CHAPTER THREE: FROM THE INSIDE

Brian felt the blond's presence, even before he reached the door to the backroom. The air inside the club was as sultry as it ever was, but it was more. More electrifying. More alive. Just...MORE.

And it was all stemming from the most notorious place in Gay P.A.

Over the years, Babylon's backroom had become a mecca of sorts, offering up a place to have some of the most torrid and tawdry fantasies of a gay man fulfilled without the fear of censure. Freedom was the name of the game, and no one was more free than Brian Kinney. At least, he used to think so... until he met Justin Taylor. More than a little relieved that Ted was taking over the club's duties for the night, and that Michael was nowhere to be found, Brian stepped inside the entryway which was highlighted in yellow.

The alcoves against the walls were filled with men fucking in pairs, or having orgies amongst themselves. It was no great surprise to find Emmett among them, ass raised and getting his needs met. Business had picked up for the Nelly Queen, and he and Drew were still on hiatus until the football star could navigate the waters of what it meant to be an out and proud gay man. So it was good to see that Em wasn't sitting somewhere in a corner pining away, while waiting for Drew to become a grown-up in the Gayborhood, instead of an aged Twink. Brian stood and watched for a few minutes, remembering the one time- or in reality the many times in one night- that he and Emmett had fucked.

The tall queen was new in town back then, and somehow even among the no names and numbers rule both men silently agreed to, he and Em had struck up a strange kinship. Giving him a few pointers on how to become a better bottom, it was good to see that Emmett had never forgotten the lessons. Which was evident by the screams from the top he was controlling, without much effort on his part. If Brian was considered the Ultimate Top, Honeycutt could be thought of as the Consummate Bottom. Although from what Brian had experienced the previous night, Emmett could definitely have some competition in that arena.

But he would keep that thought to himself. 

The raised dais, bathed in red, took up the center of the large space where there was a caged chamber in which BDSM play was allowed. Doms and their submissives engaged openly in scenes of various types as onlookers gawked or jerked off, wishing it was them in either role. After pausing briefly to witness a culmination taking place, Brian passed through the plastic dividers- reminiscent of the types found in chop houses- to the green section of the backroom. The color symbolized an area where anything goes. If you were looking for a bed or couch, the idea of love or just a quick fuck, it could be found under green lights.

But Brian knew exactly where he was going, and what he was looking for...or more importantly, whom.

Crossing through another set of dividers at the other end of the backroom, Brian saw his prey immediately. The blue lights were shining directly down onto his blond hair, giving the young man an ethereal glow. The room itself allowed for the forbidden vibe, as if one was fucking in an alley without the worry of law enforcement fucking it up with a summons. Brian knew exactly what the trick in front of the blond was feeling, as all the feelings from the night before came rushing back to him. He felt the same quickening in his own body, as he watched Justin bend the trick over, preparing him.

Brian could see the mesmerized look on Justin's face, as he watched his fingers disappear in and out of the trick. Cold, calculating and meticulous, Justin finger-fucked the trick hard, waiting until the small whimpering moans became loud pleas to be fucked. Brian stood off to the side on the opposite wall, wanting to have a prime spot to watch the real action begin. He couldn't help but lick his lips as he watched Justin roll the condom over his thick cock, immediately lubing it with his open palm afterward. Brian remembered how the younger man had tasted, and had to resist the urge to smack his lips at the memory as Justin began to seat himself inside the warm, nameless hole he was fucking.

A trick had come to place himself in front of Brian, so he closed his eyes briefly as he felt his zipper being pulled down to free his turgid cock. Moaning aloud at the warm wet suction, Brian closed his eyes a moment to enjoy the sensation as he pretended the trick on his knees was Justin. Opening them back up, he wasn't surprised to see them connected with the blue eyes of the man he desired.

~AC~

Before the plane had even touched down in good old Pittsburgh, Justin was ready to disembark his jet. He already knew he was heading to Babylon for the evening. Stopping briefly at home, Justin wasted no time getting into the shower. The trip and confrontation with Craig had left Justin reeling, and he just needed a mindless escape for a while. While under the spray of the hot water, he thought about calling Brian but decided against it figuring that he wouldn't be good company for the man he desired.

All he wanted to do was get fucked up, fuck and then return to his life as he knew it in the morning. No harm. No foul and most importantly, no demands unless it came from a trick begging me to make them come.

While fucking his third trick in the two hours since arriving at Babylon, he couldn't help but feel dissatisfied. Not one seemed to have the power to make him forget his own name, even with the E and many shots of Beam he had consumed. The trick writhing in front of him was no different. It wasn't until he looked up and noticed a pair of intense hazel eyes regarding him wantonly from across the narrow walkway, that Justin had felt alive. Fucking the trick in front of him harder, he allowed his mind to travel back to the night before when the first dick he'd ever had in his ass pounded him into the mattress, and the tightest ass he'd ever been in squeezed around him in reciprocity.

To say that his night with Brian Kinney was unforgettable would be an understatement. The fact that he remembered his name, or the experience at all, would be considered very out of character in certain circles. Justin continued to hold Brian's eyes captive as he pumped his hips, the idea of being fucked again by the brash brunet eating at the fringes of his mind. Before Justin knew it, he was feeling the telltale tightening of his abdomen and the quickening deep within his core. He saw that Brian was in the same state of arousal, while never allowing his eyes to leave the glittering ones regarding him.

