Chapter 24 - The Dog Days of Summer.
It was the middle of August and as expected it was uncomfortably hot out. Justin looked at the display on his fancy new smart phone and saw it was already over 90F. Justin was still in love with the new toy which Brian had given to him the day after he got out of the hospital. Brian claimed it was simply a replacement for the crappy old pre-paid cell phone he’d had before which had been lost when he was attacked by Brandon. Secretly, though, Justin thought that the true reason behind the new phone was the special app which allowed Brian to track his whereabouts via GPS at every moment of the day. The one time he’d forgotten to bring his phone with him when he was at Daphne’s, Brian had personally tracked him down and yelled at him maniacally for ten minutes. Since then, Justin was careful to never forget his phone.
“Shit, Daph,” Justin exclaimed to his friend who was also lounging in the shallows of the pool with him. “According to my phone, it’s going to get to, like, 102F today.”
“Stop showing off with your new phone, Jus,” Daphne complained laughingly.
Daphne got up to get a refill on her iced tea from the pitcher Mei Mei had set out for them on a nearby shaded patio table, then came right back to her spot in the cool water. God, she thought, she was really going to miss hanging out in the lap of luxury here with Justin when the summer was over. She looked over at her friend, who seemed to be relaxed and in a reasonably good mood today, and decided to broach the subject they’d been avoiding all day.
“So, Jus, how are you doing with getting your arrangements for school finalized,” Daphne asked casually.
“I haven’t really done much yet,” Justin admitted. “Brian said he would take me down there tomorrow so I can register for classes and stuff.”
Daphne looked at her friend again and noticed that almost all the bruises were completely faded by now, except for a couple of really bad ones on his jawline and back. Of course, you could still see the mark from the nasty cut near his mouth, but that was fading too, and he still had the cast, which wouldn’t come off for another 3 weeks. But, physically, Justin was almost healed from the assault he’d suffered.
Emotionally, it was a different story. She knew that Justin was still having trouble with panic attacks every time he left the house. It was certainly understandable since it had only been two weeks since the assault. Justin had even been noticeably uncomfortable the day he’d hung out with her at her parents house - a place which was both familiar and where he’d usually felt safe before. Only with Brian did Justin feel safe enough to go anywhere for long. So Daphne didn’t say anything about Justin’s unwillingness to go to PIFA without Brian.
“Do you think there’ll be any on-campus housing still available this late?” Daphne asked.
“No. I already called on that the other day. They said I was out of luck, at least for the fall, although something may open up in January.” Justin replied.
She could see the little signs of nervousness beginning at Justin’s mere thoughts about the future - the fidgeting and lack of eye contact were blatant. Daphne, pre-med student that she was, had done her research and knew that anxiety about the future was one of the most common psychological effects survivors of sexual assault suffered. In Justin’s case, though, the problem was exacerbated by the fact that time was running short. Justin only had a couple weeks till the summer was over and he would once again be without a place to live, at least according to the terms of his original deal with Brian.
“If you want help apartment hunting, I’m available,” Daph offered.
“Thanks, Daph, but . . . I don’t want to think about that right now, okay?” Justin changed the subject. “It’s too hot out to think about anything that energetic. So, tell me about you - what classes are you taking?”
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Justin sat at the pool house computer looking at apartment listings. He’d been putting this off for weeks but realized he had to make some plans soon. The conversation with Daphne earlier had reminded him that he only had two weeks to figure out what he was going to do with himself. Where had the summer gone? Back in May, he’d thought that three months was more than enough time to get his life arranged, but here he was, already almost out of time.
He reached out for the mouse and clicked on a few possibilities. But the longer he looked at the screen, the more nervous he began to feel. It was as if there was this huge ball of dread building up in his gut - it was a physical weight that caused Justin’s whole body to slump forward, his shoulders drooping and his heart racing. Eventually he found he didn’t even have the strength to move the computer mouse, so he just let his hand fall to his side and sat staring at the computer screen without moving.
