellar.  The shelves were lined with canned food.  He felt like a little kid that had just found Santa’s stash.

“BRIAN, get your lazy ass out of bed and see what I found!”  He heard the floor creek and then heard some footsteps.

“Where the hell are you?”

As if on cue, GC howled and then Brian’s head popped over the edge of the trap door. “What the hell?”

“I wouldn’t have noticed it either.  GC found it.  Brian it is full of food.  You and I and GC have plenty of food.” Justin popped into view.  “Let me hand up some of it.  There are all the same vegetables as we have had but now we have a variety of meat.  Justin handed up jars of pork, chicken, beef, salmon and even breakfast sausage..  He also handed up a bag that contained venison jerky.

“Wow, I guess we don't have to worry about food.”

“No there is even homemade vegetable soup and Brian,” Justin paused.

“There is canned butter and lard.  I didn’t even know you could can butter.   Plus there are different fruits.  I think I will bake a pie today.”

Brian reached down and took the last box before pulling Justin up. Justin stumbled and ended up in Brian’s  arms.  Brian’s lips began to come closer when Justin said, “You owe GC an apology.  He may have saved us.  And I have to admit, as much as I love fresh salmon, the canned version just doesn’t look very appetizing so I hope GC likes it.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Brian’s mouth was very closed to Justin’s. “Good job, GC and Justin, last night…”

“Brian, it is obvious you want to keep things private and that’s fine with me. Now I can cook and I can paint.” Justin looked up at Brian giving him permission to kiss him.  When they separated again, Justin said,  “What kind of pie do you want for dinner?”

“Pie, you can seriously make a pie?” 

“Well, I never have before but I want to try so what kind?”

“Surprise me.  See what recipe you can find.” Brian kissed him again.  “Blondie, about last night, I just don’t get personal with anyone. I never talk about that kind of stuff. I am just so fucking bored.”

“Brian you might want to shut up before you have me realizing that you are only screwing me because I’m here. I’ve never fed into the one night stand shit.  I want a relationship. I want a husband who will love me in the good and the bad.”

“Well,  then, be honest with yourself.  You are in for the bad if you ever marry that loser you are with.”

“Steven is not a loser.  He is my friend, my lover… He is my partner for life.”

“Then you better get ready for a sorry life.”

“Even if I, we don’t have the passion you think we need, I will wake up every morning next to the person I can trust most in my life.”

“Justin, I could never settle for safe.  Do you want me to make oatmeal or will you?”

“It will be ready in about 15 minutes.”

Justin spent all morning in the kitchen.  He started some bread dough and he made some pie crust. While the bread dough rose he put the pie together.  By mid afternoon he had the bread proofing for the last time and the pie was cooling on the kitchen counter.  

Justin walked to the bedroom door, “Mr. Kinney, GC and I are going outside just to get some fresh air.  You are welcome to join us.  I know what it’s like to keep your sanity here. Whether I like you or not, you are a human being and I care about you. Join us if you like.”

Ten minutes later, Brian came outside and found Justin and the cub running in the small patch of open snow near the house.  Justin stood laughing as the cub pounced on snow that was blowing around. He threw a quick smile at Brian.

“Did you really mean that? Did you mean you didn’t like me?”

“Mr. Kinney, I don’t really know if I like you because you won’t let me get to know who you are.”

“Is this just because I wouldn’t talk about something that happened almost 20 years ago?”

“I just don’t know if I should dislike you or feel sorry for you or both.”

“Don’t ever feel sorry for me.  I don’t need….” Brian’s response was as if he had just been slapped but then he tilted his head.  “Is that a plane? Do I hear a plane?”

“Yes, I hear it.”  Justin stripped off the bright colored coat he was wearing and just as he brought it above his head he saw it come into view.  He waved the coat over his head and as the plane flew overhead they saw it circle around. “Do you think they see us? Are they circling because they see the house or are the circling because they see us?” Justin was jumping up and down when the plane came overhead the third time and this time the plane lowered one wing and then the other making a definite acknowledgement  that they saw them.

“They saw us, Blondie.  Whoever is in that plane saw us!” Brian picked up Justin and spun with him.  GC got under Brian’s feet and the men fell to the ground.  They were laughing and kissing and GC was jumping all over them.  Brian brought his mouth down on Justin and the kiss grew deeper.  Just as Brian’s hands started sliding under Justin’s shirt, they heard what could only be called an explosion.  It was far away but when they both jumped up and looked around they saw a trail of smoke from the direction the plane had gone.

“Brian, tell me that wasn’t the plane.  Tell me that our chances of being rescued….”

“I don’t know, Justin. Let’s go inside and see if we can get that old radio to work.  It is clear today, maybe we can get a station in. “

They entered the house and after taking off the coats and boots, Brian turned on the generator.  Brian decided since the generator was running anyway, he would bake the bread in the oven.  Justin was shaking.  How could his emotions handle it.  He went from soaring one minute to a total crash the next. He heard a lot of static and after setting a timer he went into the living room where Brian was sitting. Just as he did so, a voice came on the air.  “The plane hired by Kinnetik, looking for its founder, Brian Kinney, crashed as it was trying to land.  They had reported earlier in the day that their radio appeared to be having issues and no contact had been made in several hours. A spokesman for Kinnetik, Theodore Schmidt, says they will spare no expense to find Brian Kinney. Another man, Justin Taylor, disappeared the same weekend.  A spokesman for the convention both men were headed to states that both men rented cars from the same kiosk and neither have been seen since.  In other news….”

“Well, at least we know they are looking.” Brian said, trying to sound confident.

“Who is this Theodore?” Justin said, control his emotions the best he could.

“Teddy is my CEO and if I’m honest, one of my best friends.  He is just a good guy who is very smart in the world of business.  At least we know they are looking for us.”

“Of course the only people that knew where we were….”  Justin started crying  Brian walked over and sat next to him.  He pulled Justin into his arms and, if he was honest with himself, shed a couple tears himself.  “Brian, I know I don’t mean anything to you but just once can you fake it and make me feel like someone who cares knows where I am.”

“Justin, I….” Brian lowered his mouth and the kiss was so probing, so thorough he really did feel like Brian cared.  For the second time today, just as Brian’s hand slipped under Justin’s shirt they were interrupted by the stove timer.  Brian backed off a bit and softly said, “Let me show you tonight.  Neither of us need to be alone tonight.”

“I better check on the bread.” Justin got up and pulled the bread out before turning off the generator.

Brian gave him a little space the rest of the afternoon. Justin seemed to go into his own little world.  He had made bread and a pie and then started on the main dish for the meal.   GC had found a warm spot near the fireplace and had been napping until he smelled food in the kitchen.  Justin opened a jar of the salmon and gave it to him mixed with some cooked rice to help fill his little belly.  Gray Cub had emptied the bowl very quickly and then after a bathroom break he went to lay down by the fireplace again. When Justin had completed the meal he softly said, “Brian, if you want to come in here, your plate is ready.”

Brian walked into the kitchen and smiled.  Seeing plates full of wonderful smelling food, made him look at Justin closely.  The young man, even though stressed and emotionally shattered, he had worked all afternoon to feed them both. “This looks and smells great. Thanks, Justin.” Brian kissed his cheek.  Why did that little kiss shoot down to his cock? It was a kiss on the cheek.  The plane incident must have struck him harder than he thought it had. This is the man that he could spend the rest of his life with.  What if they were not found? 

“Hello, Brian?”  Justin was staring at him with a perplexed.  “Is something wrong?”

“No, I’m sorry.  My mind wandered for a minute. You have been working all afternoon.”

“I needed to.  Two men died today trying to save us.  I am going to have to figure out how I’ll live with that. Enough of that.  Let’s eat while the food is hot.”

The fresh bread with butter and a bit of honey still warm from the oven almost melted in their mouths. He had made a couple kinds of vegetables along with some meat all tasted wonderful tonight.  As they finished Justin went to get them each a piece of pie and quickly straightened up the rest of the kitchen while water was heating for tea.  Justin had decided he really needed Brian tonight.  Even though Brian wasn’t the man he loved, he had learned to care about him.

As they at the pie and drank tea side by side, Justin moved closer to Brian after setting down the empty plate.  He still had the cup of tea in his hands but he laid his head on Brian’s shoulder. “Brian, please take me to bed. I need you.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Brian stood and offered his hand to Justin who took it and then leaned into Brian’s body and for the third time, he reached under Justin’s shirt and this time nothing happened to stop him.  His arm was like a vice around Justin’s waist keeping him pressed tightly against him.  GC woke from his nap and as the two men walked down the hall as they dropped clothes along the way, Justin had to laugh when he saw GC enter the bedroom right behind them with his shirt in his mouth. “He picks up after us better than we do.” 

“You know we can’t keep a wolf.  We’ve had him less than a week and I swear he’s doubled in size.”

“He has not doubled in size. Now do you want to talk about our pet wolf or do you want to screw me.” 

Brian threw him on the bed and he started to undo his fly.  He then pulled off Justin’s pants and then he undid his own.  As he pulled out a condom and slipped it on himself, he positioned himself and as he moved into him. Justin reached for his neck and pulled him down to kiss him.  As Brian increased his speed soon they both climaxed and then laid together in the silence.  The only sound was the crackling of the wood and a soft snore from GC. Brian held him close.  He felt protective of him for some reason.  

“Brian, how many condoms did you take along for the weekend even? I mean we’ve been here probably about a month and we have used quite a few of them.”

“If I run out, you won’t let me screw you?”

“If we are out of condoms, I see a lot of oral sex in our future.” Justin smiled at him.

“As long as it’s a lot.” Brian rolled over so he was partially on top of Justin.  With that said Brian moved down his body and soon Justin had cum again.  This time deep in Brian’s throat.

When Brian came back up, Justin held onto him, guiding his Brian’s head to his chest.  “Brian, I really would like to hear what happened to you that weekend…”

“Tomorrow, Justin.” Right now I need….

In the distance, probably miles away, the pack of wolves began to howl and Brian clung to Justin.  On the floor, GC sat up.  He tried to imitate the wolves but instead ended up making Justin laugh. GC walked over and managed to jump onto the bed with them. He curled up between  them. 

