Classique Companions – 4
(1-800-838-2563 [UFU-CKME]

Authors – Elsa Rose and Judy
Plot Bunny – Shirley (muuuuwawh)
(one of many who took this bunny)

“Hi, I’m Brian Novotny,” Brian said as he stood on the porch looking at Justin. “And you must be Justin Taylor.” Of course he was. Brian couldn’t believe how good looking the other man was, or how uncomfortably shy he appeared to be. 

“C...c...c..., come in,” Justin stammered as he stood back and stared. He’d seen this man before. He couldn’t believe the color of his eyes, they were a mesmerizing green.

“I’m going to go get dinner, it’s in the car. I just wanted to make sure I was at the right place.” Brian grinned. “I’ll be right back.” 

Justin watched him sprint to a black Jeep and take out two canvas bags full of something. “I didn’t know we were having take out,” Justin said to Brian.

“It’s not actually take out,” Brian replied. “More like something I put together, but I guess since I took it out of my place... I suppose you could call it take out.” His laughing smile reached his eyes and Justin’s heart melted. “I forgot to ask if you were allergic to anything, so I brought kind of a sampler of different things. That way you can eat what you want.” 

“I’m allergic to a lot of drugs, even Tylenol,” Justin said with a smile, “but no food things that I know of.”

“Wow, even Tylenol.” Brian grinned. “Now that must suck.” 

“I take aspirin if I need something.” Justin shrugged. “I manage. Here let me help you.” 

“Just point me in the direction of you kitchen.” Brian wanted to kiss Justin’s delicious lips that smiled up at him, but resisted the urge.

“It’s through here. You know you didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” he began. “I mean we could have gone to MacDonald’s or something.” 

Brian shuddered. “I don’t do this often, but when I do, MacDonald’s isn’t on the list.” 

“What if that’s where I wanted to go?” Justin asked. “I mean Classique Companions <I>is</I> an escort service.”

“Yes it is and you’d find someone there I’m sure who would love to take you to the golden arches. It just wouldn’t be me.” Brian smiled. “I told you, I don’t do this very often. It’s a favour for Deb.” He used his mom’s first name, not sure he wanted to admit that she was his mother. He needed to get to know Justin better before he revealed any of his own life secrets. 

The two men spent the next half hour putting together, heating up and generally getting their dinner ready. Or at least that was what Brian was doing. Justin opened a bottle of wine and they drank while the other man worked in the kitchen. Both of them were relaxed by the time dinner was ready to eat. 

“I set the table.” Justin smiled. “I even lit candles.” Sure enough when Brian started to carry their food into the dining room, it was ablaze with ivory candles.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding about the candles.” The dining room table was set formally and whether they wanted to admit to it or not, the glow of the candles gave the atmosphere a romantic feel. “I’m going to move my place setting closer to you. I don’t think I want to shout across this twenty foot table.”

“It’s only four feet,” Justin laughed. “But it does have leafs that will make it seat twelve.”

“I’ll have to remember that if we want to invite 10 of our closest friends for dinner.” Brian grinned. He quickly moved one of the place settings so that it was close to the other. “Now isn’t that friendlier?” he asked. 

“Yes,” Justin agreed[. “But we don’t know each other very well and……” 

“If I can’t see you without binoculars, we’ll never get to know one another. Now sit down and let me serve you dinner.” He pulled out a chair for Justin. 

“You’re kind of bossy,” Justin said with a quick smile. “I like that in a man.” He grinned widely.

“Sure enough, Double Stuff,” Brian teased.

Brian placed a tastefully arranged plate on which lay a grilled chicken breast, a double baked potato split open, the insides mixed with green onions, red pepper and sprinkled with grated cheese in front of the younger man. There were four pieces of bright green asparagus spears wrapped and tied with a green onion and a grilled tomato half covered in parmesan cheese. What really caught Justin’s attention was the side plate of baby greens, chopped walnuts, bits of tomato and shreds of carrot wrapped in a thin slice of cucumber. 

