Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 36 – Almost Home
Thursday Morning…(Day 32)
“God, I hate New York mornings,” Justin mumbled as he reached over to turn off the alarm clock. Once again, he lay there rechecking his mental to do list instead of getting out of bed.
He had already met with Catherine Mann, his agent, and he had gone to a few gallery appointments yesterday. He had one more gallery appointment today, and then he would spend the day in his studio painting and awaiting the delivery of that futon.
Justin thought that he might spend a little time this morning cleaning out the refrigerator, but he would leave the whole exercise of acquiring groceries until his next trip. Otherwise, he would have to repeat this refrigerator clean out operation on that trip as well.
While he was lying there thinking of the mundane, his cell phone rang. Justin knew immediately who it was. “Briiiiiian,” he said as he answered the phone.
“Sunshine, I know how you hate mornings so let me get right to the point. I called for phone sex,” the voice demanded, without observing the normal niceties.
“No hello. No I miss you. None of the usual foreplay,” Justin teased, starting to make himself more comfortable.
“I would have called last night, but I knew you were working in your studio…and your futon hadn’t been delivered yet. And, as eager as I was, I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable, so I waited until this morning,” Brian calmly explained with a smirk, “When, I assumed, you would still in bed… so the comfort issue would not be a problem.”
“Brian!”
“Stop stalling, Sunshine. I have been without you for the last couple of nights. Our bed at the house feels empty without you.”
“You’re staying at the house?” Justin asked with surprise.
“I tried staying at the loft, but I couldn’t sleep so I came home to the house. I must admit I sleep better here. I sleep best of all when you’re in bed beside me. Then, the where doesn’t seem to matter,” Brian anxiously admitted.
“I miss you too,” Justin whispered with a smile, and he could hear Brian begin to relax through the phone. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“No, that will wait until you get home. Let’s just say that I’m dealing with more of Rudolpho Silvestri’s handiwork.”
Justin started to laugh. Then he sheepishly asked, “Do I even want to know about this?”
“It’s not really important,” Brian insisted.
“I think it is. Tell me! Are we moving to Europe?”
“Justin!”
“Well? Are we?”
“Can’t we just have phone sex and not talk about this right now?”
“Only if you planning on starting without me,” Justin said quietly.
“I knew that I should have just jerked off like I started to,” Brian mumbled. “Then, I would have avoided all of this. You can be such a drama princess.”
“You wanted all of this or you wouldn’t have called…you would have just waited for one of my masterful blowjobs when my plane landed tonight.”
“I was thinking that by tonight a blowjob is not going to be enough…not nearly enough. So I think when you return, I will just fuck you into the mattress as usual. In fact, maybe I’ll just leave you tied to the bed so that I can continually have my way with you.”
“Now that’s an interesting image.”
“You know this four poster bed that you selected has all sorts of possibilities.”
“I can even see myself begging for mercy as you continue to have your way with me,” Justin said with a laugh.
“I like the way you beg for mercy,” Brian said lustfully. Justin could recognize the change in tone.
“But of course, you will be gentle with me?”
“Hah!”
“And you will eventually release me?”
“Maybe.”
“After all, it’s hard to for me to do anything to you from this position.”
“I know.”
“And, it’s hard for me to touch you.”
“And I like the way you touch me.”
“And, it’s hard for me to move around.”
“I know.”
“And, without moving around…it’s hard for me to kiss you.”
“Oh.”
“And, it’s hard to caress you all over.”
“Oh.”
“And, it’s hard for me to kiss a path down your body.”
“Hmmmm”
“And it’s hard for me to straddle you.”
“Oh…”
“And, it’s hard for me to impale myself on you.”
“Oh…”
“And, it’s hard for you buck your hips and thrust up into me.”
“Hmmmmm”
“And, it’s hard for you to feel how tight I am.”
“Oh…”
“Hmmmm…and, it’s hard to feel you cum inside me.”
At this point all talking finally stopped and the only sounds were quiet groans. Then there were a few moments of silence on the line. Then the unmistakable sound of scrambling could be heard on both ends of the line as they each reached for much needed tissues and towels. And few moments later, the line was once again quiet.
“Brian?”
“Justin?”
“So, you’re sure this is what you had in mind?” Justin seductively asked.
“I’m sure…” Brian finally said with a smile. “But hurry home anyway.”
“I miss you too,” Justin whispered.
“That’s always good to hear. I’ll see you tonight?”
“Count on it. And Brian, we have a lot to talk about.”
“I know,” Brian whispered, realizing that he was not going to be able to put off having a talk with Justin any longer. “Later.”
“Later.”
As Justin finally closed his cell phone, he allowed himself to collapse fully against his bed. He simply lay there and tried to once again slide under the covers. Finally, he rolled over and looked at the clock and realized that now he really did have to get up.
Justin started the coffee and made his way to the shower. After a quick cup of coffee, he dressed again in tailored slacks and sweater. He was now on his way to a meeting with another gallery.
