Sam Ridges leaned up on his elbow and admired the ethereal man lying in their bed. Brian was gorgeous. From the top of his cinnamon tinted brown hair to his pointed chin. No man could hold a candle to Brian in looks. Brian worked out every day. His body was lean, muscled and firm. Brian was also watched what he ate. Sam was always amazed that someone that ate so little had so much energy. Lately Sam also had to watch his diet; still he ate more than Brian. The alarm clock buzzed loudly. Brian rolled across Sam to slam his hand against the alarm clock effectively shutting it off. Brian rolled back and let out a weary sigh. Sam could never understand why Brian didn’t just move the clock to his nightstand, but of course, every time he brought the subject up Brian wouldn’t budge. He was willing to put up with Brian’s idiosyncrasies. Hell, he’d tamed the Legend, Brian Kinney, the Stud of Liberty Avenue. It was his biggest coop. Sam smiled just thinking about it. He rolled over and hugged Brian close to him. “Good Morning,” Sam purred. Brian cracked open one eye, “What the Fuck are you still doing here?” Sam bristled. After four years Brian still woke up and asked the same question. If Sam weren’t so confident in his hold on Brian he’d be concerned. Sam pushed down his anger and answered Brian. “I live here, darling. I’m your partner, remember?” “Oh, yeah,” Brian mumbled as he rolled away from Sam and threw his arm over his eyes. He hated when Sam called him darling. Brian reached over on his nightstand and lit a cigarette. For the last 4 years Sam had been trying to get Brian to stop smoking. He hadn’t been successful. He hoped to at least get him to stop smoking in their home, especially in their bed. He was tired of spraying the house everyday to get rid of the acrid smell of Brian’s cigarette smoke. “Brian can you at least stop smoking in bed?” Sam nagged. Brian didn’t answer him. Sam hadn’t expected him to. Sam was getting weary of going through this each morning. He just chalked it up to the fact that Brian wasn’t a morning person. He leaned over and kissed Brian on the lips. “I’m going to take a shower. Why don’t you come join me?” “Humph,” Brian mumbled. Sam didn’t know if that was a ‘no’ or a ‘yes.’ -------- Brian let out a sigh. Lately he’d been wondering how he’d gotten to this point in his life. Brian Kinney, the Stud of Liberty Avenue was in a *relationship.* Sometimes he shuddered just thinking about it. He couldn’t fault anyone for his predicament but himself. Four years ago Ryder merged his agency with Samuel Ridges another Advertising company so he could semi-retire and spend his time traveling. The new partner, Samuel was a few years older than Brian. Brian was able to purchase a limited partnership in the company, but Ridges and Ryder had controlling stock in the company. The company became the Ryder, Ridges & Kinney Advertising Agency. He and Sam hit it off and the business relationship became a personal relationship. Sam was so much like him. He was as much of a label queen as Brian. He was also gorgeous, 6’0 tall with light brown hair, gray eyes and most importantly Gay. They had dated for six months when Sam convinced him that they were the perfect *Super Power Couple* in the boardroom and the bedroom. Brian admitted to himself that he got caught up in it. In the excitement of having someone he considered his equal. He eventually moved out of the loft and into Sam’s house located in exclusive Pittsburgh suburb. Although, Sam had been at him for years to sell the loft Brian never would. It was the place he used to take his occasional tricks and his get away when he needed space from Sam. Lately, he’d needed a lot of space from Sam. He was beginning to feel like he was Sam’s trophy. He didn’t like the feeling. Sam wanted them to buy into the *Gay as Blazes* lifestyle. Sam had even joined the board of the Gay and Lesbian Center and wanted Brian to join with him. Brian knew before he did that he’d slit his damn wrists. He told Sam as much. They argued or as Sam liked to say, they had a *heated* discussion. For some reason Sam preferred that they didn’t argue. Hell, Brian would have loved to have a passionate knock down, drag out argument. He thought it was what they needed to clear the air. Get it all out in the open, but Sam would have none of that. He wanted to pretend they were a happy *Gay As Blazes* couple. Sam had also been after him to be monogamous. Brian had not intentions of doing that either. He respected Sam. He still tricked on occasion but he was discrete about it. They have been in a relationship for almost 4 years. All and all Brian guessed it had been a stable and satisfactory relationship. It was just lately Brian knew he wanted more. He felt like he was missing something. Like there was something else, someone else out there for him. He felt that he was destined for something more. He was destined to be with someone else. Brian let out a sigh, crushed out his cigarette in the ashtray and rubbed his hands across his face. He didn’t want to dwell on it any longer. He heard the shower. Why not, he thought. He rolled out of bed and padded to the bathroom. He decided that a good suck and fuck was just the thing he needed to jump start the day. ---------------------------------- The alarm buzzed. Justin groaned. He’d stayed up half the night celebrating his new job. Finally he had a full time job with a great salary and benefits. For two years he'd worked in the art department of a small advertising firm in New Hampshire between attending classes at