“Double Stuff?” Justin questioned not taking his eyes off his plates. 

“Debbie said you liked Oreos and I couldn’t help but notice you have a whole cupboard of them.” He grinned. “It seems appropriate don’t you think? After all as your boyfriend, you should have a pet name lovingly spoken.” 

“Oh[.” Justin didn’t know whether to be happy about the endearment or sad because Brian was just acting the part he was being paid to play.

Brian quickly joined him with a plate of his own and a small basket with freshly baked sourdough rolls. 

“Uh, Brian, I’ve never been one for pet names,” he began. 

“Debbie calls you Sunshine.” Brian grinned at him.

“I get the feeling Debbie calls everyone by some kind of pet name.” Justin smiled shyly at Brian. “Does she call you something?”

“She does.” Brian ducked his head in embarrassment. 

“Well what is it?” 

“It’s not important.” Brian passed the basket of rolls. “Have one, they’re great with this kind of dinner.” 

“It won’t work Brian, I’ll only call her and find out anyway,” Justin laughed at the other man’s obvious discomfort. “Maybe she calls you Green Eyes or Baby or something.”

“She calls me Clio,” he said and ducked his head.

Justin laughed. “As in Cleopatra?” he cocked his head to one side studying the older man. “You don’t look Egyptian, maybe it’s because you have wild affairs with heads of government.”

Brian rolled his eyes, “It’s because I’ve won two Clio awards.”

“No shit.” Justin looked delighted. “What for?” 

“Advertising campaigns I did.” Brian blushed. “It was just work.”

“Wow, that’s something. Your family must be proud of you.” Justin beamed. “That’s an amazing accomplishment.”

Brian realized that Debbie’s pet name of Clio was because she was proud of him. That was just her way of saying so and he flushed with pleasure at the thought.  “I was pleased with what I’d done, but it was really just work. I’m happy with all of the campaigns I do. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t do them.” 

“So you work in advertising.”

“Yes, part time,” Brian said. 

“And Debbie said that you do contracting.” 

“I’ve done my fair share.” Brian smiled. “It helped put me through college.” He looked at Justin. “What about you, I know you’re an artist. What else do you do? Or do you do anything else?” 

“Everything I do is art related,” Justin admitted. “I guess I’m singular minded. I’ve done one or two campaigns for a local advertising firm when their art department couldn’t. But mostly I paint.” He looked around. “Pretty much everything on the walls is mine.”

“You’re young to have such a large house. Are you just antisocial or do you need a lot of space?” Brian had been surprised at the size of the home when he’d arrived.

“I was married, but my husband died. It didn’t seem so big when Nick lived here.” Justin shrugged. “I just never got around to moving. Maybe I should sell the place or get a dog or take in boarders.”

“Well you have lots of options.” Brian grinned. “As long as you can afford to pay to have it cleaned, it doesn’t hurt to keep it.” 

“Yeah, it’s a bitch to keep clean. I’ve actually got most of the rooms closed off. It’s not like I use them and I sure as heck don’t have visitors.” Justin’s laugh was bitter. “Other than my interfering mother and she lives in Pittsburgh. Even my ex-in-laws live here, so no one actually spends the night.” 

“I still live at home with my family,” Brian admitted. “But I have my own place too. I just can’t seem to make the break. I was adopted and it means a lot to me... my adopted home.” He’d never admitted this to anyone before. All of his sexual encounters had been in the back room at Babylon or a cheap motel if he didn’t go to the other guy’s place.

“You take guys there?” Justin asked.

“I’ve never taken anyone to either my mom’s or my own place.”

“Tell me about your mom’s place,” Justin asked. They had finished dinner and they were taking their time finishing their wine.

“Why don’t I get dessert? We can have it in the living room.” Brian smiled. “Unless you don’t want to be less formal.” 

“It sounds great to me.” Justin stood up. “We’ll clean up the dishes and have dessert and talk.” 