“Hey there, Sunshine!” Brian came bounding in from the patio in an obviously good mood and headed to the bar to make himself a drink as he spoke. “Are you hungry? I’m in the mood to celebrate - we just got the final client approval for the print ad layouts for the New Seasonings account. I can actually take a deep breath and relax for a little now. So, where do you want to go for dinner?”
When Justin still hadn’t responded, Brian headed over to the desk and looked over the boy’s shoulder to see what he was staring at, running one hand through the soft hair on the back of Justin’s neck.
“What’re you up to today, Sunshine?” Brian asked.
“Looking for apartments,” Justin said, his voice dead and lacking all inflection.
“Oh,” Brian commented, his good mood instantly evaporating. “Found anything good?”
“Not yet,” Justin responded, then blinked and seemingly became aware of his surroundings again. “Sorry, Brian. I wasn’t paying attention earlier. What were you saying?”
“Nothing important. Didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Brian turned to leave, dragging his feet now.
“Brian, wait,” Justin immediately jumped up, his face finally showing some animation, as he ran over to Brian and pulled him to a stop. “You didn’t interrupt. I don’t really want to do this right now anyway. Did I hear something about dinner?”
“Leave it to you, Taylor - out of a ten minute conversation the only word you heard was dinner.” Brian teased. “Yeah, I mentioned dinner. Where do you want to go?”
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Justin had been busy for the past few days working on a painting. Every evening when Brian came home, the young artist had been either still painting or was just getting himself cleaned up. So far though, Justin had refused to let Brian see whatever it was he’d been working on. Brian was incredibly curious about this mysterious work, since Justin had never before tried to keep him away from whatever he was working on.
So, when Brian got home one afternoon in late August, he expected the artist to still be ensconced in the corner of the pool house where he’d laid out a tarp and set up his easel. When Justin wasn’t there, Brian went looking for him. The first few places he looked, the places where he would usually find Justin if he wasn’t out by the pool - Brian’s bedroom, the media room, the kitchen - were all equally Justin-free. Then, on his way back out to the patio, a confused Brian thought he heard noise coming from the seldom used formal dining room.
Looking through the doorway into the dining room, Brian discovered the missing artist sitting on top of the large dining room table, holding up a very large rectangular item, gift wrapped in bright red foil wrapping paper with a large gold bow. The package was large enough so that all Brian could see of Justin behind it were his two hands and the top half of his face. Brian laughed at the odd spectacle as he walked up to the table.
“Sunshine? Is there a reason why you’re sitting on my dining room table with a large package?” Brian voiced his confusion.
“Well, I pretty much alway have a large package wherever I go, Brian. But in this particular situation, there is a specific reason for my location. Where else would you go to indulge in a ‘feast for the senses’ but a dining room.” Justin responded enigmatically.
“Where indeed? So, where is this supposed feast?” Brian was willing to play along.
“Well, this is a two course feast. For your first course, you will have to open your present,” Justin directed.
So, with Justin remaining seated and still holding up the package in front of him, Brian tore off the bow and the wrapping paper. Once he saw what was inside, he was so in awe that he just stood there blinking. Beneath the wrapping paper was a 3’x4’ painting depicting Brian holding a sleeping Gus, the two of them reclined on one of the pool lounge chairs. He immediately recognized the image from a photo Justin had taken of him and his son the week that Gus had spent here at the house with them. The painting far exceeded the photo - it was exquisite in its detail and the colors were so vivid - it was truly magnificent and Brian loved it instantly.
“Sunshine, this is . . . perfect. It’s beautiful,” Brian couldn’t find the words to express how much he treasured this. “Is this what you’ve been working on so mysteriously all week?”
“Yep! I’ve been dying to paint that picture ever since Gus’ visit. The two of you together were so sweet. So, I’ve been working on it for a while and - TA DAHHHH! - here it is!” Justin was thrilled that Brian seemed to like his little gift so much. “Tell me you like it. Please?”