Justin found himself mirroring the same movement, when Brian's teeth caught his bottom lip as his nostrils flared at his impending orgasm. Each of them sped up their movements; Brian grabbing the trick's hair, fucking vigorously into the proffered mouth while Justin's elegant fingers tightened their hold on the sturdy hips of the bald man he was fucking into oblivion. Unable to hold back a moment longer, Justin let his orgasm crest just as he heard the enticing gasp-moan-sigh Brian released into the suddenly still air of the backroom. Before either trick had a chance to offer their names, or some other meaningless platitude, Brian and Justin quickly made their way to each other. The tricks looked on in disbelief as they watched the mesmerizing pair kiss frantically, as if they each hadn't just engaged in some form of intercourse with someone else.

Whether the discarded men were standing there or not, it was clear to any onlooker that it didn't matter to the beautiful and wanton men, whom everyone wanted but apparently only desired each other. Moaning through the kiss, Brian asked, "Your place or mine, Sunshine?"

Although Justin really needed to think about it, he found that he couldn't with Brian's tongue dancing with his own. The rapid beating of a heart he'd thought long dead, and the rushing of hot blood through his veins had him answering before he could second guess himself. "Mine."

Brian tore his mouth away from Justin's, grabbed his hand, and led him out of the side door in a hurry. "Where are you parked?"

"I'm not. I took a car service here. I wasn't really planning on leaving sober," Justin confessed, although he wasn't sure what made him be THAT honest with someone he'd technically just met. He just felt like Brian would be the one person, who might understand him...well at least, in that moment.

Brian nodded. "I had the same plans, so I didn't bring my car. I guess I should dial the service then."

As Brian pulled out his cell phone, Justin was already speaking into his issuing fast and efficient orders. The first thing Brian noticed was his tone of voice, which was soft but firm and brooked no questions, or disobedience. Not for the first time since yesterday morning, Brian wondered just who was this man-child who could wield authority like the most seasoned adult. He had sworn that no matter how much his curiosity got the best of him, he would not ask Justin about his personal life. This thing they were doing was for fun, nothing more.

If a budding friendship came out of it, then so be it. But it was a want, not a need. The only need Brian had right then was to be buried in the hot tight ass, currently moving away from him towards the curb. Brian followed the direction of Justin's eyes, and watched in amazement as the long stretch black limo rolled to a stop in front of them. Before Brian could make a statement, Justin turned to him and kissed his wide open mouth, letting his tongue travel up both sides of Brian's before the taller man could figure out what was happening.

Pulling back, Justin almost laughed aloud at the stunned look in Brian's eyes as well as the gawking onlookers, wondering what was happening. "Close your mouth, dear," Justin said sardonically. "Or at least close it until we get to my place, so I can make good use of it."

That jarred Brian out of his momentary stupor, as the limo driver held the door for them. "Don't worry, Sunshine. I won't be the only one with a full mouth before this night is through."

Justin turned into Brian's body, pressing his erection hard against Brian's thigh. "I'm counting on it," he said, before turning and brushing his ass sensuously against Brian. Justin then climbed into the vehicle, settling himself while trying to temper his tremors of anticipation. 

Brian chuckled low in his throat, as he followed Justin into the limo. As they moved into the traffic and away from Babylon, Brian spotted Michael and Lindsay in line waiting to get in. He again, laughed low at the surprise waiting for them when they finally got into the club. He pulled out his cell phone to call both Ted and Emmett to give them a heads up, and to tell them that he hadn't been in the club. When they asked where he was now, he looked over at Justin and said, "Out with a friend," and hung up the phone.

The meaning, and tone of Brian's voice was not lost on Justin. "Out with a friend, huh? Is that what we are?"

Brian shrugged. "I suppose we can be, after all we're fucking. Nothing wrong with having a fuck buddy."

Justin snickered. "That's true, but the few fuck buddies I've had don't know anything about my life, especially about the fact that I have a limo at my beck and call."

"Speaking of which, what are you? Some sort of rich kid or something."

"Or something," Justin answered back.

"And how did you get that way?" Brian was genuinely curious.

"On my own, I became a millionaire at eighteen. Plus thanks to a little talent, and a lot of intelligence I invested wisely. After attending college, I inherited two fortunes, which I still manage today."

"So technically you're a trust fund baby?"

"You could say that, but it wouldn't be accurate. I happen to like to work and am not a lazy, shiftless, arrogant asshole," Justin said passionately, thinking about his father. Fortunately for the young blond, the limo driver alerted that they were arriving at his residence.

The ride up to the main house was silent as Brian took in the lighted path on what was otherwise a dark road. He imagined based on what little he could gather from the darkness around him, that the land they were traveling was either a large park or a sprawling estate. He received his answer upon seeing the looming lit structure at the end of the quarter-mile driveway. Punching in another security code, Brian watched as the wrought-iron gates slid back to allow entry.

"You live here?"

Justin laughed seeing the surprise on Brian's face. "Sometimes." But that wasn't exactly true.

Justin stayed at this house, which he considered his home, most of the time unless he had business the next morning downtown. The condo was also useful for tricking in privacy; something he rarely did anymore. His other residence, which was far more stately, was reserved for when he needed to be at the airport the following morning. It cut down on the long commute from here. When his father kicked him out the first time, this was where he escaped to.