As the wolves continued, Justin did his best to calm Brian as GC decided he would help by curling up against Brian’s side.  As he dozed off, he pulled the pup a little closer and said, “Is this what you call sleeping with the enemy?”  All three of them fell into a deep sleep as the wolves went out of range.

Chapter 7 

“God, who taught you to kiss?” Brian asked groggily.  As his eyes fluttered open he was nose to nose with GC. “SHIT!  He’s trying to eat my face!”

“Give me a break.  GC is giving you a kiss.”

“Don’t think for a minute I didn’t see what he did to my $1,200.00 shoes.”

“Oh, you saw that, did you?” Justin paused for a moment, “Did you say $1,200.00? What makes any pair of shoes worth that much.” 

“They are Italian leath…..get this thing off of me.”

“Come here, GC. Let Mr. Grumpy alone.”

“Doesn’t he have to go out?”  Brian said flatly as he stretched.

“I just got back in.” Justin moved his hands down to Brian’s testicals.  

“See it’s a little cold out there.”  Brian nearly screamed as he touched them. He rolled and pinned Justin to the mattress.  “Just for that, I think you owe me…”  Justin didn’t have to be coaxed.  He moved under the blankets and replaced his hands with his lips and he licked and nibbled Brian’s skin.  Brian laid back and tried to relax as Justin made his body soar. He wanted to take him fast and hard but he had done some counting and they were running short on condoms so he was limiting them to one a day.  Justin’s head popped out, and extended his hand.  “There is nothing I would rather do than feel that tight hole of yours close around me but we need to rashen them now”  Justin shrugged and slipped back under the blankets and took Brian in his mouth gently sucking until Brian shuttered and sighed as he gave into his need.

“Protein is always good for breakfast,” Justin said with a grin on  his face.  He moved up and kissed Brian.  While you were still sleeping I turned on the radio to listen to the news.  The plane was totally destroyed. They had no radio so know one knows where we are. I was thinking maybe we could find some bright colored material and attach it on the roof somehow.  That way if another plane comes into the area….”

“That’s a good idea,” it was Brian’s turn to move downward as Justin trembled just from the thought of him. Brian began to stroke his balls and then back further. Justin began to thrash as the combination of Brian’s hands and mouth brought Justin to an earth shattering climax.

Once Brian came back up and laid on his pillow. Pulling Justin close they stayed that way while Brian again drifted off.  Justin left the bedroom and quickly dressed in front of the fireplace which was now blazing from the logs he had added earlier.  GC tugged at his slippers but Justin offered him the belt of his robe to play tug of war.  When GC settled down in front of the hearth, Justin washed his face and realized he hadn’t shaved in days.  Maybe later he could shave Brian and Brian could shave him. He started thinking about the ritual of shaving and how he and Steven would shave each other at least once a month. There was something about the touch of a lover and being so vulnerable. He pictured Steven bringing the blade to his throat but then he closed his eyes and it was Brian’s face and hands touching him.  Justin knew he had changed while he was here with Brian.  He loved Steven but that wasn’t enough anymore.  Brian had taught him what passion truly was.  He realized he would never be satisfied with Steven again.

Justin dropped onto the sofa and put his head in his hands as tears began to roll down his face.  He realized he wasn’t only going to lose one of his best friends but he was losing his future.  For the last two years he had images that only included Steven.  That was all gone now.  He still wasn’t sure Brian was part of his future but he knew he needed more than a comfortable life.  He needed adventure.  He needed to feel the obsession.

Justin was quiet throughout the day.  He mixed up some bread and then spent time outside with GC.  While they played in the snow, Justin thought he saw something in  the woods. It was staying out of view but he had to think it was a wolf.  Maybe it was GC’s mother? He stood and looked and finally was sure it was a wolf. He still wasn’t going to send GC off to the edge of the forest just yet.

Brian had noticed Justin was quiet after he had come out of the bedroom.  He wondered what had him quiet this time.  He found himself looking out the window as Justin entertained the cub and the cub entertained him. He noticed Justin looking toward the edge of the woods and then he saw it.  Didn’t Justin see it.  There was a wolf right there.  If it wanted to it could close in faster than Justin could get to the cabin.  He was at the door in no time, “Justin, get in  here.  Don’t you see the wolf? It could be here in seconds.  Get the fuck in here!”

Justin picked up GC and moved toward the house, sprinting the last few yards when he saw a blur moving toward him. Brian grabbed Justin’s arm and yanked him in as he slammed the door shut. Brian pulled Justin into his arms as they heard huffing outside the door. He held Justin tight and then crushed his mouth with his own.  When he finally loosened his grip he pushed Justin, who was still holding the squirming pup, into the kitchen. 

“What the hell were you thinking? You saw it out there and stayed! You should have just left it and run like hell! Instead you bring it back in here and….” The cub was tugging on his pants leg and Brian kicked it away, not hard enough to hurt it but enough to scare it.

“What the hell, Brian? He is just a little….” Justin broke away from his grasp and rushed further into the house and picked up the spooked cub.  Holding it close he calmed him and after he was settled, he set the now sleepy baby down by the fire.  He moved the dutch oven into the coals to bake   

Brian had looked at Justin as he walked into the living room and knew he was better to leave him alone for a while.   Justin sat down but then got back up and paced back and forth in the small room.  Then he went to the kitchen and started digging through the pantry and then started banging pots and pans around before rushing back just in time to save the bread from becoming a lump of coal.

“DAMN, FUCK, SHIT!!!” Justin screamed at the top of his lungs before dropping on the sofa.  

Brian rushed down the hall.  “What is it? Did you hurt yourself? Are you alright?” Brian sat on his haunches in front of him. He took Justin’s hands first, making sure nothing was wrong with the healing fingers. Next he tilted Justin’s head up and looked into his eyes.  “Justin, what’s wrong?” Brian’s voice went soft.  He reached out and pulled him into his arms. “It doesn’t matter, Blondie. You’re safe. We’re here together.  You’re not alone.”  He sat down next to him but didn’t say anything. He let Justin cry it out. 

Justin wiped his eyes, “I’m sorry. I…..I just want to be home.  I just want to be safe and warm and I want to order pizza or Chinese and up until now I wanted to see Steven and I still do but I can never love Steven like I should now. Brian I …. I just want to go home and I burnt the bread.”

“Let me make dinner.  Why don’t you take a nap.”

“No, I’ll just fixate.”  GC walked over and jumped up next to Justin but veered away from Brian when he saw him on the other side. 

Brian reached over and picked up the cub who nipped at his finger drawing a drop of blood.  “I deserved that.” He brought the cub up to his neck and snuggled it  “He is kind of cute but I can’t help remembering what he will be some day.”

“Brian, what if this never ends.  I sometimes feel like it will never be back to normal.  I’m not sure I know what normal is anymore.”

“Justin, that weekend I spent with my teacher, I should say the first weekend I spent with my teacher, it was a lot like this.  I was very disappointed we weren’t going snowboarding but after the first blowjob I decided that was much better than sitting at home with my parents. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to be or where I belonged.” Brian set the squirming cub back on the floor. “The problem was his demeanor changed.  He told me there was much more to sex.  He got me drunk. Hell, I thought he was going to rip me apart the first time but you probably felt the same the first time.”

“Brian, you don’t have to…. I know you aren’t comparing you and me to you and the teacher.” 

“No, it was almost 20 year ago but maybe because there is nothing to do here that has me thinking about it.” Brian took a deep breath, “I thought he really cared about me. Finally someone cared. There were a couple more weekends that all included booze and sex.  I convinced myself he actually loved me but then one day I snuck into his office during study hall.  My dad had lost it the night before and I was going to ask him to help me get away from my house but he just said I was too dramatic and he didn’t need that in his life.  He sent me back to study hall just as a younger student walked into his office. I knew at that moment he didn’t love me.  He didn’t even care about me. That was when I knew I would never care about a lover again.”

“But, Brian, you do care about people. I  know you care about your son. I have seen it and I have seen the way you talk about friends.” Justin could tell now was not the time to hug him. “Where is he now? He isn’t teaching is he? I have a friend, Mel, who’s a lawyer. She…..”

“Mel? Not Melanie Marcus?”

“Ya, why? Do you know her?”

“She’s my son’s mother.  One of them anyway.  Her partner, Lindsay, and I went to college together. I bet that’s why you looked a little familiar.  I bet I saw you at something Lindsey drug me to. But no, he’s not still teaching.”  Brian got a glint in his eye.

“Ok, there is more to this story. What did you do to him?”

“What do you say we make some dinner? Is any of the bread salvageable?” Brian kissed Justin and couldn’t stop himself from sliding his hand under Justin’s shirt to feel his warm, soft skin. “I was thinking we could make some spaghetti with sauce and then we can dip the bread into the sauce so if it is a little crusty….”

“That sounds good.  And then you will tell me what happened to your teacher?”

“You might be able to pull it out of me and tomorrow, if Kujo’s  family  isn’t around, we can get a bright colored blanket on the roof to attract a plane if it comes by.”

“If the weather stays as nice as it has been I would think they would send out another plane soon. Your friend said he would do anything to get you back.”

“Are you in such a hurry to get back to Steven?” Brian said as he stood up and offered Justin his hand. Justin took it but didn’t say anything.  He picked up the pot with the bread in it and carried it into the kitchen. 

“Why don’t you start the water for spaghetti and I will get the sausage and sauce simmering. We might as well save gas and do it in the fireplace.” Justin said.

“Are we getting low on gas?”

“I haven’t checked for a while but there can’t be much left.  How long have we been here?”

“Well, the radio this morning gave the date and we have been here about six weeks.  If we hadn’t got hit by that second blizzard they probably would have been here already but you’re right, if we can use the fireplace we may as well.” Brian filled the pot water and carried it to the living room.  Justin followed him with a pan of sauce and meat.  Both pots were set near the fire. Justin started moving away but Brian stopped him and pulled him against him. “Earlier, you were upset.  Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No, I’m…..” Justin threw his arms around Brian’s neck and kissed him.  Brian’s arms tightened around him. Justin pulled back a bit after the kiss was long and languid.  “I …..I….” the sauce started rattling the top of the pan.  “Shit, I can’t let anything else burn today.”  After Justin had stirred the sauce, Brian put pasta in the water.  Justin walked into the kitchen and came back with the bread.  He had cut off a couple spots but after slicing it and spreading butter on it, it looked very good.  “Once it warms up it should be fine.”