“I’m not avoiding talking you know,” Brian said with a smile. “I just don’t like seeing the dishes sit.” 

Justin looked around. “My house must give you the heebies, I’m not the neatest person in the world.”

“That’s what cleaning services are for,” Brian laughed. “I suspect it’s your artistic mind. I’m more anal.” 

“Oh, and I was hoping your were a top,” Justin joked. “Now what will I do?” 

“I am a top, Double Stuff,” Brian laughed. “But that’s not part of Classique Companions contract.” 

Justin’s face fell, but Brian didn’t see the disappointed look as he had walked into the kitchen with some dishes. He’d been having such a good time with Brian, he’d forgotten why they were together. Apparently, the other man never forgot. It was a job and only a job.

The dishes were stacked in the dishwasher in minutes and Justin was looking around to see if Brian had another bag somewhere that contained dessert. Instead, the man opened up Justin’s cupboard and pulled out a bag of Oreos. “I thought we have these with milk.” He smiled. “Of course wine doesn’t quite go with them.” 

“Sounds great.” Justin smiled. He rather like the sense of fun Brian had going for him. It reminded him a lot of Nick, only with more smouldering passion beneath the other man’s skin. Justin’s cock twitched at the thought and he reached for a plate for the cookies. 

“Now, where were we?” Brian asked when the two men were seated in a pleasantly decorated living room. 

“You were going to tell me about your mom’s house,” Justin said. 

“Well, my adopted mom’s place is kind of like mid-seventies kitsch,” Brian laughed. “She’s a bit eccentric in her decorating but she has a heart as big as the world.” 

“I can’t picture you living in mid-seventies kitsch,” Justin laughed. 

“Well, my room is not quite the same as the rest of mom’s house.” Brian watched Justin twist off the top of a cookie. “It’s minimalist decorating.” 

“Oh,” Justin arched one brow. “And your apartment that’s waiting for you?” 

“That’s minimalist too. I haven’t finished decorating it. But I do have a bed, sofa, and entertainment unit.” 

“All that you need,” Justin giggled. “I bet you have awesome stuff.”

“Well, it’s okay,” Brian admitted. “I bought one of your paintings for the apartment.” Now why did he tell Justin that? Brian wondered. 

“You did?” Justin looked at him with new interest. “Which one?” 

“It was titled <I>Love Sucks</I>>.” Brian laughed, “The name spoke to me.”

“And the painting?” Justin laughed. The painting had been in Sidney Bloom’s gallery for ten grand. That was some gesture.

“That too.”  Brian looked at the paintings on the wall. “I thought it would look good in my apartment.”

“And does it?” Justin asked.

“Yes, it looks great.” 

They sat; one on each end of the sofa sharing the plate of cookies and drinking milk. Brian never ate cookies at this time of night, and he never drank milk. But with Justin, he made an exception. It seemed somehow appropriate. 

They talked for at hours when suddenly Brian yawned. “Damn Justin, it’s almost midnight.” He stood up. “I have to go.”

“Are you going to turn into something weird at midnight?” Justin asked with a laugh.

“Yeah,” Brian laughed. “No, but I told Mom I’d drive her home. She’s doing the late shift.” 

“You’re very good to your mom.” Justin reached over and let his fingers caress Brian’s face. He loved the feel of the other man’s beard. He wanted to record the man’s image in his sketchbooks and on canvas.

“She took me in when I was in foster care and then insisted that she be allowed to adopt me when it was apparent that my folks weren’t going to turn up. It wasn’t easy in those days, a single mom adopting a kid. Especially, a single mom who already had her own kid, but she did it. She’s a great person who can talk the ear off of anyone. We’ve had a good life and she’s worked hard. I’ll never forget that.” 

“She didn’t mind when she found out you were gay?” Justin asked. 

“Why should she?” Brian laughed. “I was still me. Not exactly the cuddly type of kid, but I worked hard and made things as easy for her as I could.” 