“I don’t just like it, Justin. I love it! I’ve never seen anything so absolutely beautiful in my life. Thank you, so much.”
“Good! I’m glad you liked your first course - a feast for your sight,” Justin said, his eyes taking on that impish glint that Brian had come to discover meant he still had more planned. “Now, for your second course in this feast of the senses. Are you ready for the feast for your taste and touch?”
“If it’s anything like the first course, then, definitely,” Brian confirmed.
“Oh this is nothing like that course at all,” Justin was giggling a little nervously now. “But I think you’ll like it just as much.”
“Okay, Sunshine. I’m ready.” Brian stood there waiting with great anticipation for his second course. “Bring on the next course!”
*He he hehehe* Justin was giggling insanely at this point, clearly excited by the next part of his surprise. He quickly pulled the remains of the wrapping paper out from around the edges of the painting and tossed it off onto the floor. Then, waggling his eyebrows, he carefully moved the painting to the side and laid it down on the table to reveal a completely different work of art - himself, painted from the neck down, completely naked and every inch of his skin covered with swirls of bright colors making the boy into an incredible living work of modern abstract art. Once the painting had been moved to safety, Justin stretched himself out on his side, lying lengthwise on the table, displaying himself as the next course in the meal.
“Voila! For your tasting and touching pleasure, I present, ‘The Abstract Justin Taylor’.”
Brian burst out laughing heartily and loudly. “Sunshine, what have you done to yourself,” Brian chuckled.
“Well, I’ve painted myself all over with edible body paints, of course,” Justin explained. “You know how you’re always telling me that by the time I’m done with a picture I’m covered from head to toe with paint. Well, you gave me the idea. I just substituted body paints for the acrylics - those don’t taste all that good. Then I painted myself and stood still for two hours waiting for the silly stuff to dry. And now, Mr. Kinney, you get to lick me clean!”
“Has anyone ever told you how incredibly creative you are, little boy?” Brian said, grabbing for a purple painted foot and pulling the boy towards him with it.
“Well, yeah. But never in this particular context. You’re the ONLY one who gets to eat this artist.” Justin teased as he scooted over closer to the edge of the table.
“So, what’s on the menu tonight, little artist?” Brian asked, unsure where exactly to start with this feast.
“This red, here, on my chest, that’s strawberry. I think you might like to start with that.” Justin advised, pointing to spirals of red circling his chest and winding in towards his nipples.
Brian laughingly obliged, flicking out a wet pink tongue and lapping at the red swirls, nibbling at the sweetness of the hardening little nubs covered with the tasty strawberry flavoring.
“Mmmmm. Very nice for an appetizer. How about I move on to this lovely orange,” Brian said as his tongue trailed upwards towards the colorful lines delineating the long lean stretches of his artist’s neck. “Orange flavored, how appropriate,” was Brian’s only comment as he nibbled and sucked away causing ripples of pleasure to course through Justin’s body as he tried to lie still.
Brian was getting into the game wholeheartedly now, trying, in turn, swirls of lime, blueberry, grape and chocolate. Justin was still trying to lie still to give Brian full access to all the rainbow of tastes, but he was having a bit of trouble, the tantalizing licking all over his body causing an almost unbearable urge to squirm. When Brian finally ventured lower, Justin finally lost all control and moaned as his lover’s tongue found a taste sensation he particularly loved.
“How appropriate - a Rocket Pop!” Brian laughed approvingly as he lovingly licked at Justin’s never tastier, brightly painted red white and blue cock.
“It was either that or the banana, but the yellow just didn’t show up as well,” Justin teased between panting, moaning and thrusting his groin closer to Brian’s questing tongue.
Brian was really getting into this feast. He licked down the nearest thigh as he lifted Justin’s legs up over his shoulders so he could find out just what flavors were waiting for him deeper down. He enjoyed the vanilla streaks on the tender hips and the dark purple plum flavoring as he suckled Justin’s balls. Then he just couldn’t hold off any longer and flipped Justin over unceremoniously to see what was waiting for him on the other side. What he saw were more swirls of various colors over the slender waist and muscular lower back clear down to the firm tasty buttocks. And the most exciting, a streak of dark, almost purplish red, straight down the youth’s crack, which Brian had to taste right away.
