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.”