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.