Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 22 - A Waiting Game, Part 2 A Few Hours Later…(Day 23) Brian was anxiously waiting at the loft when his phone rang. “Kinney,” Brian answered, taking a seat and making himself comfortable. He tried to prepared himself to listen. “Brian, it’s Cynthia. The phones have been going crazy here ever since you left. The staff has questions. You have a stack of messages…” Brian cut her off before she had a chance to finish providing her updates. “Have you heard from Justin?” Brian immediately asked about the only call that he cared anything about. “That’s why I’m calling. Justin called. He said he tried to call you on your cell phone but his calls kept going into voice mail, so he called here at office. He just wanted to let you know he’s going home to paint.” Cynthia relayed. “Would you repeat that?” Brian asked incredulously, knowing he couldn’t possibly have heard her correctly. “Justin…said…to…tell…you…that… he…is…going…home…to… paint,” Cynthia repeated slowly, making sure to enunciate each word clearly. She also was trying to figure out why Brian was suddenly having hearing problems. “Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Only Justin can create this much havoc and calmly go into his studio to paint,” Brian said with a laugh. At that moment, he let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks Cynthia, I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Wait a minute Brian. What about your other messages? You have messages from Eyeconics. Of course, Susan called. But Kellie called, as well. Brown Athletics called. Remson called. Justin has messages from both Maria Silvestri and Cristina Silvestri. Don’t you want to go over any of them?” “ No. I’ll deal with them tomorrow. I’m on my way home to West Virginia. I’ll see you in the morning.” Brian said firmly. “Thanks Cynthia.” Brian hung up the phone and quickly exited the loft. Within minutes, he was on his way to deal with Justin. Thankfully, Brian caught only the tail end of the rush hour commuter traffic, so the drive to Bri-tin took only about 45 minutes. That was just enough time for his emotions to subside and for him to once again replay the today’s events. Brian tried to prepare in his mind what he was going to say to Justin, but he was getting nowhere on that score. He realized he was just going to play this by ear. Brian lingered a while longer in his car, trying to get his bearings after the long drive. Then before exiting the car, Brian took another moment to play his voice messages. There was a message from Thomas, letting him know that Justin had arrived home. There was also a message from Justin. Brian didn’t like the sound of Justin’s voice on his voice mail. Finally deciding that he could find no other reasons to linger in his car, Brian finally opened the door to the Corvette and exited his car. With a quick wave to Thomas, Brian entered the house, dropping his briefcase on the hall table. He went upstairs and changed out of his suit and tie and into his more comfortable sweatpants and tank top. Brian tried to place a call to Justin’s cell phone, but it still rolled into voice mail. Brian laughed to himself when he realized he was trying to make a phone call to/from within his own home. The laugh released a little more of his tension. Brian made a mental note that they needed an intercom system installed at the house as soon as possible. Brian noticed that his bare feet, moving across the wood floors, seemed to relax him with every step as he moved through the house. Seeing he had no other choice, Brian slowly found his way down to Justin’s studio. Coming face to face with the door to Justin’s studio, Brian hesitated again. He thought for a minute. Then he decided that no matter what the problems were between them, the most important thing right now was that Justin was on the other side of this door. Brian slowly reached for the door handle, and finding that the door was unlocked, he took this for a good sign. He quietly opened the door a few inches and peeped in. Justin was sitting on the futon in his studio sketching. This was an image that Brian would never be tired of seeing…the vision of the man he loved…the sight of the artist at work. He lingered there for a few moments, taking in the view. Then, Brian knocked loudly. Justin got up to open the door. There they stood face to face, neither of them moving, neither of them saying a word. Brian then reached out and pulled Justin into a passionate kiss. Justin tightly wrapped his arms around Brian and held on. When the need for air forced them apart, they shared the momentary breath and once again interlocked themselves to each other. “Are you all right?” Brian finally asked, pulling Justin with him onto the futon. Then, he leaned back a little to try to get a look at Justin. As hazel eyes met pools of blue, Brian pulled Justin to him again into an embrace. “So orange is the new blue again, huh?” Brian whispered. “What?” Justin asked, pulling back slightly to look at Brian. “Why bring that up now?” “It’s deja vu.” Brian said, shaking his head. “I guess I should have learned! Is this how it going to be?” “I don’t know what you mean?” Justin said, trying to sound completely innocent. “We need to talk.” Brian said, immediately starting to look around the studio. “But not here. How about someplace more comfortable? I don’t want to take a chance on you walking out in the middle of our conversation.” “How can you think that I would …” “Let’s just say that I’m not taking any chances. So any suggestions?” “You know we have a hot tub down here too, with a sauna.” “Justin, seducing me isn’t going to work this time. This is serious!” Brian insisted. “You’re in a lot of trouble here!” “I was afraid of that,” Justin said solemnly. “Ok. Since