“I would have cuddled you.” Justin grinned. Gawd, yes he thought.

Brian laughed and moved out of Justin’s reach. “I have to go, Double Stuff.” He bent down and licked some stray icing off of the corner of Justin’s mouth. “You have sweet lips,” he whispered before disappearing through the door. 

Justin felt almost giddy. Never had he felt this way before not even in the first days of lust that he and Nick had shared. This was different. This had meaning. Brian had awakened in Justin feelings and desires that were impossible to ignore.  FUCK, he wanted to scream at the gods. Instead, he all but ran to his studio to record Brian’s image.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“So Clio, how did your meeting with Justin go?” Debbie asked. 

Brian jumped; he wasn’t expecting her to be standing outside when he’d arrived to pick her up. “Geeze Mom, what did you do, materialize here?” he laughed and jumped out of the Jeep to open her door. 

“Well, are you going to tell me all the details?” she laughed at the look on Brian’s face. “You fell for him didn’t you? I knew it, I just knew it.” Her laugh was definitely a chortle.

“Mom for crap sake, I just met him.” Brian got back into the Jeep. He knew that she was right. There was definitely something about Justin Taylor that rocked his socks as his adopted mom liked to say.  

“I know that look on your face Brian Kinney Novotny,” she said. “You’re smitten through and through. It’s the way you looked when you brought that old dog home.”

“Mom, Justin isn’t an old dog,” Brian laughed. 

“No, but I bet he’s wiggled his way into that soft,old heart of yours, just like Alex did.” The dog had been old but Brian had loved him dearly until he’d finally passed away to doggy heaven three years later.

“Mom, don’t rush things.” Brian sighed and headed home. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s got some baggage.”

“And you don’t?” she laughed. “Brian you need someone to love and to love you back. This Justin is a nice young man and from what I can tell he’d be good for you.” 

“We’ll see... okay Mom?” 

Debbie knew when to change the subject and she spent the rest of the ride home telling him about the night she’d had at Classique Companions. 

This was a night when Brian knew he wouldn’t be able to stay at home. He needed to get out and listen to music, maybe have a couple of beers and definitely get his cock sucked. Talk about blue balls. “Hey Mom, I’m going to Babylon, I’ll be out all night so lock up will you,” he said when he arrived at their house. 

“That’s good Clio, get your cock sucked,” she laughed loudly. 

Brian blushed and shook his head. He gave her a quick kiss before leaving in a blaze of tires to go to Babylon and do just what she’d said. 

Inside Babylon the music engulfed everyone who walked through the door. It was everything that Brian needed right now. He nodded to the bartender who knew him well, a beer was placed in his hand with a whiskey chaser in a glass on the bar. Brian knocked them both back before strutting to the dance floor. He was about to tap someone on the shoulder when he felt two strong hands grasp his waist, the body behind him twisting to the music. 

“Get your mom home, Clio?” the words were spoken softly and a hot wet tongue licked his ear. 

Brian turned in the arms that held him as he looked down into eyes as blue as sapphires. “She’s home.” He leaned in closer and captured Justin’s lips in his as they continued to dance. “Why are you here?” Brian finally managed to gasp. His arms held Justin close like Patrick Swayze did with Baby, from one of Brian’s favourite movies. Justin seemed to know all the right moves and they swayed in their own version of the dirty dancing moves from long ago. The two of them were so electrifying that people began to notice and back away letting the two men have the floor. 

Justin reached over and began to remove Brian’s shirt, one button at a time. “Clio, aren’t you hot?” he whispered. 

“For you, Double Stuff.”

“I hate that pet name.” Justin giggled, his giggles muffled against Brian’s throat, sending signals to his cock that couldn’t be ignored. 

“Back room?” Brian asked, still moving to the music.

“How about your place, it’s got to be closer than mine,” Justin murmured, his tongue licking the sweet sweat from Brian’s neck.   