Brian’s arms circled around Justin’s shoulders and he pulled him against his chest from behind. He brought his mouth to Justin’s ear, “Is there anything I can do for you?” He ran his tongue along Justin’s ear as he felt Justin’s body relax.

“Yes, but let’s eat first. Check the pasta.”

Half an hour later they were stuffed and GC was just finishing ‘washing their plates’ for them.  Justin leaned against Brian.  “So, Blondie, what can I do for you?”

“Let me shave you.”

“Shave me?”

“How long has it been since you shaved well? You electric razor has been out of power for a couple days and even before that…”

“You like to shave other guys?”

“Brian, have you ever… just get one of the kitchen chairs and bring it in here by the fire. I’ll get my shaving kit. “

Brian shrugged and got the chair.  Justin came back a few moments later and placed a couple things on the mantle of the fireplace.  He scooted a pan of water close to the flames and then took the washcloth he had brought along and put it in the water. He took the cloth out and after wringing it out he put it on Brian’s face before dropping it back in the pan and then took the shaving cream.  He put some in his hand and spread it on Brian’s face and neck.  Justin moved behind Brian and put a hand on Brian’s forehead, tilting his head back so it rested against Justin’s trunk.  And then Justin began to take the razer and started at the base of his neck and slowly drew the razer upward. He almost wished it was a straight edge but it was just a standard razer. Justin rinsed the blade off between every stroke. 

About halfway through Brian knew this was different than any shave he had ever had.  Each stroke began to send shockwaves through his body, directly to his cock. By the time Justin wiped off the remainder of the cream and then walked around to the front of Brian.  Brian spread his legs and pulled Justin so he was standing between them. Now Justin put a hand on each side of Brian’s face and tilted his head back again, bringing his mouth down on Brian’s.  Brian slowly stood up, not letting the kiss be broken.  “That was, fuck…. I want to fuck you so bad it hurts.”

“I was kind of hoping you would want to do that.” Justin took his hand and led him to the bedroom. Once they were in the room they added some wood to the fire and then slowly undressed each other.  When new skin was exposed lips would travel down it until more was bared. Justin ran his hands over Brian’s freshly shaved skin sending electrical shocks through him.

“Who the hell knew that shaving could be so….” Justin pushed Brian back so he laid on the bed and Justin dropped down to take Brian in his mouth. Brian arched to feel Justin’s mouth over more of him. He soon felt himself lose control as Justin gently licked the cum from his lips.

Brian pulled him up onto the bed and repaid the favor and soon they were laying together under the blankets. “Where the hell did you figure out how to make shaving erotic?”

“It is something Steven and I…” he stopped talking for a moment.  I will never be able to go back to him.  I doubt I will ever lose the guilt I am feeling.  But I know he will never be enough.  As much as I love him, I’m not in love with him.  I am not sure what I need but right now it isn’t him.  Brian, tell me what happened to your teacher.”  

“While I was in college I kept track of him.  I knew he left the school about the time I graduated.  He was hired by a minor league baseball team that had several kid’s programs.  He was in charge of young boys on a daily basis.  A friend of mine, Ted from the radio,” Justin nodded, “hacked into his computer at the office and found site after site of child porn.” Brian pulled him closer for comfort.  “It was so disgusting and as we looked at the different file folders, one of them had the name of my Jr. high on it.  After I deleted the pictures of me he had on there, we had a young boy take it to the police.  He had never met the guy but by the time the police realized that, they had plenty of evidence against the guy.  The likelihood of him ever getting out is next to none. Last I heard, he had been beat up so many times they had him in solitary.  How could I ever have thought that was love?”

“You were never taught what love was,” Justin stroked a smooth cheek and then kissed it.  “You never deserved any of that.  You didn’t deserve to have parents that were screwed up and you didn’t deserve to be taken advantage of because of it.  I had heard what an asshole you were and seen some of it myself but that’s just because you are scared to use your heart.”

“Why should I use my heart when it is my dick that keeps me happy?”  Brian positioned Justin.  His chest was on the bed leaving his ass high in the air and after Brian had tasted and tormented him long enough he slipped on a condom and moved into him.  He took it slow, bringing Justin to the brink and then letting him come down just enough and then he would take him even higher.  By the time they both could not restrain themselves they came together just as Brian pulled Justin up to lean again Brian’s chest. Justin’s sweat mingled with Brian’s as his back pressed against Brian’s chest.

Later as Brian snored softly, Justin pulled GC up on bed with him.  “GC, he has so much love to give, if only he could see it.  I don’t know if there is any way to heal his hurt or his heart.  I think, I’m fairly sure, I would enjoy trying to show him how to heal. I know he seems all big and bad.  He likes to act like big, bad Mr. Kinney but deep down he is just little Brian who wants to be loved because he is there.  Not because he did something good.  Not because he gave them money.  Not because he was straight. Just because he was Brian.”

Justin was sure he heard Brian sniffle and after turning to face him he pulled Brian into his arms and kissed him over and over.  “You are so worth loving, Brian Kinney.  You just need to realize it yourself.”

The next morning Justin got up with GC and let him outside.  He stayed near the door after yesterday.  The ground was covered with large wolf tracks. When he came back in moments later, he found Brian watching out the window.  

“You shouldn’t go outside without me to watch,” he said brusquely.

Justin slipped out of his coat and walked over to him.  He ran his hand over Brian’s still smooth cheek. He dropped a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Good Morning.”

Brian shouldered past him and walked into the living room.  Justin was still standing there looking at the living room door when he heard the radio turn on.  Justin stood in the doorway and watched Brian as the news came on.  There was some national news and then the local news began.  “It is another beautiful day and will begin to melt all the snow we have received this  winter.  This will make the search for the two missing men possible for the next several days. The belief is Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor may have found a cabin to stay in.  There are many of them in this area.  If the men did not find shelter there is little hope they are still alive.”

“After some tea we’ll get something on the roof,” Brian said. He shoved the old kettle they used for heating tea water further into the hearth.  Justin walked over and touched Brian’s shoulder.  He stiffened.

“Brian, what’s wrong?” Justin reached to touch his face but he jerked away.

“Don’t.  Just because I told you a couple things last night doesn’t mean I want your pity.”

“Brian, I am not feeling pity for you.  I just….”

“If you want to touch me I have a cock that could use some attention.”

“You really are an asshole.  Showing me you are human was not a show of weakness.  If anything it was the show of strength.  I’m  going to figure out if I can get on the roof from that side window upstairs.”

Justin went upstairs and by the time he was out on the roof over the kitchen, Brian was outside tracking him.  “I don’t need your assistance.  I am just going to do my best to attach this old blanket to something up here.”

“Be careful up there.” Brian called up.

“And here I planned to be reckless and crazy. Brian, I’ll be fine. I am just going to,” Justin lost his footing on the slick roof.  “Shit!” He caught his footing.

“See, I am not overreacting.”

“I’m fine.” Justin crawled back up and managed to attach the blanket to a vent.  “I think this will stay put.”  As Justin said this he watched a large chunk of snow slowly slide to the edge of the roof and then it dropped off the edge.  He slid carefully to the lip of the roof and looked over.  Brian stood there completely buried in snow. He tried not to laugh, “Are you alright?”

Brian looked up and just sneered.  “I’m fine!” He snapped just as one last snow dropped and hit him smack in the face.  

Now Justin got the giggles.  As he tried to cross back to the lower roof he lost his footing and this time he couldn’t stop.  “Watch out!” he shouted as he fell off the edge of the roof.

Brian quickly moved the few steps to where Justin had disappeared into a snowbank.  “Justin, hey, Justin.” Brian supported his neck as Justin tried to sit up. “Don’t, you little shit!  What if something  is broken.?”

“Brian, this drift isn’t much harder than a bed. I’m fine.”  As Justin sat up he realized maybe he spoke too soon.  He dropped back. “Ok, so I’m not hurt seriously but I think I might have twisted my back as I fell. Can you help me get up, slowly?”

“Hold on to my hands and I will try to pull you up slowly.” Brian started to walk backwards so Justin wouldn’t have to twist as he got off the ground.  Brian got him on his feet and for a moment held onto him. “Can you walk?” 

“As long as I don’t have to run...and don’t look now but we need to get in the house. Just help me walk.  There is a big wolf on the treeline.  We need to move.”

Brian started supporting him as they moved as quickly as they could to the back door.  Once they got inside and the door shut, they leaned against it.  “That was too fuckin’ close,” Brian said as the wolf started scratching at the door an whining.  “Justin, I know how fond of GC you are but…. Maybe we need to give him back.”

“Brian, we don’t even know if that is his mother.  What if we let him out and she kills him? What if she just wants a meal?”

Brian walked over to a nearby window and looked out at the pacing wolf, “Well, it is obvious she had cubs not long ago. Justin, you know if …”

Justin began to stoop down to pick GC up but stopped when pain shot down  his back. Brian bent down and picked up the cub and handed him to Justin.  Justin snuggled him close but he realized the furball struggled to move to the door. “GC, is it time for you to go?  Do you hear you mama out there?”

GC gave a little yip and then the mother started howling on the other side of the door.  Brian walked over and held Justin for a moment.  “Justin, it’s time.  I think that is just a mother who needs her child.  

Justin kissed GC and handed him to Brian. “I can’t set him down.  Just set him down and nudge him out.  You won’t have to open the door more than a couple inches and then get in and shut the outside door as….”

“Blondie, you don’t have to worry that I’ll waste time out there.”  As Brian moved to the door, Justin moved to the window. He heard the inside door creek open and then he could see the outside door from the angle he had.  It opened a couple inches and then it slammed shut.  Justin watched as the wolf started sniffing the cub.  Brian arrived next to Justin and put his arms around him from behind, looking out the window. Brian kissed Justin’s neck, “That was the right thing to do.”

“I know. But who can I talk to now?” Justin said as GC started bouncing all over his mother.