Justin had a full schedule for today and a lot on his mind today, but he knew at the end of the day he would be returning home to Brian.
***
Later Thursday Morning…(Day 32)
Cynthia walked into Brian’s office. “I have been doing some research on The Pentland Group,” she said with some excitement.
“Oh?” Brian responded without showing any interest.
“Did you know that they pretty much have a website for each product-line? Each website seems to have one interesting feature, but then the designer seemed to think that one interesting feature per website was enough. The websites are boring. It’s as if really designing the website was just too much trouble so they didn’t really even bother. Justin could work wonders for these sites.”
“Let’s leave Justin out of this, shall we? He’s preparing for three major shows, not to mention he’s working on paintings for the New York galleries. I don’t want to do anything to drive him back to his New York studio any sooner than necessary.”
“Don’t you get it? Justin is where he wants to be. Stop worrying,” Cynthia insisted.
“I’m not worried,” Brian responded a little too quickly.
Cynthia decided it was time to shift the topic back on point. “Speedos. Did you see the line of new women’s bathing suits?” Cynthia asked.
“Bikini’s or thongs?” Brian mindlessly asked.
“Neither. Their one piece is so sexy I think it would be perfect for the Collezione Fiero ads. Did you see it? Look!” Cynthia said, pointing to her full color print out. “You know when I think Speedos I usually think mostly of swimming trunks or specially designed swimsuits for the Olympic Teams. I guess with their overall international brand loyalty, marketing hasn’t really been a priority for them. But I bet with the right campaigns, Kinnetik could do a lot for their image and definitely increase their market share.”
Cynthia noticed that Brian was now unusually quiet. “Brian, did you hear what I just said?”
“I heard you. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Can I help?”
“Not this time, but thanks for asking.”
“I’ll be at my desk if you need me.” And with that, Cynthia returned to her office.
A few minutes later, Brian emerged from his office and announced that he was going to lunch.
***
Brian left the offices of Kinnetik on his way to the Diner. He thought that a mindless lunch with Emmett and Michael would be just perfect distraction. He hoped that he could put aside all the conflicting thoughts that were troubling him by watching the antics of his two friends.
But as Brian started to walk down Liberty Avenue, random thoughts intruded. He noticed that the weather was starting to get warmer, and it wouldn’t be long before spring would be at hand. Impulsively, Brian reconsidered his destination and opted instead for a leisurely walk to the park. During this walk, Brian tried to organize his thoughts.
Brian thought about an element in Justin’s painting where one jacket had slid from the ottoman, leaving a space that could never be filled. He was overcome with emotion when he originally saw it, and even now, he could still remember that feeling. Talisman Of Time…isn’t that what Justin called the painting. Only Justin could create a painting with such strong emotion that the imagery persisted weeks after seeing the original art.
Justin was to come home tonight! It had only been four days. In the past, they had managed separations of weeks at a time. Now it had only been a matter of few days, and Brian had truly missed Justin already. What had happened? Brian was concerned. Brian started to ask himself, if he felt this way after being with Justin after only three weeks, how would he ever let Justin leave after their three months together? He had to ask himself, what was he thinking when he had agreed to this arrangement? Did Justin do this on purpose? Brian realized whatever the answers…he was so fucked!
Brian wondered if Justin had really ever intended, at the end of three months, to quietly leave Pittsburgh and dutifully return to the status quo in New York and pursuing his art career. Not likely, this was Justin he was talking about! Justin had made it clear that he wanted to return to Pittsburgh…or rather West Virginia…to paint. And Brian had to admit to himself that he liked nothing better than waking up each morning with Justin in bed beside him.
Brian thought about all the time he and Justin had spent in the hot tub as Justin tried to talk his way out some situation he had created. Brian chuckled to himself as he realized that living with Justin day-to-day was going to mean practically living in the hot tubs on a daily basis…with the associated skin wrinkling. Living with Justin would never be tranquil…especially if the last two weeks was any indication. Justin constantly made life challenging, and Brian wouldn’t want it any other way. He laughed again to himself. Brian knew that living with Justin day-to-day was something that he wanted more than anything.
The voice of Rudolpho Silvestri filtered through his thoughts. ‘I knew I should have made Justin the Account Exec on the account…but Susan and Kellie assured me that you would be easier to deal with…maybe I should have trusted my instincts.’
Brian laughed to himself when he considered that after everything that had happened thus far on the Collezione Fiero campaign. Rudolpho Silvestri still held the illusion that Justin might still be the one to coddle him. The blond hair and blue eyes seemed so deceptive, and Brian wondered if Signor Silvestri would ever see things clearly where Justin was concerned. Once again, he laughed. Not likely!
Brian had to also admit to himself how much he enjoyed working on Collezione Fiero with Justin. Justin just had a way of translating Brian’s words into images like no one else could. Brian knew it was true. What was surprising was that Murph and George also knew it was true, and they wanted Brian to figure out a way to make Justin part of the art department. As much as everyone wanted things to be different, Justin had to be allowed to make his own way in the world.