Even though Brian had never before had anyone up to his apartment, he didn’t hesitate. Justin would be the first and the last as far as he was concerned. 

“My place it is, but then I’ll have to kill you.” Brian grinned. “I’ve never shown it to anyone before.”

“I’ll die happy.” Justin grinned. “That’s if you’re any good.” 

“I haven’t had any complaints.” Brian bit Justin’s neck and then began moving lower as they continued to dance. 

“We’d better get moving or I’m going to cum now,” Justin breathed. 

“What a sweet talker, Double Stuff.” Brian laughed and grabbed Justin’s hand both of them sprinted for the door as they left a room full of disappointed men in their wake. 

The music continued and the space where Brian and Justin had been, filled in as if they hadn’t been there. 

^^^^^^^^

“Hey Todd, have you seen my brother?” Michael asked. “Ma said he was coming here tonight.”   He’d been working his way through the throngs and now was in the back room where he’d expected to find Brian.

“He was here, but he left with some blond,” Todd said looking up from the blow job he was giving.

“Cool.” Michael laughed. “I was worried about him.” He pulled a likely looking guy over letting his fingers trail down the front of the shirtless man. It was business as usual for him, though he wondered if he’d ever meet anyone for a more permanent relationship.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^                                                           


“I hope it isn’t far,” Justin gasped, his back against the door of Brian’s Jeep. All thought of taking his own car not even entering the equation. After all that’s what taxis were for.

“Not far.” Brian’s voice was husky and he continued to kiss Justin, like some horny teenager who didn’t know what to do next. Finally, breaking away he all but thrust Justin into the seat and ran around to his own side. 

Justin laughed. “We suck at romance.” At the back of Justin’s mind, he knew that it had been a long, long time since he’d had any kind of sex and certainly he’d never had mind blowing monkey sex. Something he was anticipating now. 

“Romance can come later, right now I want to fuck you.” Brian laughed as he drove as quickly as possible toward Tremont Avenue.

“Clio, you are such a sweet talker.” Justin grinned, his hands roaming over Brian’s body, not trusting himself to do more.

“That’s me, award winning sweet talker.” Brian laughed out loud just for the joy of doing so. The both of them felt giddy with pent up emotion.

The energy they conjured up just by the mere sight of each other, magnified when they touched. Brian all but abandoned the Jeep at the rear of his building. Taking Justin’s hand he ran toward the back door, his fingers blurring over the touch pad entrance lock. 

Justin wanted Brian right there but he knew he had to play out the melody or be lost in the words of this song they were singing together at the tops of their inner voices. 

Silently, hand in hand Brian led him to the door marked <I>Supply Closet</I>.He looked over at Justin and winked before opening it and showed him the stairs. “I hope you don’t mind walking up to the top of the building. I like to think of it as a form of exercise. We could take the elevator, but I have it disconnected right now for my floor and the stairs that everyone else takes, ends on the third floor.”

“Wow and I thought I was anti-social,” Justin joked. “You win.” He giggled and Brian shook his head but laughed. They started up the stairs, their passion quelled for a moment as each one began to think of the consequences their next moments would have. 

“If I told you that I kind of think of my place as my <I>lair</I> would you laugh?” Brian asked.  

“Like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude?” Justin replied. “Actually, I envy you as a wannabe recluse, I’d love to have someplace where no one can find me.” They had reached the top floor and a door that looked impenetrable. 

“This is it.” Brian suddenly shy, hesitated to open the door. 

“Look Brian, I’ll understand if you don’t want me to go in. After all, even Superman was picky who he brought back to his own Fortress in the snow.” 

“No, I want you to see it. It’s just that for me this is a big step.” He shrugged. “But I want you to take it with me.” Brian put his arm around Justin’s shoulder and led him into the apartment.  Brian had never experienced passion for another man the way he was feeling passion now. Hired escorts and casual tricks had nothing on the blond he was with now. 