Dartmouth. He'd done the same work as the full-time permanent art staff and he’d been paid half the wages. When he'd finally been hired permanently by the company he was still not given the respect the other art staff received although his work was as good if not superior to what they were producing. All of that was now over. He no longer had to bust his ass creating art work only to have his boss or someone else in the art department take the credit for it. He would now be assigned to work on ad campaigns to executives and would be recognized for his artwork; good and bad. Justin struggled to his elbows only to be knocked flat as a whirlwind landed heavily on his chest. His breath came out in a whoosh as he looked up in the laughing chocolate brown eyes of his best friend. Her hair was a wild array of reddish brown curls and she was smiling down at him from ear to ear. “Hey, working man. Time to get up and face the day.” He moaned, “I don’t know if I can move. Feels like a ton is weighing me down.” She giggled and slapped his chest, “You ass. You take that back.” It was Justin’s turn to giggle. Daphne was ultra sensitive about her weight and he couldn’t figure out why. He doubted if her weight was more than 100 pounds. “I would take it back but you just knocked the breath out of me.” Daphne elbowed him and rolled off him. She supported her head on her hand as she lay next to him. “Are you excited?” Justin struggled to a sitting position and so did Daphne. They both leaned against the headboard. “Yeah, but it’s a little scary too...," he paused and gave it some thought. He wrinkled his nose. "Yeah I'm hyped. Daph, I’ll have my own office and a administrative assistant.” “Wow, Justin! That’s great.” He smiled sheepishly, “Well my office is about the size of a closet and I share the admin assistant with four other artist.” Nothing could dampen Daphne’s enthusiasm. “It doesn’t matter. You are going to be doing what you love. You are at one of the most prestigious company’s in Pittsburgh. You will be making good money. What more can you ask for?” “A good fuck,” he teased. “Well, you are a hot, sexy guy. I’m sure you can hit any of the clubs or bars on Liberty Avenue and find one.” Justin was thoughtful, “Well, maybe this evening we can check things out?” “You’re on.” Justin hadn’t spent a lot of time in Pittsburgh after he graduated. As a graduation gift his grandparents had paid for him to spend a month in Europe. After the holiday in Europe he'd stayed in Pittsburgh for about a week before leaving for Dartmouth. He’d landed a job as an intern in a small ad agency in the art department. He'd taken summer classes graduated early and had been able to work full-time for a year to gain a little more experience. He had applied for the job a RR&K and after flying back for a second interview he had been offered the job. He had given his two weeks notice at his job and his little studio apartment. Within two weeks of receiving the job offer he was back in Pittsburgh. His parents wanted him to move back home but he had vetoed the idea. He had already discussed it with Daphne. He would live with her while he looked for a place of his own. The arrangement was working well. Of course, they had only been roommates for three days. Daphne jumped up from the bed. “Now get up. I made coffee. If you hurry I can drop you off at work on my way to class.” Justin hopped out of bed. That was another thing he needed to do. He had to get transportation. He couldn’t depend on Daphne to drop him off and pick him up from work every day. ------ Brian walked in his elegantly furnished office, tossed his coat on the sofa, placed his briefcase on his desk and sat behind his desk. Cynthia was right behind him with his agenda printed out and a cup of strong sweet coffee. He grunted a good morning to her and scanned the agenda as he sipped his black sweet coffee. After the morning suck and fuck fest he and Sam didn’t have time for breakfast. He was barely able to get a cup of coffee. And of course, after four years he still had the same talk with Sam about the two of them riding in the office together. They rode in separate cars. Brian thought that living together and working together was enough togetherness. He saw no reason for them to share a ride in to work together. Besides, Brian reasoned that if he wanted to do something after work he didn’t have to worry about Sam. Brian kicked back and looked over the agenda. They were bringing on a new employee in the Art Department. His name was Justin Taylor. Brian arched and elegant eyebrow as he read the new employee’s bio and references. Justin Taylor, Dartmouth Graduate, twenty-two years old. He had spent two years working part-time in the art department of another large Advertising agency. He had then been hired on full-time after graduation. Brian knew that Justin’s references, samples of his work must have been impressive for him to be hired at RR&K. Brian had made a habit or occasionally dropping in on employee orientation to introduce himself to the new employee. He wanted the make sure every employee understood that only 100% was acceptable of a Ryder Ridges & Kinney employee. Brian looked at his watch. New employee orientation was at 9:00 a.m. It was 8:45 a.m. Brian was giving some consideration to checking out the new employee when Cynthia buzzed him. He pressed the intercom, “Yes, Cynthia.” “Leo is on the line. He isn’t pleased with the work on the new ad campaign. He wants to talk to you, now!” Brian let out a sigh. He wasn’t going to make the new employee orientation.