Brian started to open his mouth but then shut it again. He didn’t need any more heart to heart conversations.  He wanted to screw he’d screw but right now he needed his own space.  He had shared living space long enough. Justin carefully turned around and rested his head against Brian’s shoulder. Ok, maybe space could wait until tomorrow.

Chapter 8

Justin was in bed with Steven.  He felt his warmth.  Reaching back he placed his hand on Steven’s hip and pulled him a little closer. He felt his erection pressing against the back of his ass. Then there was a noise in the room. Why was the furnace so loud this morning? 

“Good morning,” a deep sleepy voice said behind him.

“Shit!” Justin said loudly.  He tried sitting up but Brian held him in place. “Let go of me, you ass hole.  There is a plane or something!” Both men jumped up, slipped on robes,  and ran out into the cold house.  They didn’t take time to put on shoes so ran out into the snow in their slippers.  At first they didn’t see anything but could hear what they now could tell was a helicopter.   Soon it came back into view and this time something was dropped from a window and a small parachute opened on it as it drifted down. 

Justin ran to the spot and grabbed the box and read the note on the box.  “Wave if you are safe for now.  If safe, we will be back in 3-5 days by road.”  The copter moved around and Justin shouted back to Brian, “Wave!  I’ll explain later.  WAVE!”  Both men waved at the machine. It dipped low and a hand came out giving the thumbs up and then it moved away.

Justin rushed back to where Brian was standing and kissed him quickly as he rushed to the house.  Once inside they both rushed to the fireplace.  Brian added several logs to the embers still glowing in the hearth.  When he had done that, Justin handed him the note and then sat down and began to rip open the package.  Inside there was a longer note telling them the helicopter was mountain search and rescue.  It said that when they knew they had located them they would start working their way up to the location.  It also gave the second scenario that they would go refuel and find a place as near as they could to rescue them.

“It’s about fuckin’ time!” Brian said under his breath.  Justin looked up at him and for an instant though he saw something else in his eyes. “Finally, we are getting out of here.”

“Was it so horrible being stuck with me?” Justin asked as he turned to look him directly in the eye.

“No, Justin, I know if it wasn’t for you I would be in bad shape if not dead.  And you definitely were a pleasant distraction from time to time.” Brian stepped closer to him and kissed him. “Can I make a suggestion?” Justin looked at him but didn’t say anything.  “Let’s grab a bite and go to bed.  I want to fuck for the next 24 hours and then we can start organizing and packing up.  I will figure out how much I think is a fair price for the owners so when we find out who they are I can settle with them for both of us.  I am sure you and Steven survive but I also am guessing you don’t have a lot of extra cash around.”

Justin’s brain was swimming.  In just a few days they would be back in the real world and although he didn’t expect Steven to be back, he would have to face up to the fact that he would be back very soon and he knew he was going to leave.  Maybe he needed to find a job out of Pittsburgh so they wouldn’t run into each other, so their friends wouldn’t feel like they had to choose sides.

“Blondie, where’d you go in that brilliant mind of yours?” Brian gently placed his hand on his neck using his thumb to stroke the chord near the front of his neck, stepping slightly closer. 

As Justin looked into Brian’s eyes and felt the warmth of his hand, he gave into the need to feel this man once more. “It’s not important right now.” He sprang at him placing his hands on either side of his head and pressing the entire length of his body against him. After a kiss that hinted at what was to come, Justin brought his mouth to Brian’s ear, “I am going to bury myself so deep in you, you’ll never forget me.”

“Ya, right.  That’s not going to….” Justin cut off his words with another kiss that had Brian rethinking what he had planned to say. As the kiss went on Justin opened Brian’s robe and dropped to his knees.  As Justin took him all the way in Brian said,  “I don’t know who taught you to do that but …” Brian groaned.

Justin pushed him backward so Brian was sitting on the sofa. As Brian erupted in his mouth, Justin swallowed and then Brian pulled him onto his lap.  “When my mom complains I was a fussy baby I always tell her she gave me the wrong thing for a pacifier.”

“You actually say that to your mom?”

“I do, now. My mom came around as soon as she dumped Dad.  He has disowned me. I know I mentioned that earlier.” Brian’s hand had found its way under Justin’s robe and he began to massage his ball sack. Justin laid back and let Brian’s touch roll through him.  When Brian’s hand moved below and stroked his way backward.  Brian moved just a bit so he had a better angle and as one hand kept up the massage he inserted a finger on the other hand and began to stroke his prostate.  Justin could not contain control and when he came it was almost earth shattering. He lost total control of his body and for a moment his mind.

“Brian Kinney, I need to know and I need to know right now.  Once we leave here, what are we?  Friends? Lovers? Acquaintances?”            

“How about employer, employee with a significant raise and many fringe benefits from the boss?”     

“A job? Fringe benefits?” Justin looked at him. “I can’t just be the boss's piece of fluff."   

“Justin, it is obvious you are no one’s piece of fluff. I have seen some of your work and you are so talented.  I want you to come and work for me but first, Justin….I just want to cum, and cum, and cum and…” Brian pulled him up to his mouth and almost savagely kissed him.  “I hope the fall from the roof didn’t do anything…..”

Justin stood and offered his hand to Brian.  “It’s good.” He didn’t say another word as they walked back to the bedroom. Once in the bedroom, Brian threw another log on the fire and they both dropped their robes.  Justin turned Brian away from him and began running his finger up and down between his cheeks. Brian leaned over and put his hands on the mattress to brace himself as Justin began demanding entry with his finger.  He continued massaging until it slipped in. Brian shivered a bit and Justin could feel his breathing slow as he tried to relax.  Soon Justin bent and brought his mouth down and he began to probe Brian now began to tremble ever so slightly, fighting to regain control.  When Justin replaced his mouth with his finger and began to stroke his prostate, Brian dropped his chest down.  

Justin spread Brian’s feet further apart and then he grabbed a concom.  He now pressed inward and Brian sucked him in.  Justin gave him a chance to adjust and then began to move in long steady strokes that had Brian fighting to hold on and the second Justin reached around and touched his balls he nearly screamed as he came in wave after wave.

They both fell on the bed side by side.  “Damn,” was all Brian said as he flipped over to his back. “Just Damn.”

It was about 2:00 pm before Justin turned over and said, “Are you as hungry as I am?”

“God, I am. You’re like the energizer bunny.  I lost track of how many times...”     

“Does it matter?” Justin kissed him and walked out of the room wrapped in a robe.         

They sat in the living room and ate until they were full and then they turned on the radio.  The news came on and said that two men were spotted and they fit the description of the missing men.  They stated that work had been started to clear the road to their location. 

“Mr. Ted Schmit of the Kinnetik advertising company said they were anxious to have their founder back with the agency,” the announcer said. He continued saying, “Family of the other missing man, Justin Taylor, are also relieved.  Mr. Taylor’s fiance who has just returned to the country, stated that he was very relieved to hear they would soon be back together.”

As the report continued Justin moved into the rocking chair.  They learned that the cabin was owned by the estate of a couple who passed away from an accident in the fall.  The family planned to come out once the snow melted to sell the place.

“Well, not that I was worried about it….” Brian looked over at Justin who was staring off into space. “You’ve left me again.” When Brian touched his knee Justin jumped.   “You alright?”

“Weren’t you listening? Steven is back in the country and I was sure I was going to say goodbye  to him but knowing he cared enough to end his internship early.  He needed that class to graduate.”

“I think that will just mean he will need to take a few more credit hours while you work for me and we can…” Brian slid his hand up Justin’s bare leg.

“Are you serious right now? I will be going back to the man I love and who I know loves me.”

“Well, it sounds like you have made up your mind.”

“The problem is, I haven’t.  I love him but I am not sure I am in love with him anymore.”

“Well, if it’s good sex you need, marry him and come work for me.”

“Brian, I’m not like you.  I could never be married to one man and sleep with another just for the fun of it.  The person I marry will need to be someone I can live with.   Who makes me happy.”

“Blondie, it takes more than shaving each other or cooking a meal together.  I have seen your sex drive. A comfortable roll in the hay isn’t going to  keep you happy. Has Steven ever made your body sing,” Brian’s hand now moved under the robe and he wouldn’t be stopped.  As Brian began to squeeze Justin’s balls,  Justin became fully aroused  instantly.   Justin pushed Brian back and rushed past him, running upstairs.    

Brian watched him disappear. All the sudden he couldn’t wait to get out of this place.  He wanted to stand in a hot shower for an hour. He wanted to go to Babylon and spend time in the backroom.  He wanted to be able to have a parada of men in and out of the loft door.  Brian went to the bedroom and started to organize the few things he had brought with him.  After that was done he pulled out a small notebook he found and started trying to calculate what he would pay the family back for the use of the cabin.    

Brian realized they had been there about 45 days after hearing the date on the radio now.  He wondered why they hadn’t used the radio earlier but he realized that might have been a good thing.  If they had been able to listen early on when no one knew where to look for them, it might have been disheartening.  He reflected back to the young blonde who helped him into the house in a raging blizzard.  He would have died that first night.  He was sure of it.  

After he let his imminent death soak in he tried to calculate the cost of the food they ate.  He pictured Justin going outside as he stayed in the cabin more than once.  If he had made it to the cabin he probably would have starved or gotten sick from eating food prepared incorrectly. Brian pictured Justin walking across the yard pulling the sled with the wolf closing the distance between them.  Justin was far braver than  he had ever been.  

How did he ever get me to tell him about those weekends?  He had never told even his best friends all the details but he told Justin.  He did want Justin to work for him and he wanted Justin to share his bed from time to time.  Just the thought of never having that ass again but that wasn’t fair.  He really enjoyed being with him but he knew Justin wanted marriage and a family.  That was never going to happen with him.  Brian Kinney would never settle down.

Justin lay under the covers on the bed. He was so confused.  He was never confused.  He knew what he wanted and he would get it.  Now he couldn’t decide anything.  He loved Steven.  He had for years but he was in love with Brian which was so stupid because Mr. Kinney didn’t know how to love.  He said it himself.  But Justin knew that was wrong.  He just needed to learn to trust and Justin knew Brian trusted him.  The problem was, Brian didn’t trust himself. 