The first thing Justin noticed was the Palladian window. “I’ve seen this window before. I’ve seen you before.” Justin’s voice was soft, “I’ve seen you for years and never knew you.” He walked over to the window and stared out and down onto the street where he could see himself walking and looking up as if in a dream.

“Justin?” Brian asked, not sure what was happening. 

Justin turned from the window and grinned widely, his smile lighting up the room. “Brian, this place is wonderful.” He twirled around and around his arms held out wide traveling from one end to the other. “I love it[!]” 

“You are just too easy, Double Stuff.” Brian laughed, “But I’m glad you like it.” 

“The bedroom, I have to see the bedroom.” Justin demanded and at the same time he pulled his tight blue silk tee shirt off over his head. His smile was full of fun and mischief. Brian grabbed his hand and ran with him up three stairs to the bedroom that had been built slightly higher than the main part of the loft apartment. The two of them stood just inside the door. Justin turned and pulled Brian into his arms and the song they had started to sing in Babylon began again. 

Justin’s mouth; kissing, licking, his lips and tongue defining a rhythm on Brian’s body. Brian’s kisses were like a thousand melodies as he sang sweet songs into the blond’s mouth, their tongues intertwining, tickling and tracing the outline of each other’s, and their lips quivering in anticipation of more. 

Their kisses went on for breathless eternities and they valued each touch as if it were the first. The room whirled about as Brian’s body began to rock with Justin’s, anticipating the moment he would enter the blond, his throbbing hardness giving clue to what was in store. Finally, unable to play any longer, a drawer opened, the snick of a condom wrapper being torn, the icy touch of slippery lube, all sounded and felt almost at the same time as Brian’s cock began to demand entrance to Justin’s body. 

Brian whispered in Justin’s ear, “Are you okay?” and the younger moaned unintelligible words only deciphered by lovers and Brian knew that he’d taken Justin to that place of ecstasy. The rhythm of their bodies were in tune as he went deeper and deeper inside Justin’s velvety snug warmth. The blond wrapped his legs around Brian, and he vowed in his mind to never let the other man go, for never before had he felt this way. In that moment in time their bodies were one and Brian knew all Justin’s secret spots and Justin knew his, both moving and touching without need for prompting. 

Both men wondering, somewhere far back in their minds if they had finally found that elusive beast called a soul mate that was bandied about in legend both old and new. 

Justin’s body cued Brian’s and they climaxed together in groans of passion- filled electricity of the moment. Each one exchanging kisses that flooded their bodies with a thousand butterflies dancing over each other with every breath they took, clutching each other closer as if to fuse their bodies together forever.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“You’re still here.” Brian leaned up on one elbow and looked down at a smiling Justin.

“It’s your tower, and I’m the captured princess,” Justin teased.

“And I’m the fairy prince and we’ve both lost our minds,” Brian laughed out loud. “You know since I met you I think I’ve laughed more than I have my whole life.” 

“You find me that funny?” Justin loved to watch Brian’s face when he was being teased. 

“Yes I do, Double Stuff.” Brian kissed the end of Justin’s nose. “Funny and loveable all wrapped up in one package. What more could a man want?” 

“Sexy and intelligent, might be good,” Justin said with a smile. He reached up and licked Brian’s lips. “Yum, you taste like coffee.” 

“That’s because I have a cup of coffee right here.”  He nodded to the side table. “I might even share it with a good friend.”

“This friend doesn’t want to go into a diabetic shock. I can taste too much sugar. I want my own coffee.” He tried to look pouty and only succeeded in looking silly and cute, something Brian completely appreciated. 

“Such a demanding brat.” Brian reached over Justin and picked up the coffee he’d set there. “Here you go, one sugar, one cream.” 

“Let me sit up, I don’t want to spill on your sheets.” Justin moved into a sitting position. “Hey, good coffee. Okay, I’ll keep you as my paramour; I’ve been looking for one who could make decent coffee. “

“Hmmm, did I send that application in?” Brian smiled. “Actually, Double Stuff, I’m in high demand and would expect to be compensated accordingly.” 