It had once belonged to his grandfather Winston, and held a special place in his heart. He had never felt at home anywhere else. Because of this, it was understood by his family, friends and staff that whenever Justin was in residence here, he was not to be disturbed with personal visits. It was okay if they called but other than that, his home remained private. He still couldn't quite place what compelled him to bring Brian there, but he wasn't regretting it.

For some reason he wouldn't examine too closely, he wanted Brian to see it.

Entering the mansion, Brian's jaw dropped in surprise. It's not that he hadn't expected it since the outside of the house looked as it did. What he didn't expect was the feeling of home amid the opulence. Although classically decorated befitting a country manor, it still felt stately yet comfortable. The first thing Brian wanted to do was take off his shoes, and feel the hardwood floor underneath his feet.

Some of the older man's thoughts must have shown on his face, because after hearing a slight chuckle to the left of him, he heard the thump of boots hitting the floor wantonly. Brian followed suit without having to be told to do so, and followed Justin into the rest of the house.

"Which do you want to do first?"

Brian snickered. "What exactly are you offering?" He was blown away by the bright smile that greeted his question.

"Well it depends on if you want a tour of the house that so obviously has your attention or.."

"Or?"

"You can have another type of tour altogether." And with that statement, Justin began to strip down, carelessly letting his clothes fall where they may.

Brian moved closer in response, taking the near naked young man by the waist and pulling him toward his aroused body. He was delighted at the tremble  he felt ripple through the blond's body. Lowering his head to the crease where Justin's shoulder met met his neck, Brian nuzzled a bit, enjoying the earthy smell mixed with the lemon verbena fragrance of Justin's shoulder-length locks, and another scent that was pure Justin. "What do you want?" Brian's voice asked, deepening as he felt the pulse at the base of the blond's throat quicken slightly.

"Punishment."

Brian's eyes shot open, not sure he heard the younger man correctly. Asking again, he was shocked when he'd received the same answer without hesitation. He stepped back from Justin, looking into the earnest blue eyes which regarded him. Justin swallowed hard under Brian's gaze and his tongue flicked out to wet his full lips. Brian's own tongue followed the movement, feeling the predator within him awaken fully.

"What exactly am I going to punish you for?"

Justin was as surprised at himself as Brian was when he uttered his desire to be punished. The tricks at the club should have been more than enough to satisfy his body's needs, but they weren't. Justin was in touch with himself enough to know that a special kind of pain mixed with pleasure was what he craved tonight, and Brian seemed to be the only one he trusted to fulfill it. He wasn't sure how far he was willing to go, only that he needed to feel marked. There had only been a few instances in his life that Justin had felt this clawing need with such intensity; three nights in which he felt completely out of control where he felt as if he were bursting into a million pieces, yet disappearing into a void at the same time.

The night his grandfathers had died; when he was announced as the CEO to each of their companies; the night his own child had died because of a heart defect. Those times afforded Justin the luxury of losing himself in the acts. They absolved him, and freed him of the feelings of guilt, shame and fear. But this time was different. This time instead of taking the punishments while doing the fucking, this time he would take them and be fucked.

It was a heady experience. Focusing in once again on Brian, Justin heard the last question as Brian asked it again. "What exactly am I going to punish you for?"

Realizing that he had to tell Brian something, if not the truth, Justin bit his lip before replying, "Fucking three tricks, isn't that enough?" He almost creamed himself when he saw the small smirk appear on Brian's lips.

"I would think that would have been a pleasure, instead of a need for punishment."

"You would think so, but they weren't very good." Justin tilted his head to the side regarding Brian. "Plus didn't I break my promise to call you when I got in?"

He knew he was reaching for anything that wouldn't expose his real reason for wanting it. But at the same time, he would do just about anything to meet his needs in this moment. He could have gone to his own club to have this, but then demands would have been placed on him. And quite frankly, Justin had had enough of that for one day. He didn't think he could handle anymore.

Brian stayed silent as he watched Justin. He could tell that whatever it was bothering the man wouldn't be said until he was ready. Brian wrote the book on avoidance, as he'd done much of that in his own life. But there was something in Justin's eyes that took this impasse beyond a mere want to a bona fide need. And for some reason that Brian was afraid to name, he wanted to satisfy it.

Moving decisively towards Justin, Brian turned the young man around so that his back was to his front. Still fully clothed, Brian's hands toured the naked body in front of him, molding every inch of the nude frame under his hands. He smiled when he heard Justin's breath hitch at the contact. Brian continued his explotation, allowing his hand to trace the contours of the younger man's face, and throat before stopping at his nipples and pinching them hard. A sharp gasp from Justin, turned into a quivering whimper, as Brian did it again.

"Should I punish you for lying too, Justin?" Brian purred into the shell-like ear before nipping at it.

"H...How do you know I'm lying Brian? You barely know me," Justin protested, even as Brian's fingers pinched him again releasing a deep moan. The deep chortle against the sweet spot behind his ear made Justin press his ass back seeking more pressure.

Brian ground his clothed cock into the pleasantly plump ass pressed hard against him, before roughly bending the blond over the back of the waist-high sofa. "Like recognizes like, Sunshine. Surely you know that, so don't play games." Brian brought his hand down hard on the upturned backside.