Justin started straightening up the room.  He wished he could wash the sheets and clothes they had used.  He wondered what would become of this place.  Maybe he would bring Steven…. who was he kidding. If he ever came here again it would be alone to mourn the loss of Brian Kinney.  Mr. Kinney really was a bastard! He used people and spit them out.  He refused to wait around and be a cast off. Mr. Kinney was not going to win.  He was going to leave this place with his dignity.  He wasn’t going to take the job Mr. Kinney was offering.  

Justin also wasn’t going to stay with Steven.  It wasn’t fair to Steven.  He would break it to him over time.  He didn’t want to hurt him.  He was in no rush.  He was young and had lots of time to find someone to settle down with.  He knew it would take a little while to get over Brian. He would allow himself lick his wounds but then he would live again. If this time had taught him anything it was that he had what it took to succeed. If he set his mind to it, he could succeed.

Justin realized he had cleaned up everything and put it away. It was getting dark out and he realized he had to use the bathroom.  Maybe he would try to clean up a bit. He could heat a large tub of water and sit in it.  Oh. to sit in a tub of water.  All of the sudden he felt disgusting.  He needed to clean up. How could he do that without Mr. Kinney getting involved? Maybe he could set it up and tell him it was for the morning but then come down in the middle of the night.  It wouldn’t take long to heat up the water  if it was already warming by the fire. 

Justin found Brian listening to the radio.  “The announcer just said they hope to get here by dark tomorrow.  Steven was just talking.  He sounds like a real nerd.” Brian looked up and saw pain in Justin’s face. “I’m sorry. He sounds like he really loves you.” Brian stood and took a step toward Justin.    

“I need to pee.  Then I’ll make dinner.” When Justin had finished using the bathroom he came back and went into the kitchen. He first pulled out the big old galvanized tub out of the back of the pantry. 

When he walked back into the kitchen he nearly ran into Brian. “You making dinner in that?” Brian smiled mischievously.

“I thought we could both use a bath before other people see us. If we fill it up tonight and put it by the fireplace, it should be warm in the morning and then if we add a couple pots of really hot water….it should feel wonderful.” Justin let his emotions show for a second but then, keeping the tub between Brian and himself, he set it in front of the fire and then started filling it while he heated some of the home canned soup.  By the time the tub was full, the soup was simmering.  Justin cut up the last of the bread he had baked earlier in the week and they still had some butter in one of the canning jars. He had warmed the bread and as he handed the plate with the bread and bowl or soup to Brian, he felt.his heart weep a bit.

There was very little conversation along with the meal but when they had both finished, Brian took the dirty dishes and washed them up before setting them in the cupboard. He came back and looked at Justin, “I was hoping….”

“I think it would be better if we make a clean break.”

Brian encircled Justin’s shoulder and brought his mouth to his ear. “Justin, you know we’re good together.  We both know it.  Please come to work for me, Justin.   Come be my….”

“Be your what? Your fuck buddy? Your bitch at the office?”

“To be my newest art director and a  friend with benefits.”

“Well Mr. Kinney, I do appreciate the offer but I need to feel like a man. I would always wonder if I got the job for my skills or my ass.”

“Justin...You….”

“Mr. Kinney, why don’t you just use the bathwater tonight.  I will use it in the morning.  And you don’t have to worry, I will leave you alone.”

Justin was almost at the steps when Brian caught up with him.  Brian turned him around and held him close.  Justin braced for a crushing kiss but instead Brian’s lips barely touched his but they fluttered first on his mouth and then his jaw and then the pulse in his neck.  The next time his lips landed on Justin’s the kiss went deep, yet tender.  Justin let out a deep sigh as his body melded against Brian.

“One last time, Mr. Kinney.  Just one last time.” Justin’s mouth went back to Brian’s and he gave himself to him.  If this was going to be their last time together, he wanted Brian to always wonder if he should have let him go. 

Once in the bedroom,  Justin pushed Brian onto the bed.  Once he had pulled off Brian’s shirt, Justin pushed him onto his back. He straddled Brian and before Brian could take off his shirt, Justin linked his fingers on both hands and leaned over placing their hands on either side of Brian’s head.  He slowly lowered his mouth onto Brian’s and he barely joined their lips.  Justin kissed below one ear and then left a trail of nips and kisses along his jaw to the other ear.  He then went to the hollow of his neck.  Although both of them were still wearing pants, Justin started rocking gently causing friction between them.

“Oh, god,” Brian said as Justin began moving lower.  He spent several minutes on each nipple and then moved lower.  By the time Justin’s tongue fluttered in and out of his navel Brian’s hips began to thrust.  “Please, get rid of the pants.  Please!” 

Justin got off the bed and unbuttoned Brian’s pants.  As he began to lower the zipper he began to tug on his briefs with his teeth, making contact with Brian’s cock through the fabric.  He tugged off Brian’s pants and dropped them on the floor.  He then drug his tongue up Brian’s inner thighs, until Brian whimpered as Justin gently blew on Brian’s erection. Brian literally had tears in his eyes from the stress of holding on.

Justin backed away from him and then slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt. Brian took some deep breaths and boosted himself up on his elbows and watched as Justin slowly undressed in front of him. Once he got his shirt off he drew circles around his nipples and then drug his fingers downward and he began to tug the pants he was wearing, downward.   He turned his back to Brian and heard breath sucking in as he spread his cheeks slightly.  Before he realized what was happening, Brian had him pinned to the bed face down.

Justin put his knees even with his hips causing his ass to thrust in the air.  Brian spent minute after minute invading Justin with his tongue until Justin was nearly incoherent.   And then Brian rolled him to his back and, after putting on a condom, he propped Justin’s legs on his shoulders.  He locked eyes with Justin and slowly entered him.  Their eyes locked as Brian moved in long, slow motions and as he folded him over to kiss him, Brian couldn’t wait anymore.  He had hoped to prolong it and he usually could control himself but the look in Justin’s eyes put him over the edge.  It was the look of love and for the first time in his life he  was sure his own face said the same thing.                      

For a split second, Justin saw something on Brian’s face but then Brian looked away and it was gone.  Brian fell off to the side, pulling Justin close.  “Brian, I….”

“Unless you are accepting the job offer, shut up, Blondie.”

Justin closed his mouth and decided to just enjoy the moment.

When he opened his eyes, Justin saw sunlight streaming in.  He slipped out of bed and went to the living room.  He turned on the radio as he heated the water for a bath. There was some mellow pop music playing.  After adding a little more boiling water to the warm water already in there, Justin managed to sit in the tub.  He sighed at the feel of the warm water on his body. He took the washcloth and soap he had laid out the night before, and began to rub his skin.  As he enjoyed the feel, the music stopped and the newsman was on the radio. “They county sheriff believes they will reach the Miller Cabin today.  This is the location of the two missing men.  We have the fiance of one of them here with us this morning.  Steven, how are you feeling right now?”                                                                                 

“As soon as I heard Justin was missing, I dropped what I was doing and rushed home,” Steven’s familiar voice filled the room.  Why did the sound of it make him wince.  He should be weeping because he missed his love so much but instead he almost resented the fact that Steven was here.  This was not Steven’s place.  This place was only for him and Brian.

The announcer continued, “Word has it, the men should be rescued in about two hours so,   gentlemen, if you can hear me.  Get your things together. We are almost there.”  Justin’s head slumped onto his knees and felt tears in his eyes.

He wasn’t sure how long he had sat there when he heard, “Justin, you Ok?”         

“Oh,” he jumped.  “Ya, I was just relaxing.  They will be here in a couple hours.  Do you want the water? I don’t think the water is too dirty.”

“Ya, obviously I can’t sit in it but I will stand in it and rinse off at least.” He walked over and offered his hand to Justin as he began to step out but Justin grabbed his arm out of reach. “What’s your problem?”

“Steven was just on the radio.  He is just down the road.  He was on the radio talking about how much he loved me and what have I been doing?”

“Fucking the hottest guy you have ever had?”

“Mr. Kinney, you are such an asshole.”  Justin grabbed the towel he had laid out and rushed up the stairs where his bag was still located.

Brian felt an ache somewhere in his chest that he had never felt before.

An hour later they both heard the sound of motors.  As it got louder they could tell it was a snowplow and then for the first time in six weeks, they saw another human being.  The snowplow pulled up the road and right behind it was a four wheel drive police vehicle.  The next two hours the men spent answering questions.  They found out that the rental car agent had been arrested after people overheard him laughing about sending the two city slickers on a wild ride.  “Mr. Kinney, your associate, Ted, will probably be landing about now.  By the time we get back, he will be there.”

As they pulled into town Brian tried to take Justin’s hand but he pulled away.  As the sheriff pulled into the police lot and they got out of the vehicle they meant at the front of the vehicle.  Brian extended his hand, “Well, Justin, if there is ever anything I can do for you…” Justin shook his hand.  “Thank you, Mr. Kinney.” The name was bit out sharply.  “I hope you figure out what you want.”  

At that point two men rushed out the door.  The young one, Steven rushed to Justin where they kissed and held each other for several minutes.  “Oh, baby, I am so glad you are safe.  Tell me all about it.”

Justin kissed him once more, “Do you have a room?  I just want to …. To be alone with you.”  Actually he just wanted to be away from Brian.

“Oh, of course, there is no rush.  We have the rest of our lives.”  Steven put his arm around Justin and they headed to a police car that was waiting to take them anywhere they wanted.

“Brian, I am so glad you’re back.” Ted hugged his friend. He saw that Brian’s eyes never left the blond that got out of the car with him.  “Let me guess, you didn’t mind your captivity too much.  How long did it take to tap that ass?” 

“Ted, he’s not like that.”

“Brian, that guy didn’t get under your skin, did he? Did he actually…?”

“Schmidt, if you want to stay employed, shut the fuck up.”

Chapter 9

The first week after their rescue, Brian stayed in his loft.  The third night back Ted had come over with a couple more of his friends, Michael and Emmett.  They brought along Chinese and sat on the floor in the middle of Brian’s loft around an accent table and ate.  Brian told them about the prick that set him up to get lost in the blizzard and about getting stuck and walking blindly.  

