CHAPTER 25 - ADAPT*-ATION

*affection.desire.arousal.passion.tumescence

TAYLOR RESIDENCE - 40 MINUTES LATER

DINING ROOM

JENNIFER

I slide the papers over to my dear friend and he pinches the bridge of his nose. “And they came from him?”

“I found them nearby where he fell...she wasn’t standing close enough to drop anything without noticing. I think it came out of his pocket. But what I don’t understand about this invoice is has he paid it or is he asking for it?”

Emmett’s brow creases as he thinks carefully. “He’s an immediate guy, so I think he’s got what he wanted and is now demanding that Brian pays him back for it. Oh my, my, my...he does have expensive tastes. Have you actually read this...this egregious epistle of excrement?”

“No. I just saw the points to agree on note. The thing that worries me is his suggestion that he wants to be involved as a legal guardian for Guy! Can’t even get Little Grub’s name right! I would like to be around when he says that to Daph, let alone Cyn! What I think should happen is he should be let back in…”

“What?! Why?! After...sorry, Jen, but really?!” He slumps back dramatically against the chair, and I have to smile. “Don’t tell Toddy.”

“About the little queen out there?” He grins. “Or the use of the phrase egregious epistle of excrement?”

“Both.” He chuckles. “But why in? Enemy closer?”

“Yes, and where he goes, she tends to follow, and I want her so very badly!” I can feel my anger build, and take a calming breath. “In a pure bitch-slapping sense you understand? Have no pash for snatch, and definitely not that one! But on reflection let’s not do that...I believe I will let my son handle him. While I handle her. Now, speaking of pash, I understand you have been meddling with Mel.”

“I have not! That was Treyvon on the shoes and the tszujing.” He starts to smile slyly. “I did the flowers though.”

“Very sweet. So what’s the next manoeuvre?”

“My second favourite thing...no third...no fourth...no…”

“Can we lump sex into one, including exchange of bodily fluids and consensual pain?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Yes. So my second thing is shopping. She needs to look rocking in a dress for the country club dinner. She always used to wear a matronly number according to our woman in the know.”

“Oh, that reminds me. I must check the list with Melissa.”

“Why?”

“Cyn and Daph won’t want to come, they never do, no matter how many times they are invited, but I suspect they will make an effort this year.”

“And why is that?”

“Justin has to attend this year as he didn’t last year, so if all goes according to the cabin plan; his plus one is going to be one Brian Aiden Kinney.”

“Oh my, there is going to be a lot of twittering and squaring up going on!” He laughs. “But back to the supreme irksomeness of this! I mean for heaven sake, he’s billed him for non-returnable Prada shoes! If he thinks that he is getting $26,789 for living expenses, from Big Bad, he has another think coming. He’s also billed him for the overheads for the store and the inventory. Oh that’s it, it is so fucking on!”

“You’re going to bust something.” I remark coolly. “Calm down and give me that.” I look it over and then frown. “You read his wish list, I need to check on something.”

As I make the call, I can hear his yelps and hisses of disgust. “He wants a van, a second hand one will do, just to collect his comic stuff in. Lindsay gave him the idea that perhaps using his fancy car for his work wasn’t a good idea!” He exclaims furiously.

Oh did she indeed!

I smile as the call connects. “Ah, good afternoon, Signs by Design? Good, good. My name is Elizabeth Perkerson, I am the PA to Michael Novotny. It’s regarding his recent failed delivery. He wants to make a couple of changes to it now. Yes, isn’t it fortuitous about that? Yes, he does get a little irate when things don’t go his way. Yes, it’s the colour scheme and the wording that need changing…”

MICHAEL’S HOUSE - THREE HOURS LATER

LOUNGE

MICHAEL

I can’t believe she did that, to me, her son! I sit up slowly and take another sip of water. “So, what are you going to do?”

“What do you mean? Go back of course.”

“But Jennifer Taylor said…”

“I don’t believe her.” I state flatly. “And now because of my psycho mother, I can’t open the store.”

“Why not?” She looks confused.

“I can barely stand.”

“But you sit down most of the time.” She sighs before getting up. “Are you going to be alright by yourself?”

“Where are you going? Like I said I can barely stand.”

“I have an appointment with the bolshy auditor for my cottage, I told you that. I still can’t believe I am only going to get that piddling amount for it, and I have to give Mel 25% of it.”

“What did you tell her you were selling it for? That’s a rookie mistake for you.” I grimace as I am finally able to lower my legs and close them a bit more.