The contact of Brian's first slap to his ass had Justin reeling. The first rush of release engulfed him, even as the pain and shock from the action made his eyes water. Thinking back to what had happened with his father that afternoon, Justin felt the weight of guilt lifting. Blow by possessive and decisive blow, Brian released all of Justin's pent up anger, hurt, and shame, replacing it with passion, zest for life, and a clear mind. As the open palm continued to connect with his flesh, Justin burned with passion unlike he had ever experienced.

It consumed his mind, and all he wanted in that moment was the next blow. He needed it! Ever so often, Brian would dip his fingers into Justin causing a gasp, followed by an immediate groan of pleasure when the marauding fingers would graze his prostate with the utmost precision. Justin couldn't get enough, which he indicated by raising his ass and pushing back, even as he sometimes squirmed to get away from the punishing strikes to his sore ass. Without warning, his lover increased the speed and strength of each smack to Justin's tenderized behind, and he couldn't hold back his imminent release any longer.

The tremors rocked Justin like a rogue wave, crashing against the shores. Still riding the crest, it hadn't registered to Justin that Brian was far from through with him. Brian was beyond turned-on by Justin's needy, and wanton display. Although he didn't engage in any form of BDSM often, with Justin it was a revelation. The more Brian meted out, the more Justin wanted.

Not for the first time since meeting the young blond, did Brian wonder just what he was getting himself into. Brian knew he was heavy-handed, and unlike most, he knew his own strength. So when Justin pushed his ass out after Brian had introduced his fingers into the act; when Justin bent deeper and begged for more, Brian couldn't resist the temptation to make the young man scream. What he hadn't expected was that the spanking would result in culmination, nor the look of pure pleasure, which graced Justin's face amid the punishing blows Brian kept dishing out. Apparently, beneath that angelic appearance was a slut for pain... and Brian couldn't say he was displeased by it.

Justin's reaction caused his own lust to burn hotter than hot, and when Justin released his seed onto the back of the leather sofa, Brian couldn't rein it in any longer. Moving to stand in front of Justin, instead of his former position behind him, Brian stripped in record time. Reaching over and securing the younger man's pale hips in an iron grip, he used all of his strength to unceremoniously pull Justin over the high back of the couch, standing him up. A startled gasp escaped the blond as Brian regarded him, letting him see just how much their impromptu scene had affected him. Without a word between them, Brian watched as Justin dropped to his knees before him.

He hissed at the first contact of Justin's tongue on his member, which was aching and leaking profusely in anticipation of the acts to come. The moan that escaped Justin as he took Brian into his mouth, shook Brian to his core and he instantly knew he wouldn't last long. Before Justin could get the rhythm going to unman him, Brian pulled the younger man to his feet and sat on the sofa. The sensuousness of the leather beneath his bare ass, provided a cooling relief against his own overheated skin. Still silent, but the looks they passed each other speaking loudly, Brian rolled the lubed latex sheath over his cock and motioned for Justin to mount him.

Brian almost laughed aloud at the sudden look of uncertainty which crossed the blond's features.

Instead he smiled slightly, and opened his arms in welcome to Justin. Watching as realization dawned in the blue eyes, Brian smirked as he regarded the way Justin lowered himself onto him. Brian stuck his tongue out as Justin's abdomen passed his lips on his way to settling himself onto Brian's lap. A little giggle escaped Justin, and Brian couldn't help but smile at that. When Justin's weight was resting comfortably on his thighs, Brian leaned forward, kissing Justin until the young man was once again flushed and breathless.

"You love riding motorcycles, Justin; love feeling all that horsepower between your legs. The vibration against your balls must almost set you off each time you hear the engine roar, or you traverse a particularly bumpy road." Brian continued to kiss him as he pointed out these little observations about Justin.

"Yeah," Justin whispered, as he continued to kiss and nibble Brian's lips.

"Well, ride me like that. I want you full of abandon and wanton." Brian noticed the sudden shy look, and marveled at the absence of Justin's normal confidence. He spoke again. "Last night was the tutorial in riding my cock. Consider this the actual test."

Justin snickered. "And what happens if I don't pass?"

"Then you'll have to do it again until you get it right," Brian retorted, shifting slightly to position Justin's hole directly on the head of his cock. He pushed in, catching Justin's lips in a torrid kiss as the younger man groaned out his pain, which turned into the most sensual groan of pleasure.

Snatching his lips away once Brian hit bottom and grazed his prostate, Justin said, "I guess then I'd better fail with flying colors." He wiggled again, loving the fullness within his ass.

Brian laughed aloud. "Just don't fall off." Brian bucked into Justin, relishing the grunt of gratification emitting from Justin.

Over the next several hours, Brian and Justin fucked hard, fast, slow, and sensual, each man never getting enough of the other. If they had stopped to think about it, they might have panicked at the closeness both were feeling towards the other. It was so unlike either of them to give repeat performances, and even less so for Justin to allow someone he'd just met anywhere near his ass. But he had with Brian. The instinctive trust he felt in the Stud of Liberty Avenue would continue to confound the younger man, but he wouldn't think about it as Brian drove into him once again.

Nor would Brian have thoughts of his own unmitigated changes because of whatever-the-fuck it was between them. They had by tacit agreement decided not to name it, not acknowledge it, not think about it, but to just go with it. And that was the way it should be.

~AC~

The next morning, Brian awoke with a start. It took him several moments to realize where he was, or why he was draped with a blanket while sleeping on a plush rug in front of a fireplace. He almost laughed at the image looming in his sleep-fogged mind of Michael finding him in a place like this, content and happy. The odd thing was that Brian really WAS happy. Or more accurately, he would have been if he'd known how the fuck to get to the bathroom in the massive mansion.