“I thought I’d already had your cherry, little boy,” Brian laughed at the unexpected flavor sensation.
“Just reminiscing,” Justin tittered back, his laughter turning to moans as Brian began to explore the depths of that cherry flavored hole to see if the taste inside was how he remembered or if it was new too.
Brian was happily licking away, tasing everywhere, trying to identify any new flavors that he hadn’t yet found, when he noted that Justin was squirming even more than ever. He was whimpering and panting and Brian thought his little artist had never looked more lovely.
“Brian.” Justin panted. “Brian, please.”
“What’s up, Sunshine,” Brian said, pulling away from a large patch of watermelon.
“I’m really *pant* really glad *ooohh* you’re having *pant* fun with my *pant* little game, *unhh* but I’m not *pant* not going to last *unhhhh* much longer.”
“If I keep going, Sunshine, I could probably find out if this twinkie really has vanilla creme filling,” Brian teased, but relented by leaving off his taste testing and pulling Justin’s body closer so that his hips were draped over the edge of the table, conveniently at the perfect height for Brian’s purposes.
Brian quickly pulled a condom out of his pants pocket and then let them drop to his ankles, kicking them away eventually and getting himself prepared for the finale of this feast. Then he firmly gripped the brightly painted hips of the amazing artist and sank happily into the sweet dark depths of his beautiful lover. Bending his body over slightly so he could continue to taste the tempting body below him, Brian began to thrust at a steadily increasing pace, Justin’s hands hooked over the table edge to anchor the two of them in place as Brian worked. Thanks to the miracle of body-paint foreplay, both men were eager and ready by the time Brian started his skillful work, pummelling the bright body, his angle perfect to stimulate Justin’s prostate with every move. In very short order, Brian was panting almost as hard as Justin had been and the two men rapidly came to their climaxes, one after the other, Brian’s chest, groin and thighs now smeared with colorful paints and Justin’s smeared with his cum.
As Brian helped Justin up to a standing position, still kissing and tasting the remaining paint swirls, he laughed in the sweet boy’s ear.
“You are a most remarkable artist, Mr. Taylor.” Brian said. “You truly do color my world. Thank you for both my paintings, Sunshine.”
“You’re welcome. Now, do you remember what I look like underneath all the paint?” Justin replied, returning Brian’s kisses, then pulling away and taking a few steps towards the door ahead of his lover. “I’ll race you to the shower and you can find out.”
Later, when the two men were relaxing in bed, having actually skipped any real dinner after that over-the-top feast, Brian rolled over to spoon Justin, pulling him into his chest tightly. Brian had come to really love the feeling of Justin like this, the younger man’s slightly smaller frame curled against his, the warm, lithe back in contact with his chest. It was so comfortable and comforting at the same time. Brian was already half asleep, one hand idly playing with a strand of soft blond hair while Justin was drawing lazy patterns on the skin of Brian’s arm, when he thought of a question he hadn’t asked before.
“I loved my paintings, Sunshine,” Brian said. “And I’m not complaining, mind you, but, did I miss the memo about some special occasion? I know it’s not my birthday. So, what inspired you to such amazing heights, little artist?”
“Just a thank you gift.” Justin shrugged, his tone now melancholy. “You’ve been so great to me, Brian. I’ve really loved being here all summer. I’ll never really be able to thank you for everything you’ve done for me, but I just wanted to give you something to remember me by, you know.”
“Shit." Brian mumbled, wishing now he hadn’t asked the reason behind the gifts, not wanting to be reminded that the summer was almost over. “You don’t actually think I could ever forget you, Sunshine, now do you?”
Justin didn’t say anything, he just brought Brian’s hand up to his lips and left one light kiss on Brian’s palm, then folded the man’s fingers over as if to seal the kiss inside.