“God, Brian,” Michael hugged his long time friend.  “You could have died!” Brian gave him a ‘duh’ look.  “I mean I knew that but just hearing you tell us about it.  I am so glad I can hug you again.”

“I know what you meant.” Brian hugged him back. Why did he feel so lonely with his very best friends?

“So tell us!  Ted says the young man you were sequestered with was beautiful.”  Emmett said as he took a bite of Garlic Chicken.  “Good thing I don’t have a date tonight. So spill.  Tell us about Justin.”

“I would have died if it wasn’t for him. He is tenacious and extremely intelligent. And he is so talented, I tried to get him to come work for me.”

Ted had heard it before but both Emmett and Michael sat there with their mouths open. Michael touched his arm, “I’ve never seen you react to anyone like this.  Brian, did you fall….”

“Don’t go there, Mikey.  We just got close, being stranded and reliant on each other. I gained weight from his cooking and that was on rations.  I mean his home made bread…” Brian quickly stopped. His friends got quiet and continued eating.  They knew him well enough that now wasn’t the time to mess with him. After Brian had eaten a few more bites he said, “Did I miss much around here?”

Emmett told him all about his latest dating adventures and then Michael told him how their adoption was going.  “Ben wanted to come tonight but he is teaching a class.  He may be named head of his department for the fall.”

The conversation went on but Brian stayed quiet.  Ted recognized the look.   He had seen it at the office many times when Brian was trying to work through a major problem.  “Maybe Brian’s had enough company for tonight. He is used to isolation.”  Ted stood and Michael and Emmett helped clear out the food.

“Brian, call me if you need anything. Ben and I could be here….” Michael said as he hugged Brian and headed toward the door.  

Emmett patted Brian’s shoulder, “Bri, if this kid is as great as he sounds…. Don’t let him slip away.”

Ted looked at Brian, “Are you coming back to work soon?”

“I’ll be there on Monday.” Brian looked over at Ted, “Theodore, I don’t say it often enough, but I’m not sure I could run my business without you.  Is Blake home?”

“He will be in half an hour.” Ted hugged Brian.

“Go enjoy him.”

“Brian, are you…”

“See you Monday,”  he pushed Ted out of the door and locked it.

“Justin, my love,” Steven came up behind Justin and turned him around. “Where were you? You came home but you’re never here.”   He kissed him and as Steven pulled him close Justin couldn’t do it any longer.  The last three days, Steven had done everything but brush his teeth for him and he just wanted some space.  They had made love but Justin just went through the motions.  He was going to have to tell him. He just couldn’t fake it anymore. “Justin, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, Steven, I guess I just changed while I was stranded. I had lots of time to think and I am not sure that I am ready to be married.  I just don’t think I can settle down now.”

“Is it that tall, handsome stranger you spent weeks with?”

“Brian just showed me that…..”

“How could he know if we were meant to be together?”

“Oh, Steven, I love you.  I will always love you but do we really have the kind of love that will keep us wanting? When was the last time you tried something different?  When were you…”

“But I thought we made a commitment. I never imagined being with anyone else.  I have loved you ….you are the only one I’ve ever loved.” Tears began to roll down his cheeks.

“Steven, please, don’t cry.  When you find the right man, you’ll know it.  When he touches you,” Justin reached out and stroked Steven’s cheek. “I do love you but you deserve someone that with the touch of a hand or look can make you so hard that you ache to cum.”

“But, Justin, what about moving somewhere together? What about the house and the children?”  Now Steven was beginning to shake and sob but when Justin touched him he jerked away.

“Justin can you go please.  I will be out of the apartment tomorrow by 8:00 so you can come and pack up then. It’s student housing so you have to go.”

“Oh, Steven, I am sorry.  Can we be friends? Who am I going to…..”

“Don’t call me, I’ll call you.” Was all he said as he walked to the bedroom and shut the door.

Justin looked at the closed door.  He thought for a minute.  Where should he go? He had seen his mom the last 3 days but she had a trip and he told her to take it. He stood for a moment and then grabbed his jacket and walked out the door.  He got in his car and drove.  He drove across town just to go past Kinnetik.  He found a parking spot across the road and sat there.  He realized Brian was probably not there but he felt his spirit here.  He imagined him walking in and out of that building with that cocky stride of his.  He missed him.

Shit he had to go to the bathroom.  He remembered there was a diner around the corner and a couple blocks down. He left the car where it was and jogged to the Liberty Diner.  The sun had set and the  streetlights were just flickering on.  He slowed and walked into the front door and stepped into a restaurant that took him back to the 60’s except for the clientele. 

“You look lost, Sunshine, what can I do for you?” A lady behind the counter said. 

“Bathroom? Then I’ll order,” Justin said as he rushed to the back.  Once he felt better he came out and sat at the counter.  Justin sat there staring at the menu.  He hadn’t read a word yet.  What the hell was he supposed to do.  He pulled out his cell phone and texted his best friend, Daphne.  A moment later a message came back.  She’d be home at 7:00 and he was welcome to stay overnight. He looked at his watch.  He had an hour.

“Honey, you look like you just lost your best friend.  I think you need one daily special.  Can I get you one?” the woman behind the counter asked.  “I’m Debbie, by the way. You’re new here, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Justin looked at what the special was, “and the special looks good.”

Debbie called out to the cook and leaned over the counter setting a glass of water down in front of him.  “I’m a good listener. I have a son, too, but he’s a little older than you are.  I can always spot someone who has troubles.”

Justin wasn’t sure what came over him but he started talking.  “I just broke up with my fiance.”

“You broke it off?” Debbie asked as she set down the plate of food.

“Yes.  And I hurt him so bad.  I realized I love him but I am not in love with him.  There was no passion between us, just comfortable familiarity.”

“Am I right in guessing you have found that passion?”

“Well, it is no one I will ever end up with but we kind of got thrown together.  It was beyond amazing even though he is an arrogant son of a bitch.” Justin looked at Debbie, “Sorry about the language.”

“Oh, honey, I’m used to it.  I use it myself.  You don’t think you can find this SOB?”

“Oh, I’m sure I could find him but he and I have different plans.  He made it clear he will never settle down.”

“That sounds like someone I know,” Debbie laughed.  Debbie continued to work but would stop by the young man every so often.  

Justin finished his meal and after Debbie insisted he eat a lemon bar he paid for his meal and stood to leave.  “Thank you, Debbie,” he smiled at her. “You are great at your job.”

“Come back anytime, sunshine.  What’s your name?”

“Justin. Justin Taylor.”  As Justin walked out he bumped into a dark haired man.  Why did he look familiar?  Then he heard Debbie call him Ted as the door shut.  That was Brian’s Ted.

“Hey, Ted,” Debbie said as he turned back to the door.  “Well, that’s rude, turning away.”

“Sorry, Debbie.  That young guy that just left, do you know who that was?”

“He said his name was Justin.  Isn’t Blake young enough for you?”

“That is the guy that was stranded with Brian.”

“It was my SOB he was talking about.”

“What?”  Ted questioned.

“Justin just left his boyfriend and ….is Brian home?”

“Well, I don’t know that for sure but he seems to be staying home lately.” Ted replied.

“I think it is time I go talk to him. He could do a lot worse than that beautiful, intelligent, young man. What is Brian waiting for?”

“Debbie, you and I both know Brian is scared to death to feel anything. Anything more than his feelings for us, is more than he will allow.”

“Well, maybe it is time for him to get reminded.” Debbie grabbed her jacket and yelled at the cook she was leaving. 

“Good luck, Debbie.  You’re going to need it.” 

Justin arrived at Daphne’s just as she arrived home. Once they were in the apartment, Daphne opened her arms and hugged her long time friend. “So you really did it?”

“I did.  I love Steven for all his good qualities but I couldn’t settle for that comfortable life after ….”

“After experiencing real passion?” 

“Yes. Have you ever been with someone that only had to look at you to get that feeling deep inside? That moment when you just knew you needed him.  I think I would change what I wanted in life just to spend time with him. I didn’t know making love could be….”

“Justin, you know I liked Steven. He was very nice but Justin, you are so much more than ‘nice’.  You have passion.  You need adventure and excitement.”

“That’s why I knew I wouldn’t ever be satisfied with Steven.  I would always wonder what I was missing.”

“So, how are you going to get him?”

“Daph, I don’t think I ever will but there are others out there with a sense of adventure and there has to be someone else that can give me that feeling.”

“I don’t know, Justin.  If I could find someone that made me feel that way, I might even think about making a commitment.” Daph kissed his cheek. “Let’s make some dinner and then you can drink yourself into oblivion. Tomorrow’’s Saturday.  We have all day to figure out how you are going to get Mr. Brian Kinney back in bed.”

Brian lay on the white rug in the middle of the loft.  Why wasn’t he going to Babylon?  He had a list of emails and texts inviting him to different events but nothing interested him.  He missed the smell of firewood.  He missed the homemade bread.  He missed…. The buzzer to his downstair’s door sounded.  He ignored it but it kept buzzing.  Then his phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw the message from  Debbie.  “Let me up, you SOB!”

He got off the floor and strode to the intercom. “Let me up!” Debbie shouted.

“Well, since you asked so nicely….”  Brian pressed the enter button and he heard the door click on the intercom. He unlocked the door and slid it open just as the lift door came open.

“You know I have been trying to see you since you got back.  I was so worried, Brian!” Debbie hugged him and he had to hug her back. “We were so sure you were dead.  We just couldn’t imagine and when I called your mom….Oh never mind.  You know you are like a second son to me.”  

Brian had to smile.  As aggravating as Debbie could be, he loved her. He gave her a longer hug then he expected.  He seemed to need something from her right now.  “It’s good to see you, Debbie.”

As they continued the hug, Debbie asked, “Brian, love, are you alright? What you went through had to have shaken you up.”

“I guess so.  But it wasn’t all that bad.  We had food. We could stay warm.  We even had a pet.”

“A pet?”  Debbie questioned and Brian told her all about the wolves that were around the cabin. “A wolf? In the cabin?”

“We actually hated to see him go.” Brian got quiet and stared out a window to the street below.

“You’ve used the word ‘we’ more tonight than you ever have in your life. Tell me about him.”

