CHAPTER ONE

Brian looked up when his office door opened and immediately locked eyes with his blond employee.

“Hey,” Justin said with a small smile.

“Hey,” Brian replied, raising a brow.

Justin was over twenty minutes late for work, but Brian didn’t make an issue of it. He knew the weather had been pretty shitty lately. Not to mention the fact that Justin had broken his alarm clock a few days ago when he had tossed the thing against his bedroom wall. The blond was not a morning person.

Of course, if Brian allowed himself to be honest, he'd admit the real reason behind his letting the blond's tardiness go - he wanted to avoid any confrontation between them, especially after what had happened at Babylon.

“Coffee?” Justin offered, lifting a paper cup.

Brian shook his head. “Michael got me a latte.”

Justin nodded as he hung his coat up and got comfortable on the leather sofa, newspaper in one hand, coffee cup in the other.

Brian tried not to stare at him for too long, but he couldn’t help himself. The boy was too lovely for words. His face looked paler than usual with a bright flush across the cheeks; something Brian blamed on the cold wind. Brian watched as Justin raced a hand through his long, blonde hair. He could practically feel the motion of his own hand; silk against his fingertips.

He sighed inwardly and wondered if he was completely losing his fucking mind.

He should have kissed him. That night… at Babylon... it was the perfect opportunity and he knew Justin had wanted it. The way the boy had ground his hips against Brian’s cock… licking his lips seductively as he stared into the hazel eyes… touching Brian’s body without restraints.

Somehow, Brian had managed to practise control that night; something he was very proud of. It hadn’t been easy, but he wasn’t ready for the complications of fucking Justin and he knew there would be plenty. To begin with, the boy was too young for him. Brian needed someone more mature; someone who had experienced enough of life to know what they wanted… even if it was just a quick lay.

Although his experience with relationships was limited, Brian had learnt from his past ones ­ enough to know the mistakes to avoid like the plague. Having an older partner was not suitable for every one. In Justin's case, the trouble was double as Brian was also his boss. Brian knew that fucking a colleague was fun and thrilling, but the consequences were harsh. He had faced them before and since then had tried his best to keep his past under his belt and forgotten. It wasn't easy, but not impossible.

So, utilizing his knowledge and understanding of his past fuck-ups, Brian had done what he thought was the right thing ­ dropped his young employee off at his house with a “See you later” and gone straight home to a cold shower.

It hadn’t helped his hard-on. Nothing could help the permanent hard-on he was sporting these days, thanks to a particular blond.

“Did you read this?” Justin asked from his seat, interrupting Brian’s thoughts.

“What?” the brunet asked.

“Another teenage boy has gone missing from the Village,” he read. “That makes three in the past month.”

He looked up at Brian, the disgust obvious in his eyes.

Brian had read the article. It was very disturbing and Brian was glad he would never have any children to worry about. He could remember his own teenage years… he’d done things no one could be proud of… risked a lot… gotten away with even more.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Justin asked.

Brian sighed. “What do you want me to say? It’s scary, but it has nothing to do with you or me so…”

Justin couldn’t believe that what he had heard had come out of Brian’s mouth. His snort could not be curtailed.

“That’s a fucking selfish thing to say, Brian,” Justin told his boss.

“It’s the truth,” Brian said defensively. “And I’m not going to deny that I’m fucking selfish. We all are.”

Justin shook his head. He couldn’t believe this was the man he had been day dreaming about lately. The man whose arms he wanted wrapped around him; whose lips he needed covering his… whose dick he craved up his ass.

The sad part was, as much as Justin wanted to hate his employer for being a callous fuck, he couldn't. It was downright impossible, especially when Brian was looking at him with those huge hazel eyes, his lips curved in the barest of smiles. When he looked at Justin, the blond lost all train of sensible thought.

Justin gritted his teeth. Fucking Brian! He was nothing more than a cock tease. He had fucking tormented Justin a couple nights ago at Babylon, leading on the blond and then dumping him home without as much as a kiss goodbye, let alone a quick fuck!

Justin hated himself for having feelings for Brian.

“If you’re done shooting daggers at me,” Brian said coldly. “I need you to do a couple of things today.”

Justin tossed the newspaper back on the table and walked over to the desk.

“You get to follow around a sixty-year-old bird today,” Brian said with a hidden smile as he slid a file across the desk to Justin.

Justin groaned. “The one whose daughter suspects she is sneaking out to meet up with the younger man?”

“Ten points for being sharp this early in the morning. And yes, that’s the one.”

Justin grinned at Brian’s joke. He quickly lost it when he went through the file and saw the photo of the old ‘bag’ that needed to be stalked.

“Oh, great!” he grumbled.

“Don’t give me that look,” Brian scolded. “Our client’s paying more than she should for a couple hours of work.”

Justin nodded. “But, she’s nothing more than a gold digger! Why shouldn’t her mother be allowed to date? You know she’s just afraid she’s going to lose out on her inheritance.”

“We don’t question; we just do.”

Justin rolled his eyes.

Brian laughed. “You can take the digital camera. Put new batteries in though.”

“Whatever you say, Kinney!”

Justin prepared himself for his task, unaware of the turmoil his employer was facing on the other side of the room.

Brian wondered if he should take Justin out for dinner. He had never felt so much desire to see more of someone as he did with this boy. He knew it was a bad idea; spent hours daily trying to talk himself out of having anything to do with the kid, but…

“Got any plans tonight?” Brian asked quickly before he was able to talk himself out of it.