Picking himself up off the floor, he donned his jeans leaving the top button undone. Calling out for Justin, it was then that Brian heard loud music playing from the upper levels of the house. It took him awhile, but he retraced his steps back to the entrance of the house and found the massive marble staircase. Barefoot and shirtless he ascended, following the sound hoping to come upon the missing blond and not some dancing housekeeper, who he would probably scare out of her wits with his bleary eyes and bedhead. Reaching the landing of the first flight of steps, Brian wasn't surprised to find another short flight both to the right and the left of him.

Continuing to be led by the pulsating beat, he took the stairs to the left and headed down the hall to the restroom. As he relieved himself, he listened closely to the lyrics of the song "Personal Jesus" and almost laughed aloud as he remembered the first time he'd heard that song. It was on the night he had decided that he could not under any circumstances work with Stockwell any longer. There had been a murder of a young hustler, and Deb was doing what Deb always did with the lost boys of the neighborhood. She had organized P-Flag, staging marches and protests for the police to launch a full investigation to bring the perpetrator to justice, but they kept getting stonewalled by the Stockwell administration.

After one such protest, where Debbie had literally called the illustrious ex-police commissioner a homophobic prick to his face, he had Debbie thrown in jail for Disturbing the Peace. The charges were dropped, but Brian had seen and heard enough to know that Deb was right. So Brian did his job as the Ad Exec hired to take Stockwell's campaign to the next level, but after hours Brian worked to dismantle the campaign. On the night of a rally at the Gay and Lesbian Center, Debbie and many other P-Flag supporters called Stockwell out to answer for all of the unsolved murders and assaults within the gay community. It wasn't until later that evening, when his double-life was discovered.

Brian had gotten home, and was in the middle of fucking his latest trick while Marilyn Manson was belting out ‘reach out and touch faith', that Stockwell had discovered that Brian was also gay, after he entered the loft without knocking. Brian and the trick never made it passed his desk where the stereo was, and since the loft was pretty much secluded, Brian hadn't bothered to close or lock the sliding door. He knew that his friends were all out celebrating the momentary downfall of Stockwell, so he wasn't expecting company. It didn't help matters that Stockwell had also arrived there in the presence of that brown-nosing, schmoozing scuzzbucket, Gardner Vance. Definitely a double fuck moment within both Brian's personal life and his professional career.

When he'd heard the gasps of the two men regarding the scene, Brian sarcastically asked, "What's the matter, Jim? Never seen two guys fucking before?"

He carelessly detached his condom-covered cock from the trick's ass, disposed of the cum filled rubber and stood there naked and proud. His defiant posture alone dared either man to say anything derogatory to him within his own home. Both men left without a word, still stunned at what they had witnessed. After kicking the trick out, Brian knew he had just fucked himself out of a job, and began to plan his future. His main goal, first and foremost was finding a way to rid his life of idiots like Vance and Stockwell.

Gardner tried to fire Brian the morning after Stockwell fired the Vanguard Agency, but Brian was ahead of him and had consulted Melanie. She appeared in the office with him in an official capacity, and made both men aware that Vance couldn't fire him. As Brian's lawyer, Melanie had put a clause into Brian's contract that neither man was aware of. But it was one that Brian would turn out to be extremely grateful for. Under the terms of the contract, once Brian was made a partner in the firm he could not be fired for any reason short of embezzling funds.

In short, if Gardner Vance wanted Brian out of Vanguard, he would have to buy the brunet out of his contract, which Gardner did without realizing the personal cost to himself. Brian later used the money to build a campaign against Stockwell and had won; the rest of the money was used to start Kinnetik. Since there wasn't a Non-Competition Clause included in Brian's contract, he decided that he would go after the companies he had won for Vanguard Advertising. Most of the companies had gone with Brian immediately, buying themselves out of their contracts at a record rate. They knew Brian's work and his work ethic, and thought Vance a fool for buying him out.

Somehow it had also leaked out about Brian being responsible for the downfall of Stockwell's campaign, and the companies had decided that they wanted a true visionary and someone willing to take risks on their behalf at the helm of their advertising campaigns. Those who initially stayed with Vance, tried to use Kinnetik to run their ad campaigns after their contracts with Vanguard had expired. But unfortunately for them, Brian had to turn them down. Thanks to the successful campaigns he worked on for his once-former clients- who also became Kinnetik's premier clients- a host of new business came Brian's way, and his staff was being overworked as it was. Although Brian was a hard boss, he was also fair with his staff, allowing for them to have paid time off as well as their weekends.

If Brian had to work, so be it. But most of his staff consisted of people with familial obligations, and Brian wouldn't allow his own ambitions to stand in the way of what he'd missed as a child growing up in the Kinney household. So he had advised the interested parties to wait until the following quarter to ask again, hoping that Kinnetik would be able to get a handle on their workload and could provide the customized campaigns his clients were learning to expect from the dynamic young agency. He was amazed and proud that they did on the strength of his prefessional reputation, and Kinnetik had taken on all but three of his former clients, who proved themselves to be homophobic assholes. Since Kinnetik had grown in such a short amount of time, Brian had no problem attracting and recruiting their biggest competition, and giving them the campaigns at a discounted rate while his former clients suffered the consequences of their slurs and threats.