you’re the only one who knows where anything is…lead the way,” Brian finally agreed. “Don’t you remember your tour of the house?” Justin smirked. “Justin!” Justin got off of the futon and pulled Brian up with him. Together they made their way to the lower level hot tub and sauna area. They quickly removed their clothes and submerged themselves into the swirling hot water. “Hmmmmm. This feels nice,” Justin moaned as Brian spoon in behind him in the hot tub. “Don’t try to change the subject. You’re in a lot of trouble, Sunshine! What did you think you were doing today in MY meeting?” Brian said, trying to sound stern. “I did what I had to do, Brian. Surely you see that?” Justin tried to explain quietly, leaning back into Brian. “That’s beside the point, Justin,” Brian continued. “That was a very important meeting. You just took over MY meeting. You gibbered in a language I didn’t understand, and then you walked out of MY meeting. What on earth possessed you do that?” “I realized that you might be getting ready to pull the plug everything, and I couldn’t let you do that. I had to stop you.” “Did it ever occur to you to come to me and talk this over?” Brian asked emphatically. Justin tried to turn slightly to face Brian. “There wasn’t time. I didn’t realize until I was talking to Maria and Cristina during lunch that everyone liked the campaigns, including Signor Silvestri. And, that his protests were just part of his usual staged demonstration of control. There wasn’t time to talk to you about it. I just had to act.” “And the use of the Italian?” “The Italian said to Signor Silvestri, I’m speaking to you as your friend.” “Ah huh” “It was non-threatening. If I had spoken only in English it would have appeared as a challenge.” “I see. I’m so glad you explained that to me,” Brian teased, actually starting to get the true picture. “Fuck Brian. Remember I was a little nobody in that room. Once I walked out, all you had to do was negate everything I said. You could have taken the position that everything I had said, were merely the raving of temperamental artist. Everyone would have understood. People seem to think that artists are mad anyway. You could have said that those were my personal opinions and did not reflect the position of Kinnetik. No one in the room would have held MY statements against YOU. Kinnetik was free to make the deal once I was gone. We both know that I had no power to speak for Kinnetik. And, that was all you had to say. I knew that you pretty much figured everything out, so I figured that you would handle things.” “Probably.” “So, what happened after I left?” “Well, let’s just say, you really know how to end a meeting.” “Oh…sorry.” “Look, I really appreciate what you tried to do. Yes, you’re probably right. I was ready to walk away for the opportunity. But thanks to you, we all have another shot. Still we have to wait and see how this plays out. But Justin, if you ever pull a stunt like that again…” “You always tell me to have some balls and stick up for myself. Well now…” “Justin, if I said it when I was stoned or on drugs, it doesn’t count. You know, I think I liked you better when you were 17, and you simply deferred to me on things.” Brian said wistfully as if trying to think of another time, but reality immediately intervened as Justin gently hit him on the arm. “Although now that I think about it, I can’t actually remember a time that you deferred to me. I obviously have you confused with Mikey.” “Brian!” Justin proclaimed, gently hitting him on the arm again. “Look, I want you around for a long time. I want you safe. You’re so fucking fearless, Justin, that it scares the hell out me sometimes…and living in New York hasn’t helped,” Brian said, wrapping his arms tighter around Justin. “But Justin, if you ever pull a stunt like that again…” “Don’t worry. I won’t.” “Oh how I wish I could believe that,” Brian said, raising his eyes to the heavens. He leaned down and kissed the top of Justin head. “By the way Maria and Cristina Silvestri have been trying to reach you.” “What for?” “How the fuck should I know?” “I guess I’ll have to call them tomorrow, huh?” “I saw them with their arms around you, Justin. Didn’t you tell them you have a partner? Didn’t you tell them that you weren’t available?” “Brian, they just mentioned that they thought I would make someone the perfect husband? You obviously agreed with them once upon a time.” Justin teased, leaning back to give Brian a kiss. “Don’t worry I reminded them I was gay. I even told them there was someone special. However, that really didn’t seem to matter to them,” Justin teased. Brian took no comfort in that last statement. “Brian, can we move this discussion to another room?” Justin said with some concern. “Why? What’s the rush?” “Your skin is wrinkling.” “So these discussions in the hot tub are good. Anytime we have anything important to discuss we have to get undressed and get into the hot tub. That way no one can walk away. But the down side is, we have to keep these discussions short. Is that basically what you’re telling me?” Brian asked with total seriousness. “Basically yes.” Justin said with a laugh. “I must say that I do like the short discussion part.” Brian said, just before Justin hit him again on his arm. “Maybe next time we have to have one of these discussion, we should try the pool?” Justin casually suggested. “Why do I get the distinct feeling that for the next three months, you and I are going to be spending a lot of time naked in water?” Brian asked, beginning to get a sense that this was the truth. “How can you say that?” “It’s just a feeling?” Brian quipped. “I bet if we asked…Mysterious Marilyn would agree with me.” “Were going to have to do that the next time we see her.” They were both laughing as they helped