“I didn’t tell her! Well I did in a way, when I went to Kinnetic Estates to see what they had on their books and to check out the carrier’s home. She was in the back room - oh the irony. Look I have to go.”

“Don’t be at all surprised if you find me still here, alone and in pain.”

“No, Michael, that would not surprise me at all.” She replies as she leaves.

As I hear the front door close, I lean slowly across to get the remote. The store is not being opened today. Leaning back slowly, I suddenly remember my invoice and rifle in my pockets, as gently as I can but I can’t find it. Grumbling, I slowly get up as this means I have to print out another one. I limp to the study and watch the world go by as I reprint it. I actually didn’t check it before I left, and now I need to add the loss of revenue to Ma’s invoice.

As I wait for my other list to print, I notice a guy that looks vaguely familiar walking up the street. I can’t think where I recognise him from though. The more I look at him, the more it bugs me but then when he turns the corner I forget all about him.

LINDSAY’S COTTAGE - AN HOUR LATER

KITCHEN

FRED STONE, ASSESSOR

I wish she would open the damn window! It stinks in here! “So, Ms Peterson…” She looks up from her phone with a sigh. “...did you get someone in to look at the other damp problem that you were told about, during your somewhat tempestuous meeting with my previous colleague?”

“Tempestuous? He was downright rude and insulting! If I thought there was a chance of my complaint about him getting anywhere I would’ve followed through with it.” She carps.

“So did you?” She looks puzzled. “Did you follow through and get the damp patch, which is unrelated to this, looked at?”

“No. I…”

“Of course you didn’t. Are you going to sell the property as is previously advised?”

“Looks like I don’t have any choice in the matter.” She bitches, scrunching up her face as the smell invades her nostrils.

“Not really. So is everything that could be taken out, taken out and stored elsewhere?”

“Of course, I take care of my things!” She looks indignant and I resist the temptation to point out that the cottage is also her thing and look how well that worked out!

LINDSAY

I can feel him judging me. I am much better than him! Drawing myself up, I look him in the eyes. “I see you have gone to the same school of charm as your previous colleague and company owner.”

“If you mean the School of Common Sense, then yes. So when are you going to clear the property so that it can be put in a sellable condition?”

“I’m waiting to hear from you as to when I can do that.”

I sigh heavily. “You could have, and once again, should have, done this the moment the first assessment happened. Ms Peterson, I suggest you stand here and use that oh so fancy phone of yours for its proper purpose, not just playing Candy Crush or whatever the latest game is. Get this placed cleaned up...”

“Fine I will call a cleaning company.”

“Let’s go and see the lounge, shall we?” He gestures that I go ahead of him, and as I open the door between the lounge and the kitchen we both step back as the noxious smell hits us.

“Oh my god!” I gasp, and clap my hand over my nose as we back away from the mouldering festering sight and smell. “What’s happened?” I manage to choke out while opening the kitchen window.

“Let me guess. You just left!” He is almost crawling out of the window.

“Why would I stay?! I couldn’t live in it!”

“But you did have the pipes closed off didn’t you?”

“Like I said I left!”

“Ms Peterson. You have caused an environmental hazard. I have no other choice but to take the property from you and…”

Inwardly I smile, I hadn’t wanted to deal with it anyway. Mel liked this kind of thing, I tune him out as he blathers about environment, safety concerns and some such....

“Ms Peterson!” He bellows and I focus back on him. “As I said, because of your negligent behaviour, your claim is rejected. You will be billed by us for the costs of the deep clean and…”

“You will need Melanie Marcus’s information as well. She will need to pay…”

“Ms Marcus, informed us that she was no longer residing at this property and you confirmed that you were the sole resident, which means that you and you alone are liable for all costs. I hope for your sake that the damage has not spread from your cottage to other residences, as you will be liable for their repairs too. And, of course, there is the little matter of the portion of the sale of the house.”

“Wh...what are you talking about? How do you even know about that? That’s private!”

He laughs and shakes his head. “You really don’t remember me, do you?” I slowly shake my head. “I was the lawyer who drew up the agreement. You readily agreed to it...saying, and I quote, okay, Mel, let’s do it that way, it’s not like you are ever going to leave me.”

CABIN - WHITLOCK ESTATES, THURSDAY AFTERNOON

JUSTIN

I watch him come down the walkway slowly carrying two mugs of coffee. He is looking so much better and well rested. He’s forgiven me for hiding his phone, but he needed to rest properly. Debs and Cyn have been calling so that he can see how Gus is.