“He was just a guy.” Brian took a deep breath, “No, that’s not true.  If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be here.  Justin is a great man.”

“Didn’t the news say that he was engaged?”

“He is but…. I just can’t…. He will never be happy with Steven.  Justin won’t be happy with the mundane. He needs to take risks. He could never live his fullest life with Steven.”  Brian turned and when Debbie saw his face she reached out and patted his face.  

“Oh, Brian, the look on your face says far more than your words. He is an amazing kid. I know you won’t admit it but you don’t have to.  You love him and I can see why.”

“Just from his picture you can tell all that?”

“No, talking to him for an hour at the diner.”

“You saw Justin? How does he look? Was Steven with him?  Did he seem….”

“Brian, he left Steven.  He needed to piss and then ate a special while he waited for his friend to get home from work.”

“Oh, well, I’m glad he came to his senses.  Now he can spread his wings and his legs and fly.”

“You really are an SOB.  He called you an arrogant SOB. Brian, go find him and bring him here.”

“Debbie, mind your own business.  He wants a husband and even kids.  You know that isn’t going…..”

“It could, Brian and I think it would be good for you. Look at Michael and Ben.  They are so happy.”

Brian walked to the door and opened it.  “Debbie, I don’t need your advice.  I have to go back to work next week so I only have a couple days to get back into business mode. I don’t need the blonde to…”

“Fine, Brian.  Just remember, that young man that cared so much about you is free and avoiding him is going to hurt both of you.”  Debbie kissed his cheek, “You deserve to be happy, Brian. You always have.”

This is when Brian wished he had a door he could slam. He stood in the center of the room and screamed.  It was primal and filled with pan.  He went back to the center of the room and laid down again.  He refused to see anyone until the remainder of the weekend.

Daphne helped Justin move out on Saturday morning.  Steven was at class and didn’t return while they were there.  Justin settled into living with Daphne.  She had just lost her roommate so she was glad to have someone split the bills.  She wasn’t glad to see her best friend hurting so badly.  

Justin went back to work on Monday.  He threw himself into his work.  He was given control of a project and he buried himself in it.  He was working 12 hours days and when he got home he would stay in his room.  Daphne had never seen him like this.  He was getting worried about him but what could she do? It's not like she could just walk into Kinnetik and asked to see him but if this continued she would figure out something.

Brian came back at full tilt.  He was  at Kinnetik for 16 hours a day.  It was very evident after the first day Mr. Kinney did not want to be interrupted.  The only two people that stepped into his office were Ted and Cynthia.  They were the only ones that weren’t scared of his bite.  At the end of the week, Cynthia stopped late Friday afternoon saying,  “Brian, I am leaving.” She looked at him sitting with his head in his hands.  “Brian,” her voice soft, “Can I do anything?”

“No, I’m good,” he looked up at her.  He didn’t look good.  

“Brian, diving into work isn’t going to make you feel better. Have you talked to him?” Cynthia put a hand on his shoulder.

“Called who? I’m just getting back…”

“Brian, don’t try to bullshit me. I have known you far too long.  Justin Taylor must be a special man or you wouldn’t be acting like this.  Call him.  Ask how he is.  He’s a friend.  You obviously love him.” He jerked his head up to look at her.  “I didn’t say in love, but it is obvious you really care about him.  Have coffee and catch up.”

“I don’t even know where he is.  He moved and I don’t know where.”

“Kinney, you know very well you could find him if you need to. And if you don’t do it, I will.” With that Cynthia turned and walked out.  She walked directly to Ted’s office.  “Ted, something needs to be done.  Brian can’t go on like this….”

The next week was the same for both Brian and Justin and those around them.  Daphne was really worried by Friday.  Justin wasn’t working and he wasn’t talking.  He was mourning, both the loss of what he had planned to be his life but more than that, he missed Brian.  On her way home from work she drove past Kinnetik.  She wasn’t sure why but she had to do something for her friend.  She couldn’t believe her luck when she found a parking spot and then saw Ted Schmit who had been on the news when Justin was still missing.  

“Mr. Schmidt, may I have a word?”

Ted was surprised to see a young woman coming his way.  “Um, should I know you?”  Ted asked.

“Well, no. My name’s Daphne.  Justin Taylor is my best friend.”

“Justin? Where is he? We have been trying to locate him.”

“We? Brian is looking for him?”

“No, Brian’s personal assistant and me. Brian would kill me if he knew.  All we could find out  is that he left the apartment he shared with his boyfriend.  Is it really over between them?”

“Oh, yes.  What if we lie?”

“I could do that.  Do you have a plan?”

“If you told Brian Justin wanted to see him, what would he do?”

“I think he would agree, if it was Justin’s idea.” Ted commented.  “And you would tell Justin it was Brian’s idea?”

“Exactly.  Do you think it would work?”

“Is Justin as messed up as Brian?”

“Oh, Mr. Schmidt…”

“Ted, please.”

“Ted, I have never seen Justin like this.  I am not even sure the last time he ate and he is either sleeping all the time or not at all.  I am not sure.”

“Brian is at work most of the time.  He let it slip that the weekend before he came back to work, he laid in the middle of his living room the entire weekend. He only got up to go to the bathroom.  He has mentioned homemade bread and the smell of a fireplace multiple times.”

“Yes, the few times Justin has talked he never completes a sentence and ends up going back to his room. So, are we going to do this thing?”

“Let’s try for Sunday about 2:00 pm.  Do you think you can get Justin to the Liberty Diner?”

“I will drag him here if I have to.  I will get him there a little early and I will face the window.  As soon as I see Brian, I will slip out of the back or something.  You just have Brian there at 2:00 pm.”

They exchanged numbers and went their own way.  If this didn’t work neither of them knew what they would do.

Chapter 10

Daphne and Ted used opposite tactics.  Daphne told Justin she had received a call from someone at Brian’s office.  The person had said Brian just wanted to reminisce a bit.  He wanted to see that Justin was alright.

“Daph, I don’t know….I’m not sure….”

“Justin, you have to go.  Maybe you just have to remember what a prick he really is and be done with him.”

“You’re right! I mean, at the cabin who else could he talk to.  He will be back to the Mr. Kinney I remember and then, I might just start looking for a new job.  Daph, maybe we can move together.  Maybe LA or Seattle.  It could even be New York City.”

“I’ll think about that. Now let’s go before we are late.”

“Ted, what did he say? Did he say anything about coming to work for us?”  Brian kept pacing in his loft.  “Did Debbie have something to do with this?”

“Brian, are you going to wear out the floor or are you going to put on something so you aren’t half naked out in the snow.”

Brian took long strides to his bedroom.  He pulled on a long sleeve black T-shirt.  He looked at the well worn jeans he had on but shrugged. These pants for some reason always made him feel comfortable and helped him relax.  He combed his hair and started to put on cologne but stopped.  “Alright, then let’s go.  Blonde is probably very punctual.”

“Daphne, you said you’d stay.  You’re going to keep your word, aren’t you?” Justin said as he parked near the diner.

Daphne touched Justin’s shoulder, “You will probably want me to go but I’ll have to hang around. You drove.”  She hated to lie but it was for a good cause.  She had talked to Ted last night and she found  Debbie had a plan so she had a friend picking her up shortly after 2:00.  “Let’s go get a booth we can all sit in.” Daphne got out of the car and together they walked in.

“Well, Sunshine, I hoped I’d see you again.  Is this your friend?”

“Hi Debbie. Yes, this is Daphne.  She actually had a room so I have been living there.”

“Nice to meet you, Daphne.  This is a nice surprise.” Debbie did an exaggerated wink in her direction.”

Once they sat down, Justin asked, “What was that wink about?”

“I have no idea.  I have never met her before but it sounds like you two got pretty friendly in an hour.”

“She has a way about it.  Kind of like a bartender.”  They chatted as Debbie brought water over and they waited for Brian and Ted.

“Ted, are you sure he wants to see me? I mean he made it clear ….”

“Brian, he broke up with his boyfriend.  He probably just wants to close out this chapter of his life and move on.” Ted commented.  

The look Brian gave him told him he wasn’t in a laughing mood.  Standing on the sidewalk outside the Diner, “Move on?”

Daphne saw Ted outside.  “Oh, Justin, I just realized I forgot to call my coworker.  I will be right back.” Looking at her phone she said, “My reception isn’t very good here.  Be right back.” Daphne headed for the door and darted out of view.  

“Debbie, did you see where Daph went so….”  Just stopped mid sentence as Brian walked in. Justin’s heart skipped a beat.  His body instantly wanted to feel his heat next to him.  He wanted to feel him…

“Justin, nice to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too?” Justin hoped the emotion he felt wasn’t in his voice. “My friend and I have a booth back here. I thought it might be quieter.”

Brian’s hand started to reach out to touch him but he jerked it back, “Ya, sure. Debbie can we…”

Debbie was already approaching the table with a pot of coffee and a plate of lemon bars. “Alright boys, here’s some coffee and bars.” Brian and Justin both moved their hands out of the way and somehow before they knew it, Debbie had slapped a pair of handcuffs on them.  “Having a husband for a cop comes in handy.” She smiled down at them.  I will be back in an hour.  You need to talk.”  Debbie touched Brian’s face before walking out the door and locking it behind her.

“Fuck you, Debbie!” Brian yelled as she turned the key.  She blew him a kiss and walked away.

“Mr. Kinney, you look….” Justin almost said amazing but then finished with, “thin.”

“Mr. Kinney, seriously? You set this up to get closure and you can’t even call me….”

“Me? You set this up.  You needed to see me to clear up…”

“Fuck, I should have known the way Ted was talking.  And Cynthia knew.  I would bet your ass on it.”

“My ass!  You don’t own my ass Mr. Kinney so don’t be using it for your advantage.”

“Is that really the best you have?” Brian smirked as he pulled his hand closer to his body, pulling Justin half over the table. He couldn’t stop himself from taking his free hand and touching Justin’s cheek.  In a soft throaty voice he said, “How are you, Blonde?”

Justin’s heart skipped a beat, “I’m fine.  I’m busy with work.”

“I was hoping…..I hear you are no longer with Steven.  Can’t say I am surprised. You were…”  Brian stopped when he saw pain move across Justin’s face.  “I’m sorry, I know you cared about him but you know he wasn’t right for you.”