Cynthia had decided to rename the company slogan to ‘Kinnetik- Screwing the Competition One Account at a Time.' Although they were still known as the company which never slept, within the inner circle of clients, the idea stuck and the company began to grow. And years later, Kinnetik was still thriving, having achieved success both domestic and abroad, while two of those businesses Brian had rejected had to declare bankruptcy right alongside Gardner Vance.

~AC~

Coming upon a room with bright light pouring from it, Brian was surprised and delighted to find the young man he had spent his time looking for. Justin was standing there in front of a large canvas covered in paint. The early morning sunlight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows bounced off of his shining blond locks turning them an enticing shade of gold along with his sweat-laced alabaster skin. Brian couldn't help but note the strong muscles of Justin's back as he moved effortlessly across the canvas, slashing alternate lines of black and red across the gray and white basecoats; the way the rippling biceps and triceps belied the tender way he always embraced Brian after sex. Studying the painting and its creator, Brian could literally feel the agitation in every stroke the brush made onto the surface.

And even though Justin wrung his enticing ass to the music, the movements were stilted and jerky, not smooth the way they were whenever they danced together. It was laughable that Brian could pick up on all that in his short acquaintance with Justin, but there it was. And for the first time in his life, Brian longed to connect with the untamable force of nature.

Feeling himself being watched, Justin placed the brush down. He stood back to view his work. Whereas painting and sex usually calmed him, this morning it hadn't and Justin wasn't quite sure how to take that. He had entered the room hours ago trying to escape one of the many nightmares which haunted him for years. The only thing that had grounded him upon waking was that he wasn't alone.

Brian was there, but he was sleeping. The fact that Justin had wanted to talk to Brian about the dreams, scared the shit out of him to the point where Justin had to get up. Moving himself from underneath Brian's sprawling, slumbering form, Justin donned his jeans and headed to his studio. At first, he stared around the space in silence, not wanting to turn on a light or disturb the darkness as he tried to get his wayward thoughts back under his ironclad control. It was something he'd learned to do as a young man living under Craig Taylor's roof.

No one was allowed to make any noise if the man was sleeping or there would be hell to pay. He and Molly had endured beatings, and undue punishments simply for being children and doing what kids did. Jennifer had gone through the same hell. Justin remembered the time he had first learned to cook, and wanted to wake his parents up with a surprise of breakfast in bed. Unfortunately for him, he forgot that a boiling pot meant that he needed the oven mitts.

Justin had dropped the hot item, which had caused Jennifer and therefore Craig to come running to see what the commotion was. After Jennifer had tended to Justin's burned palm, Justin received another sort of palm altogether- right to the face. He remembered being told to shut the fuck up since real men didn't cry and was threatened with reform school, if he didn't cease his tears immediately. It was the first of many instances that Justin had learned not to show any of his emotions, other than anger. Even more, Justin had learned that no man could ever be trusted, especially those in a position of power of authority over him.

He was only eleven.

So for years afterward, Justin's life had become a battle of wills with his father. Craig wouldn't let up on Justin, no matter how hard the young man worked to exceed all of his expectations. The older Taylor just had to keep pushing the younger, and the younger pushed back even harder. Justin refused to be intimidated by Craig in any form, unlike Molly and Jennifer. After the kitchen incident, Justin had started doing what was right for himself and oft times, that meant disobeying his father or calling Craig on his bullshit, even if it earned him a beating.

Allowing his mind to call up the memories, Justin remembered his grandparents making comments to Jennifer about how angry Justin had become and how withdrawn. Jennifer had told them that he was just becoming focused as his father had wanted him to be. It was then that his grandparents had decided to take matters into their own hands. Justin began spending as much time with his grandparents as he could, much to Craig's displeasure. When Craig would complain about it, Justin's grandfathers had threatened to cut Craig out of their wills if he tried to keep Justin and Molly from them.

In retrospect, Justin thought the fact that he wasn't bendable to Craig's will- and that Justin was a millionaire in his own right, not just by inheritance- was the source of constant contention even in his adulthood. It didn't help that Justin soaked up knowledge like a sponge, always wanting more of it. Whereas Craig demanded that Justin play a sport, Justin in turn dug in his heels and focused more on art and cultural pursuits. It not only drove his father crazy, but Justin had the support of the two patriarchs of his family, something Craig never seemed to obtain. Through Grandfather Winston, Justin got to pursue both his artistic and business side, while Grandfather Taylor taught Justin about international business and about life in general.

Through both of them, he learned how to manage his fortune. And when Justin made his first million, they had not only been proud of the man Justin had become, but taught him how to manage his money through investments. They had encouraged Justin when he wanted to take risks, stating that it was his life and it was up to him the way he wanted to live it. Justin had decided that he wanted to be happy, whatever-the-fuck that entailed and he was. At least he was, until Daphne had become pregnant.

Doing what all teenagers do, he and his best friend had been experimenting. Justin had known for a long time that he was gay. But as most gay teens do, he wanted to be sure that he wasn't mistaken. In turn, Daphne wanted to lose her virginity to someone she trusted to take care of her physically and emotionally. Her boyfriend at the time, Glenn Reeves, was certainly NOT it.