This reminded Brian that he needed to be very protective of Justin’s time once he got back from New York. It was too easy for George and Murph to lure Justin into projects in the art department. It was also too easy for Cynthia and Ted to corral Justin to smooth the way for dealings with Brian. Brian had to admit it had all been too easy so far, and now he had to make sure that it didn’t continue to happen once Justin returned. Justin had to be allowed to paint uninterrupted. Brian was going to make sure of it.
‘It’s only time isn’t good enough Brian’ , Justin had said in his letter, ‘Now is the time.’
Brian had told himself that the decision to for Justin to go to New York a year ago had been a mutual decision, but Justin in retrospect believed that they had failed to look for a creative solution problem. Justin believed that they overreacted and settled on the decision that he should move to New York. While it was true that Brian wanted Justin to have every chance to succeed as an artist, and he was willing to risk everything so that Justin would have this chance.
Brian wanted there to be no regrets, but Justin decided that his success as an artist was not to be at the expense his relationship with Brian, and Justin had fought for his position against all odds. Justin had been in New York for a year, and he had been successful.
Justin had decided they should be together now…not later. He made that clear in his painting; he made it clear in his letter. Now, Brian knew that he had promised to find creative solution that Justin wanted.
Justin wanted to live in Pittsburgh/West Virginia to paint. Yet every time Brian tried to process making that happen, he was confronted with the real possibility that his own address might be about to change. This week the dream of Kinnetik International seemed to be a little closer to reality, but every time he started down that path of thought…there was Justin.
‘Are we moving to Europe?’ Justin had asked this morning, making it sound as if his bags were already packed. Brian couldn’t even begin to answer that question.
Kinnetik International…what price was Brian willing to pay to make his dream a reality? Whereas it might be true that Justin did not need to live in New York, he did need to have easy access to the city. Justin’s career was just taking off in New York. If Justin followed him to Europe, he could possibly sacrifice everything he had gained during this last year. Brian knew he would never allow that to happen. And yet, Brian couldn’t even begin to process the idea of setting up the international office of Kinnetik without Justin by his side. What was he going to do?
'To prove to the person that I love how much I love him…that I would give him anything…I would do anything… I would be anything…to make him happy.'
And with those words, Justin had finally agreed to marry Brian. The marriage didn’t happen, but Brian knew the words were still as true today as they were a year ago when the words were originally spoken.
And Brian knew that Kinnetik International would be a decision that he would have to make. Justin was coming home, and Brian knew they had much to talk about. Brian knew that somehow…together…they would try to make all the pieces fit.
Brian looked as his watch and realized that quite a bit of time had passed since he started his walk. So, he turned around and headed back toward his office at Kinnetik, stopping to grab a carryout order at the Diner on his way.
***
Thursday Afternoon…(Day 32)
Justin was reviewing his mental to do list one more time. He had his scheduled meeting with the final gallery that was interested in carrying his paintings. Justin had a chance to shop at FAO Schwarz to find a selection of birthday gifts to be delivered to Nicky in Cincinnati. While he was there, Justin couldn’t resist purchasing the latest painting toy, which he had sent to Gus in Toronto. Justin grabbed a takeout order and headed to his studio to wait for the delivery of his futon.
Although he had confirmed reservations on the 10PM flight to Pittsburgh, Justin hoped that by some miracle he would be able to get an earlier flight. These few days in New York had been wonderful, but Justin really couldn’t wait to get back home to Pittsburgh. Then, he and Brian would talk, and he could find out what had been going on Pittsburgh in his absence.
Justin knew that something was clearly up. The mention of Signor Silvestri was the first tip off. The second tip off was distinctive change in Brian’s calling pattern over the last few days. True, it had only been a few days, but Justin sensed that there was a lot going on in Pittsburgh that he didn’t know about. Justin knew that he and Brian had a lot to talk about.
‘Are we moving to Europe?’ he had asked this morning. Europe. Justin knew that this was a possibility from the moment Signor Silvestri became part of the mix. He had warned Brian about this before the Collezione Fiero campaign was created. Now, he could imagine the thoughts racing thought Brian’s mind. Brian probably wouldn’t ask him to move to Europe, because Brian would be afraid that it would jeopardize Justin’s burgeoning art career. Justin was determined not to let Brian sacrifice his dreams. Justin was also not going to let Brian move to Europe without him.
Justin’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door to his studio. Fate was smiling on him today…for his futon was being delivered early. Justin supervised the futon’s placement within the studio. Satisfied with the new décor, he gathered his messenger bag, set the alarm, and locked the studio. Justin quickly headed for his loft to pack.
He efficiently packed for his return trip to Pittsburgh, changed his plane reservations to an earlier flight, and sent a text message to Brian about the change in plans.
The cab to airport maneuvered through traffic to get him to his plane on time.
A phone call to Brian just before he was ready to board the plane confirmed that Brian would be waiting at the airport for his arrival home. Justin used the hour flight to gather his thoughts for he and Brian had much to discuss.