Justin carefully placed his mug on the nightstand and then put Brian’s beside it. “Come here Clio, let’s see what I can do to change your mind. After all, I’m an artist, surely I can work magic with my hands.” 

“And your lips, don’t forget your lips.” Brian’s words were lost when Justin pulled said lips closer. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Hey Ma,” Michael said and kissed his mother’s cheek. 

“Michael, I didn’t hear you come in.” Debbie looked up at her son and smiled. “Vic just made muffins, I’ll get you one.”

“Make that two and to go, I have to meet someone at the shop.” Michael looked around. “Where’s Brian, I thought I’d get here early enough to find out about his night.”

“He didn’t come home.”

Michael grinned. “I guess that tells me he had a good time. He always shows up here to shower and change even when he sleeps at a guys place.” 

“Were the two of you at Babylon?” she asked putting two of her brother’s muffins in a plastic bag. 

“I just missed him, but Todd said he left with some blond. Apparently, they made quite a show on the dance floor.” Michael looked pleased. “Could my stick in the mud brother finally be coming alive?” 

“A blond?” Debbie’s mind was working overtime and she wondered if by a wild chance it could be Justin Taylor. 

“That’s what they say. “ Well I have to go Ma. See you later.” He gave her a quick hug, took the bag and left. 

Vic came down stairs. “Was that Brian?” 

“No, it was Michael, he was looking for Brian.” Debbie poured herself another coffee. “Brian was with someone last night. In fact, he still might be with someone. I wonder if it was Justin.” 

“You think that’s possible?” Vic asked as he sat down at the table. “They only met yesterday.” 

Debbie looked at Vic, their eyes met and they both started to laugh until finally Vic said, “That was a stupid question.” Brother and sister broke out in giggles again. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Don’t you have to go to work?” Justin asked. His fingers were sketching invisible pictures on Brian’s chest. 

“Don’t you?” Brian retaliated his free hand capturing Justin’s and bringing it up to his lips. 

“No, I finished my sketches for Kinnetik.” He hesitated, “Hey, it’s a good company, if you need an advertising job, maybe I could put in a good word for you. They like my work.” 

“Oh that’s okay.” Brian grinned. He kissed each one of Justin’s fingers. “Did I tell you that my name is Brian Kinney Novotny? I was Brian Kinney, until a red- wigged, loud mouthed, and full of love woman adopted me.” 

“And that has to do with you getting a job at Kinnetik how?” Justin asked. 

“You are a little slow, Double Stuff.” Brian had now begun kissing Justin’s palm. “I own Kinnetik.” 

“No shit.” Justin laughed. “You aren’t kidding are you? Cause if you’re serious I could use a raise,” he snickered. “I’m teasing you.”

“Well anyone who lives in the kind of house you do, doesn’t need a raise.” 

“I could be living above my means,” Justin suggested. “I mean maybe I’m broke and living on credit cards. I could have known all about you and be after your money. This is an evil plot.” 

“No problem, you can have my money.” Brian laughed. “I don’t have much cash, it’s pretty much tied up in this building, Kinnetik, mom’s business and my brother’s comic book store.”

“That’s okay, I have lots of cash.” Justin wiggled closer to Brian. “Want to know how much?” 

“Ten bucks?” Brian loved it when Justin wiggled. It was making things rather interesting under the covers. 

“More than ten bucks.” 

“Good then you can give me a tip after Saturday night. OUCH !” Brian yelled. “What did you do that for?” Justin had bit his finger that had been tracing his lips. 

“YOU SON OF A BITCH WAS THIS JUST PART OF YOUR FUCKING JOB AS AN ESCORT. I THOUGHT IT MEANT SOMETHING.” He tried to throw himself out of the bed, but Brian was faster and caught him, wrapping him up tight in the sheet so that he couldn’t scratch, hit or bite.” 