So during one such session, she had asked him to fuck her. She had already given Justin several blowjobs, so that she could learn to deep-throat correctly. Justin reluctantly agreed, after eliciting her promise not to get weird after they did the deed. After fumbling around with everything from lube, to condoms and everything else klutzy teens do during their first time, Justin finally penetrated Daphne. It was then that Justin had learned that being a gay teenager didn't negate the fact that he could rub against a tree- or in this case a chick- and get hard.

For Daphne's part, she had wondered what the big deal was. At least, that was the case until Justin's cock had rubbed against a certain spot within her, and then she understood what having the elusive g-spot stroked felt like. And honestly, a lecture in health class really didn't do the experience justice. Justin had done his best to make sure she was comfortable during the experience. He may have been fantasizing about fucking the hottest guy in their class while pumping in and out of Daph, but that didn't mean he didn't care about her.

She was still his best friend, and would be after the sex was all over.

They had decided to keep that part of their relationship a secret, only using each other sexually if their specific desires were not available to them. Daphne had kept her promise not to get weird, and begin to start falling for Justin afterward. Therefore Justin was right there to comfort her, when Daphne had caught Glenn in the girl's bathroom during lunch with September Summers. She had joked that she was glad she hadn't given him her virginity because with his tiny dick, she wouldn't have felt anything. Justin had told her that she would probably still be a virgin, if she had.

The two of them had laughed, and went about their business.

Six months later, Daphne had missed her period, which was unusual. She and Justin had shared everything, including Daphne's mood swings during that time of the month. Jennifer had often joked that perhaps they really were twins, since they were also born on the same day to their moms, who were also best friends. After a week of Daphne feeling sick and still no show of her menstrual, Daphne and Justin headed down to the free clinic, just to make sure that something serious hadn't happened. At seventeen, they were still in shock when one of their teachers was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the tender age of twenty-six.

It was something they had never thought could happen to someone so young, and Daphne was growing paranoid. Justin had suggested the clinic when he'd heard one of the boys in gym class talking about his recent run in with the ‘clap', and how they took him in without a problem since he was the legal age of consent. If he required anything other than the requisite shot, they would have to have his parents permission. Justin figured that it would be nothing for Daphne to be able to ask some questions, and perhaps have a blood test or give up some pee to get a clean bill of health. Withdrawing some money from his personal account, Justin paid cash for Daphne to be seen, although the consultation was free.

He even paid extra for her test results to be rushed, only concerned about putting his friend out of her worry-induced misery. When Daph emerged from the exam room with swollen eyes, Justin was all set to march to the back of the office and punch the person who had hurt her. Grabbing his arm to stop him, it was then that he heard the words that would forever be etched in his mind. "Justin, I'm pregnant."

To say that he had been stunned, and sad would be an understatement. He was upset that he had hurt Daphne in such a way, and all because of the foolishness of being oversexed teens. He and Daphne agreed that they would keep everything a secret, until they could decide what to do. Fortunately, Daphne carried small, looking only like she had picked up a few pounds, instead of the fact that she was carrying another person within her. Justin had needed advice so he had gone to his grandfather Winston, telling him that a ‘friend' was pregnant and too far along to get an abortion.

His grandfather had picked up on the inflections in his voice immediately, and after hearing the entire story decided to move Justin into his home, before telling Craig or Jennifer about the baby. Instead, there was another problem altogether facing Justin when he had arrived home that night. Justin had been to Liberty Avenue many times to meet with his business manager, who was gay. Justin had been honest with both of his grandfathers about his sexual orientation before he decided to work on the Rage video games, so they would not be shocked by the content. As a result, they decided that he should have someone manage his money, who could relate to him not only as a financial advisor, but as a gay man.

It wasn't long before they pointed him in the direction of Adam Strausse. The older man had taken a liking to Justin immediately, and the two struck up a friendship. Consequently, they often met at the Liberty Diner so that Justin could eat while they discussed the latest happenings with his money. On that particular afternoon after Justin had dropped Daphne at home, the young blond went to the Diner for his usual meeting with Adam. Instead of business as usual, Justin needed to talk to Adam about starting a fund for the care and expenses of his unborn child.

At first, Adam was stunned by Justin's revelation. It wasn't everyday he'd heard of a gay guy getting his straight female friend pregnant, the natural way. But then putting that shocking thought aside, he went over the particulars of what Justin already had banked, his cash on hand and what it would cost to give a monthly stipend to Daphne. They had concluded their meeting, and had gone outside to say their goodbyes with the usual kisses and hugs of friendship. Craig, who had been riding along Liberty Avenue, had seen the entire exchange.

When Justin had arrived home later that evening, he was promptly slapped and yelled at for being on Liberty Avenue. Craig screamed that he would not have a cocksucker for a son. Since there was no rhyme or reason that Craig should have been on the strip known as the Gay District of Pittsburgh, Justin had promptly pointed out the fact that Craig's presence there was as questionable as Justin's right to be there in his eyes. Another fight between father and son ensued, which ended with Justin battered and bruised then trounced out of his house with nothing, but the clothes on his back. When Justin arrived at Grandfather Winston's house, it had been late and the old man saw red as Justin related all of the information to him in detail.

Grandfather Winston then called Grandfather Taylor, relating all that Justin had told him. They devised plans to deal with Craig in the only way, which mattered to him. They rewrote their wills the next morning and while Justin was in school, went over to Justin's former residence. After speaking with Jennifer, and advising of what they had planned to do, she willingly helped them pack up Justin's room. They had also advised her of the situation with Daphne.