“Here.” He grins as he sits down next to me, we are both shirtless as it is so warm and private. “This is wonderful. I will concede that it was a great idea. Coffee kisses.” He murmurs leaning across and capturing my mouth, I sigh with pleasure as I suck on his tongue. I am vaguely aware of the cup falling from my hand as he pulls me into his lap. We part to breathe and to look at each other. “Want to?” He breathes against my tender lips.

“Yes.” I whisper back and wind my fingers in his hair. “Very much so.”

“Come on...I have been wanting this from the moment I kissed you.”

I get off him, take his hand and lead him back to the bedroom in silence. I am a little bit nervous despite my dominant side, but then he squeezes my fingers and they slip away, I know he won’t hurt me. I turn to face him and gently push him back onto the bed. At some point the sheets have been changed and turned down. “Sprites.” I murmur against his lips.

“Butler.” He chuckles. “Saw him scampering away. We have champagne and Beam.”

“And cookies. I brought some with me, but you were being such a grump I was disinclined to share.”

“Not grumpy, but definitely lumpy.” He rolls his hips in emphasis. “God, you are so beautiful.”

“So are you.” As I plant butterfly kisses over his face and neck, his fingers tangle in my hair and he purrs contentedly. “You even smell beautiful.” I tell him, and he huffs a laugh before a sharp intake of breath. “You okay?”

“Ribs still a bit sore.” He winces.

“A bit? That sounded more than a bit.” I stop and take my weight off him.

“Justin, please do not stop what we are doing.” He urges. “I’m fine. I will be less fine if we stop.”

I continue my descent down his body, sucking gently on his nipples and swirling my tongue softly through his belly button. When I get to his jeans, I look up for reassurance, and he nods and reaches for the lube and condoms. I take my time popping the buttons, and a gentle tug gets him to lift his hips so I can take them off. Mine quickly follow, and I gasp at the sight in front of me. His cock is filling as I reach for it and slowly stroke up and down. His eyes almost close, but it is the noises that I am pulling from this gorgeous man that excite me the most. I have heard the rumours, of course, of how he is very quiet, but this man is chanting my name and pleading with me never to ever stop. “Open your eyes and look at me.” I order him, and they fly open.

BRIAN

I have never seen anything like it. He is kneeling between my thighs and as well as jacking me off, he’s doing the same to himself. “So hot...oh!” I gasp as his fingers play with just my head, and I almost lose my legendary control. “Justin, now.” I beg, and almost weep in relief as he reaches for the condom and lube.

“Knees up. Gorgeous legs spread wide.” I quickly do as I’m bid, and again it takes everything in me as he rolls my balls in his hand like they are the most precious things in the world.

“Ju...Justin.”

“Give me a second.” He smirks, and reaches behind himself.

“No.” I answer. “I need you inside me now.”

He stops and blinks at me. “Need you now.” I repeat, and he gives a beaming smile. Yeah you thought wrong didn’t you. I spot the slight tremble as he sheaths himself. He puts one leg around his waist and then lines himself up against my quivering entrance. “Come on into me.” I plead then gasp, as he breaches the first ring; I remember what Ems taught me and bear down, then arch as all of him slides in. “Christ!”

“Oh my life! I am not going to last too long!” He gasps out.

“Me neither! Oh fuck!” I yelp, as he hits me right where I need him to. “Kiss me, please!” I beg.

JUSTIN

As I engulf his mouth, I can’t believe it, I am topping Brian Kinney! While my thoughts are running all over the place at the wonder of this turn of events, my cock and hips have their own brain and are driving this man wild! Our tongues lash against each othe’rs and we swallow down each other’s cries and moans of pleasure. I can feel his cock throbbing against my stomach and his precum is making my congress even easier such is the amount. I can hear thumping, and then he stiffens and then screams down my throat as his cock explodes and his ass locks down on my dick like a vice. I tear my mouth away so I can breathe, and yell my joy as my orgasm throbs through me in wave after wave of hotness.

For a few minutes it is just the sound of our breathing and heartbeats in the room, but then I raise my head and look at him and he looks...dazed but very, and I mean very, happy!

“Und? War's gut*?” I ask.

“Sehr gut**.” He replies lifting his head to kiss me. “You really know how to hit a guy with your rhythm stick.”

“Blockhead.” I giggle at his Ian Dury reference.

“I’m surprised you even got that.” He sighs. “Can you stay there?”

“For as long as I can.” I smile and rest my head on his chest.

“Good.”

Translation from German to English

*And? Was it good?

**Very good