“Oh, how could I forget so soon that  Mr. Kinney is never wrong about anything.  He knows how to do everything but love.That he can’t seem to master  or refuses to try.” Justin realized he had hit below the belt.  And now he was thinking about below the belt.  How much he wanted to….. NO he couldn’t think that way.  “Well, I guess if we are stuck like this we could just sit here and not talk until she comes and lets us out.”

There were a couple long minutes of silence  where they both looked anywhere but at each other.  Finally, Brian took Justin’s hand, “I’ve missed you.” He reached across the table and stroked his cheek.  “Blonde, are you ready for a change?  The job offer is still open.”

“It’s not a job I need, Mr. Kinney.  I need a friend, a lover, a partner.  I need someone to come home to everynight that makes my heart leap everytime he kisses me. I need someone  to spend nights with, in front of the fireplace….I need….”

“You know that isn’t me, Justin.  You know I don’t….”

“I know.  You don’t do relationships.  You are willing to have a long term fuck buddy but that is as close to a partnership as you will ever….”

“Damn it, Justin,” for a moment he forgot they were attached and started standing up. “Shit, I can’t even pace.  Blonde, I haven’t slept since we came back.  Every time I doze off I feel so lonely I just lay there.  I can’t go to bed because you aren’t there and I don’t want anyone else in it.  I wish I could offer you what you want, what you need but Justin, I can’t.  That isn’t me.  I can’t be satisfied coming home to the same man every night.  I can’t…”

It hit Justin like a bolt of lightning.  He may say he can’t settle for one person but he just told him, in so many words, that he hadn’t been with anyone.  Wasn’t that being faithful?  “Brian, I care about Steven.  I had sex with him but you were right, It wasn’t that he wasn’t enough. He just wasn’t what I needed.  And Mr. Kinney, even though you say you aren’t ready for a commitment or to be with one man, you have had two weeks to be with as many men as you wanted to be with and how many have you been with?”

“Justin, I had to recover.  We had been isolated, away from the world….”  

Justin stood carefully and walked around the table and making their arms rest on the table he slipped in beside Brian.  “Brian, I will rethink taking the job at Kinnetik with a couple addendums.”

“Like what?”

“First of all, I move into your place with you.”

“And?”

“And we share a bed every night.” Justin’s hand slipped into Brian’s lap, bringing Brian’s hand with it.

“Well, I guess,” Brian’s mouth created a trail from just below Justin’s ear down to the hollow of his neck.  “I could maybe...but I can’t promise I won’t stray at some point.”

“If you stray, you admit to me, before or right after. But Brian,” Justin squeezed Brian’s cock gently, “You are not going to need anything from anyone.  I promise, I can be everything you need.”

Justin brought his lips to Brian’s and Brian pulled him close with his free arm. “Shit, this just isn’t working,” Brian commented trying to push Justin out of the booth seat 

“But, I thought….”

“Just stand up you little asshole….god, now I am thinking about your asshole and we are tied together.”  Justin stood and Brian pulled him tightly to him, pinning Justin’s hand behind him.  Justin’s cock strained against Brian’s.  Their kiss was long and deep and had promises of much more.

“Brian, I love you,” Justin took a breath, “I don’t expect you to say as much but Brian, will you admit that you need me, that you want me, that you can’t live without me?” Justin  gently bit Brian’s chin.

“Justin, I…God, I’ve missed you!”  Brian managed to get Justin’s fly open and then his own.  He pulled down Justin’s pants and bent him over the table.  It took Brian a moment to get a condom on because of the handcuffs but once it was on Brian moved in. Before he was even completely inside him he began to orgasm.  Justin joined him but as Brian stayed encased in him he began to move slowly and it wasn’t long before Brian pulled Justin’s back against his chest and once again the both managed to cum.  

When they had finished and managed to do their flies, they sat next to each other. “Suppose we should wipe down the table.  That isn’t normally found even on a table at Liberty Diner.” Brian commented.

“Can you call her and tell her we are ready to be out of here and into a large, comfortable bed.” Justin brought his mouth to Brian’s ear.  As he drug his teeth over the lobe Brian shivered.

Ten minutes later, Debbie unlocked the door and Carl strode in with her.  He extended a key and unlocked the handcuffs. Justin kissed Debbie’s cheek as he started walking to the door.  “Debbie, someday when you least expect it, I will get even with you for locking us in here but, right now,” He kissed her, “Thank you.”

Brian and Justin walked out together.  Brian pulled Justin against him and bent him backwards as they kissed.  “It looks like both Ted and your friend left. I guess we’ll have to call a cab or walk.”

“I have my car.  Just get in.” He pointed to the BMW at the curb. It took them several more minutes to manage to get into the car between kissing and fondling each other.

An hour later Brian and Justin were lying in bed staring at the ceiling, “I pictured your place just like this.”

“I was just thinking we could lay here naked without putting more wood on the fire.”

Justin rolled over and rested his head on Brian’s chest.  He could hear his steady heart beat.  “Brian, promise me one thing.”

“What’s that Justin?”

“Promise me that if we run our course, you’ll be honest and upfront at home.  Here….this is home.”

“I will promise that at home, if at work you promise to come to my office every time I call and let me have my way with you.”

“Um, maybe you can remind me why that would be a good idea.” 

“My pleasure,” Brian rolled, pinning Justin to the mattress.  “And yours, I’m sure..”

As Brian’s mouth descended to Justin’s, Justin said,“Mr. Kinney, you are such an asshole,” just before Brian’s mouth claimed his.

Epilogue

Three years later

“Brian, where are we going?  How do I know what to pack?

“It’s May. Bring something for all seasons.  I don’t think it will be extremely hot but the days should be full of sunshine.”

“Could you be any vaguer?”

“I’m sure I could.” Brian kissed him.  “Hell, I would prefer you not bring any clothes.”

“Now that could be awkward in public.”

“There won’t be much public where we are going.”

“Sometimes I hate you, Mr. Kinney.”

“That’s not what you said this morning.” Brian slapped his ass.

“Ten minutes, you have ten minutes to get finished and be at the door.”

Brian had chartered a plane, keeping Justin in the dark.They flew at night so he couldn’t see the landscape below.  Several times during the flight, Brian went to the room in the back of the plane but insisted Justin was not allowed there right now.  They napped and then the pilot woke them by telling them they would be landing in less than an hour. If they needed to move about the cabin they should do it now. Justin looked out the window and instantly knew where they were.

“Montana? We are in Montana? Are we going to our cabin?”

“Yes, we are.”

“How did you get permission to use it?”

“It just took a couple of calls. The other surprise I am going to show you once we are off the plane.”  They descended and once they were near a SUV.  “This was donated by the rental company that started all this.”

“I think we should pay them!” Justin said as he wrapped his arms around Brian.  “I love you, Brian.”

Justin thought, for just a moment, that Brian was going to say those words he was still waiting to hear.  He didn’t doubt Brian loved him.  He knew it but Brian still couldn’t verbalize it. After they kissed, Brian said, “Stay there.”  Brian moved to the side of the plane and then came back with a bundle of some kind.  As he got closer Justin noticed it was moving.

“Brian, what the…”

“Justin, close your eyes and hold out your arms.”

“Come on, Brian” Justin complained but did it anyway.  Brian gently placed the squirming bundle.  Justin’s eyes flew open when he heard a yip.

“This is GC2, or whatever name you want to give him.”

The gray husky pup began licking Justin’s face. “Oh, he is perfect.  He is going to have so much fun running around the property.”

“And we are taking him back to the loft?”

“Yes, …. We will talk more once we are at the cabin.” Brian said as they all got in the car.

Two hours later they were pulling into the drive to the cabin.  The first thing Justin noticed was the cabin had been painted.  Some trees had been trimmed and as they pulled to the back, Justin could see a new power system including solar panels and to the side there was a hot tub.

“Wow, they have really made improvements. Who owns it now?   Did the estate sell it or did they keep it?”

“They sold it.”

“So it is a rental property now?”

“No, this couple I know own it,” Brian looked into Justin’s eyes.  “We own it.”

“Oh, Brian!” Justin set GC2 on the ground and hugged Brian.  “I can’t believe you did this. I want to see inside!”

“I have only seen pictures myself.  When I had to fly to San Francisco a couple months ago, I made a stop here on my way but that was just to make final decisions.  I hope you like,” Brian said as he swung the door open.

The cabin was perfect.  The pantry was stocked and Brian started a fire to take the chill out of the air.  Soon the puppy was sound asleep and Brian and Justin lay on the floor of the expanded living room and made love.  

“Oh, Brian.  You have made me so happy.  I can’t imagine anything better.”  

They explored the property and in the afternoon laid on a blanket in the sun.  As the afternoon turned to evening Justin made dinner for them.  Justin thought Brian seemed nervous as the evening went on.

“Brian, am I missing something? You seem distracted.”

“I know the temperature has dropped but I was wondering if you would like to use the hot tub.”

“That sounds like the perfect end to the day.  Then I will be ready to go to bed.  It is already late back in Pittsburgh.”

Both men undressed and walked outside with robes and slippers.  They had barely gotten in the tub when the first flake fluttered down. Brian’s arm was draped around Justin’s shoulder. “It couldn’t be any more perfect here.  Brian, thank you.  This place will always be our place and now that we have a son,” he tilted his head toward the house.  “I can’t believe you got me a dog!”

“Justin, there is just one more very small thing.”

“Brian, you have done enough.  I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

“Justin,” Brian turned to the side and pulled a small box that had been stuck in a little cubby built into the tub.  “Justin Taylor,  I….”  Brian was shifting on the seat, “Justin, I was wondering if you might be willing to change your name to Justin Taylor Kinney.” Brian opened the little box and in it was a set of rings.  “Justin Taylor, I love you.  Marry me?”

Justin couldn’t believe what he had just heard.  “Brian, I love you!  Of course I will marry you.”

After making love in the hot tube, they made their way to the bedroom.  The bedroom was stunning along with the in suite bathroom.  They lay in each other’s arms and as they drifted off Justin softly said, “Next we can talk about children.”