Contrary to Justin's expected initial reaction, Jennifer and Malorie, Daphne's mother, had suspected for some time that the youngsters were experimenting, even as they knew that Justin was gay. They called Malorie and advised her that Daphne could be moved into the Taylor mansion to put her out of the orbit of Malorie's husband and Craig. Without hesitation, Mal had packed Daphne's belongings and decided to tell her husband that Daphne would be staying with Grandfather Taylor full-time so that he could groom her in international business, like he was doing for Justin. They both knew how much Daphne wanted to work for that company so Gregory hadn't been upset by Daphne's leaving, even if he did wish that she would reconsider a career in medicine. By the time the sun had come up, Justin began to paint his feelings onto the canvas.

He remembered when Daphne had given birth to his son, how tiny and precious the baby was. He remembered the reactions of his Grandfathers at seeing their lines continued with a new generation, beginning with Joseph Frederick Taylor. But there was something grievously wrong with the child. Daphne was able to bring the baby home from the hospital, but had to take him right back when she noticed that their son had stopped breathing while she was breastfeeding him. After many days and nights in the hospital, Joseph was diagnosed with Pediatric Infective Endocarditis- an infection of the surface on his heart.

It was determined that the reason he had stopped breathing initially was because of a severe lack of oxygen. Reactions among the parents of Daphne and Justin were very different. While Gregory, Malorie and Jenn were genuinely saddened, having gotten over their initial shock to becoming grandparents, Craig had gloated, lauding that it was proof that gays shouldn't have kids. It had taken everything within Justin not to kill his father, deciding instead to concentrate on his child and comforting Daphne, who was taking everything exceptionally hard. The grandfathers had demanded that Justin and Daphne leave the hospital to finish their educations, since there was nothing else they could do for young Joseph.

They found it hard to keep their grades up, but they managed to do so with the reassurance of their families, who kept reminding them that they didn't have time to wallow in self-pity. They had to create lives for themselves as parents so that Joseph could be proud. It gave them something else to focus on besides their child's imminent death. One year later, Daphne and Justin stood by the grave saying a final goodbye to their reason for living. It had been a tough year; amid the surgeries and graduation, and having to make adult decisions that they were in no way ready for.

Daphne couldn't help, but blame herself for not knowing enough to ask the right questions during her prenatal visits, and Justin couldn't stop blaming himself for not being able to help his son or his best friend. Justin had turned to drugs to dull the pain, while becoming a workaholic both in school and at both Taylor Enterprises and Winston Inc. He barely slept, always having the recurring nightmares of seeing his son with all types of tubes coming from his tiny body, or the ones which featured Craig heavily. Daphne had also become a workaholic, which resulted in her falling asleep behind the wheel. It was a miracle that she was still alive, having smashed her car which had caught fire just after she had managed to escape even with both of her legs broken.

Justin painted put it all on canvas- the devastation, the heartbreak, the anger, the fear, the fights and finally the rebirth that had come two years before his grandfathers had died within months of each other. And now there was Brian...

~AC~

He turned to the man, sitting on the futon near the door of his studio. Brian still had that freshly-fucked look, and it made Justin's mouth water. It was kind of funny seeing him sitting quietly, when Brian Kinney was a man who never seemed to stay still. Justin had noticed that about him. Even when the brunet was asleep, his eyelashes fluttered constantly indicating that his mind never rested.

Justin wondered about it, but he would never ask.

"Good morning," Justin smiled at the staring man.

"Morning, Sunshine." Brian rose from the couch, and made his way towards the blond who was still standing in front of the painting. Bending his head, Brian reached around the younger man and began molding the pliant body to his own. He kissed him softly at first, allowing the kiss to turn passionate as it went on. "I was wondering where you had disappeared to," he said huskily.

Justin moaned at the sound of the sleep-sexy voice near his ear. He couldn't help his body's instantaneous reaction to the brunet towering over him. Justin rested his head in the crook of Brian's neck before answering. "I just needed to be here."

Brian nodded. "And did it help?"

"I don't know."

Brian looked down at the younger man. "You're still angry?" He watched Justin open his eyes at that comment. He chuckled softly at the shock and confusion in the expressive blue eyes, even though the upturned face remained impassive. "Like recognizes like, remember?"

It was Justin's turn to nod his agreement. He would never understand why he felt so close to this man, when he hadn't with so many others. He hadn't even felt as comfortable with Daphne before, or since Joseph's death. So it surprised him even further when he said, "I pulled a gun on my father yesterday."

Brian kept his face neutral, but his eyes widened slightly. Understanding dawned clear in his psyche about Justin's insatiable need to be punished last night. Shrugging his shoulders, Brian replied, "Well I've had my own parents. It's a fate worse than death."

Justin snickered, before it turned into a full-blown laugh. Brian joined in, relieved that he had dispelled the dark clouds in the young blond's eyes.

Quieting his laughter, Justin asked, "Aren't you even curious to know why?"

Brian smiled, drawing the younger man even more fully into his body. He breathed in Justin's scent, allowing it to fill his nostrils and his soul at the same time. "I figured you'd tell me about this painting when you are ready."

"I think I am, but on one condition."

"And what would that be?"

"Spend the weekend with me?" Justin asked, the hesitance ringing in his voice.

In answer, Brian lowered his head again, kissing the plump lips until they were both breathless.