each other out of the hot tub, and Justin easily located towels and plush terry cloth robes. “Justin, the robes and towels are a nice touch, but where did they come from?” Brian asked as they were drying each other off. “Well I thought as long as we’re here at the house, I wanted everything to be at your fingertips no matter where we were in the house, so I had Emmett stock each bathroom with supplies and robes and towels. See?” Justin said, as he opened the adjacent closet. “Why am I not surprised?” Brian said with a laugh. “You tend to think of everything.” “Not everything,” Justin protested. “What do you want to do about dinner?” “After that lunch that Emmett prepared for the meeting…” “That was really great. Everyone loved it.” “I was just wondering,” Brian started to say, wrapping his arms around Justin. “Yesssssss?” “I was wondering,” Brian continued, this time kissing Justin’s neck and nibbling on his ear. “If maybe …” “Yesssssss,” Justin responded, snuggling into all the attention. “If you could be persuaded….” Brian continued kissing his way down to Justin’s shoulder. “To maybe …” “Yesssssss.” “Make your chicken and veggie dish?” “What!” “I’ll even help,” Brian insisted. “You will. So you must be desperate for low fat, low carb, huh?” Justin asked with a smile. “Honestly, I’ve just missed your cooking.” “Well, in that case, I think dinner can be arranged.” After tossing the towels into the hamper, they dressed back in their sweats and proceeded toward the kitchen. *** “We have to get a contractor in here,” Brian said, making himself comfortable on one of the kitchen stools, while Justin was searching in the refrigerator. “And why is that?” “When I came home looking for you, I was upstairs in our bedroom changing.” “Yeah.” “Justin, I called you in your studio using a cell phone...while in the house.” “Yeah, so?” Justin asked still continuing to gather ingredients. Brian realized that Justin must be too distracted to get the point he was making. So Brian rapped on the counter to get Justin’s full attention. “Justin, I was IN the house. I called you on your cell phone IN the house. Doesn’t this seem a little odd to you?” “Ok. I’ll talk to Gregory about it.” Justin finally agreed. “I guess this house is huge, huh?” he commented as an afterthought. “I’m just glad you called Cynthia and told her you were coming home to paint. So at least I knew where to start looking for you. Otherwise, I would have reported you missing, but you would have been here in the house the whole time,” Brian said laughing, “It probably would have taken me days to find you.” “Are you done?” Justin asked, stopping in the mist of preparing dinner and looking over at Brian with that certain look, complete with one hand on his hip. Brian got up and walked over and embraced Justin from behind, kissing him gently on by the ear he said, “I would have found you, though. I’ll always find you.” And with that, Justin turned around and kissed Brian gently. Brian deepened the kiss and it turned passionate. Dinner would obviously have to wait, for now there were more important things that needed to be taken care of. It had been twelve hours since Brian and Justin had been together, and as their hard cocks rubbed against each other during the kiss. They both knew they couldn’t wait any longer. It was time to initiate another room of Brit-tin. *** Two Hours Later…(Day 23) Two hours later, Brian and Justin returned to the kitchen to resume preparing dinner. Both of them were thoroughly fucked and much more relaxed. “I know I’m supposed to be helping, so what do you want me do now?” Brian asked, looking around and trying to figure out what to do next. “Did you decide on the wine for diner?” “Wine? We didn’t stop to pick up any. Sorry. I was eager to get home to...” “Brian, it wasn’t necessary to pick up wine. We have a wine cellar.” “We do? When did we get that?” “You remember the door you keeping ask about. That leads to the wine cellar,” Justin mentioned casually. “Surely you don’t expect me to go down there alone? I’ll get lost,” Brian protested. “It’s not that big,” Justin reassured him. “Then how will I find anything?” Brian mumbled. Justin set the timer on the oven, just in case. He took Brian by the hand and together they ventured into the wine cellar, which was essentially empty. There were however several cases of assorted wines waiting to be unpacked. “Just the basics to get us started,” Justin teased. “But, you do have to go shopping.” Brian swept Justin into a tight hug and another kiss. “This would make a great substitute for a backroom,” Brian teased. “I will definitely have to add this to our rooms to initiate.” “Brian!” “Surely you agree with me?” Brian continued. “Another time maybe. You have work to do.” Justin insisted. “So I’ll leave you alone while I check on dinner?” “I won’t be alone,” Brian teased motioning to the bottles nearby. Justin just laughed. While Justin checked on dinner, Brian took some time to unpack and organized things in the wine cellar. He also made sure that everything was stored at the right temperature. Brian then rejoined Justin in the kitchen, carrying one bottle of Justin’s favorite chardonnay and a bottle of his favorite merlot. *** “Are you really ok about today?” Justin asked when they were finally cleaning up after dinner. “I will be,” Brian said, “As soon I pick the movie for us to watch tonight.” “Us?” “Surely, you didn’t think your stunt today was going to go completely unpunished. I think watching Marlon Brando with me might prove fitting.” “Marlon Brando?” “Surely, you didn’t think that you would get to chose the movie?” “I guess not. I guess Marlon Brando does seem fitting,” Justin said, snuggling against Brian. “Thank you.” Brian said quietly, tightening his arms around Justin. “For everything.’