“Will you settle down, Double Stuff.” Brian laughed. “For fuck sake, it’s okay for you to tease me, but it’s not okay for me to tease you? Of course I’m not on the fucking job you little twat, I actually like you. I like you a whole lot.”

“You do?” Justin had stopped squirming. 

“Yes, gawd knows why, you’re a brat who eats Oreos like a seriously fixated person.” Brian pulled Justin close. “Now if I unwrap you, will you stop kicking?”

“Yes, sorry I bit you.” Justin tried to look chagrined. “I’ll kiss it and make it better.” 

“You’re damn right you will.” Brian began to unroll Justin from the sheets. Soon they both were tangled up again, only this time it was much, much more fun.

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Justin was sitting at the kitchen island, his feet hooked on the rungs of the stool he was on watching Brian move around the well-equipped kitchen. “You really know what you’re doing,” he finally had to say. “I’ve never actually seen anyone break an egg with one hand before. How did you learn to do that?”

“I don’t know- I just do it.” Brian looked at his hand and the eggshells in it before picking up another egg. He was making omelets for them. “I’ve been cooking ever since Mom took me in. Uncle Vic couldn’t get me to talk. No one actually could. I’m not sure now why I wouldn’t talk, but that’s the way it was at the time. So he started me working with him in the kitchen.  Eventually, I had to start talking or eat crap. He insisted that I eat what I made. In fact, we all had to eat what I made. Believe me my new brother Mikey was pretty vocal about some of my creations.” He grinned. “I still like avocado and peanut butter sandwiches.” 

Justin cocked his head to one side studying Brian as the older man talked. “Do you remember your childhood from before you came to Deb’s?” By now Brian had admitted that Debbie of Classique Companions was his adopted mother.

“No.” Brian hesitated, “That’s not actually true. I have dreams sometimes about that time in my life. Or at least I think that’s what it is. It’s not a pleasant dream believe me and I do my best not to remember it.” 

“I understand about nightmares.” Justin shuddered. “I had some doozies when my dad kicked me out. They stayed long after I was allowed to come home. And then they came back when Nick was killed. Life sucks sometimes in case you didn’t know it.” 

“It has been brought to my attention on occasion,” Brian admitted. He plated the omelet he’d been making, cutting it in half, one half for each of them. He added some fried potatoes to Justin’s plate and slices of tomatoes to both of them. “There you go, it isn’t Oreos but it’ll do.” 

“I still can’t believe you don’t have any Oreos here.” Justin grinned. “But this looks good.” 

“I’m glad it meets with your approval, Double Stuff,” Brian teased. He took the stool beside Justin and the two of them began to eat breakfast even though it was almost one in the afternoon. 

When Brian’s phone rang, they did their best to try and ignore it. Finally, Brian fished it out of his jacket pocket. “Hey.” He barked, “What now?”  He listened for a moment. “I told you, you’d be the first to know when I make that decision, until then stop bugging me.” He clicked the phone shut.

“Can I help?” Justin asked.

“I doubt it.” Brian looked discouraged. He pushed his partially eaten breakfast away. “I agreed once upon a time to provide the sperm for a kid. The girl was a good friend of mine and tied up with a lesbian bitch who she loves, gawd knows why.” He sighed. “When Gus was born, they started this crap of wanting me to give up my parental rights. I’ve almost given in so many times but I can’t do it. He’s damn near six now and I keep remembering what I felt like when my parents didn’t want me. I don’t know if I can do that to him. I know I don’t see him much, but that’s not my choice, that’s his mothers’ choice.” Brian shook his head. “Enough about it. I’m not going to let this crap spoil our time together.”

“Brian, I do have a law degree even if I don’t use it.” Justin paused. “I can check into things, maybe get you some official custody agreement. I know a great lawyer, my father-in-law.” 

“I know him too Justin, but I’m not sure I should do that.” Brian was looking sad and Justin did the only thing he could do. He stood up and wrapped his arms around the other man, hugging him tightly, silently offering his support.