Justin snorted. “What’s tonight? Thursday?” He laughed. “I think CSI is on.”

Brian laughed. “Can’t miss that, huh?”

Justin stuck his tongue out at him.

“Well, if you can tear yourself away from Gill and his crew,” Brian asked softly. “I heard about this new restaurant on King Street. The food’s supposed to be pretty good. Wanna check it out?”

Justin stopped searching for batteries and met Brian’s eyes. He wondered if the brunet could hear his heart beating from way over there. Justin’s heart was hammering away in his chest.

Taking a deep breath, Justin screwed his face up and asked, “Are you asking me out, Brian?”

Brian felt embarrassed immediately. “No, no,” he said defensively. “Of course not. I just thought you might wanna check this place out. I know how much you like food.”

“Oh.” Justin forced a smile, trying his best to hide his disappointment. “It sounds good.”

“Cool.”

Justin nodded and went back to searching for the batteries. Frustrated, he said, “Fuck it!” and walked away.

He’d get a box on his way to the subway. He couldn’t bear being in the same room with Brian anymore.

“Excuse me, but isn’t it rude to take pictures of people when you haven’t asked them?”

Justin groaned. He had been caught. If Brian was keeping an eye on him now, he would not be pleased.

Sliding up from behind the rosebush he had been crouched behind, he swallowed, trying to come up with a plausible excuse.

His mind turned to mush when he locked eyes with his catcher.

“Um…”

“Well?” the man pressed.

Justin shook himself mentally. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong or illegal or anything,” he said stupidly.

“So what exactly WERE you doing?”

“I um… my grandmother collects roses and…” Oh God. Justin wondered if he could be any more moronic.

The guy laughed, his eyes twinkling. He was obviously enjoying the blond’s attempt to come up with a believable story.

“And so you were taking a couple shots of a rosebush?”

Justin smiled. “I’m weird like that.”

“I believe you.”

They laughed.

The guy was incredibly beautiful. He looked to be quite a few years older than Justin ­ maybe in his late thirties, but it was obvious he took good care of himself. His eyes were an intensely dark shade of blue, which were emphasized against the dark, fullness of his wavy, chocolate hair.

“My name’s Dave,” he said politely, palm out for Justin to shake.

“Justin,” Justin replied.

“I’ve been watching you for the past hour,” he said. “Wondering what the fuck you’re doing creeping around on the floor.”

Justin grinned. “It’s a hobby of mine.”

Dave smiled. “American boys are always interested in the oddest things.”

“I take it you’re not from around these parts?”

“You mean my accent didn’t give me away?” he teased.

Justin laughed. “I thought you had a cold.”

“Worse, I’m Australian.”

Justin found himself talking to Dave for the next half hour and by then, it was too late. He had fucked up. He had completely forgotten about his assignment.

Brian was going to have his balls.

But, on the upside, he had agreed to have dinner with Dave later that night. He wasn't going to sit around and wait for Brian to make his move - that could take months!

And he would take what Brian had to dish out in the office… as long as Dave didn’t mind what Justin would serve him up in the morning for breakfast ­ after a night of fucking him senseless!

Brian bit on his bottom lip in an attempt to control his temper. He couldn’t quite meet the eyes of his blue-eyed partner; afraid he would scream the nastiest of obscenities at that beautiful face.

“Brian,” Justin tried again. “I really am sorry.”

“Sorry is not going to fucking cut it!” Brian spat out. “This is bullshit, Justin. Complete and utter bullshit.”

Justin winced. “I know.”

“How am I supposed to fucking trust you to get stuff done now?” Brian demanded.

Justin sighed. “I made a mistake. She was gone before I…”

Brian dug his tongue against his cheek. “I don’t even want to know.”

“I know you’re mad ­ “

Brian raised a hand and the blond shut up.

If he were being honest, Brian would have told Justin he wasn’t half as pissed about the fuck-up on the assignment as he was about his change of dinner plans. Justin had blown him over for some guy he had only met today! If that wasn't cold and cruel, Brian didn't know what was.

“Justin,” he said as calmly as he could manage. “This is… unacceptable.”

“I understand,” the blond said.

“I don’t think this can work.”

“Brian!”

Brian raced a hand through his hair in frustration. “You obviously aren’t cut out for this job.”

Justin got angry. “How can you say that? This is my first slip up.”

“Slip up?” Brian shouted. “You call getting distracted by dick a slip up?”

Justin winced at the anger in Brian’s voice, but he quickly said, “It won’t happen again.”

“Damn right, it won’t. Look, I’m sorry, but.” Brian sighed and looked away. “You’re out of here.”

Justin’s jaw dropped open. He wasn’t sure he had heard right.

“You can’t mean it,” he said softly.

Brian locked gazes with him. “Pack up your stuff.”

Justin narrowed his eyes. “You fucking…” He laughed mockingly. “Jesus Christ, Brian!”

“Don’t.”

“Fuck you!” Justin angrily grabbed his coat. “You need to have your fucking head examined, you know that? I can’t believe you!”

Brian watched him walk towards the door and felt as though the bottom of his stomach was caving. He had to make Justin understand.

“It’s for your own good,” he told him as he moved towards the blond.

Justin turned around and bumped into Brian’s chest. Bracing a hand against the solid pecs to cover up his surprise, Justin looked up and forgot what he was going to say.

“You have to be on your game at all times,” Brian said. “I can’t be worrying about you every time you’re given an assignment, Justin.”

Justin snorted. “No one’s asking you to!”

“That’s not true and you know it,’ Brian was quick to point out. “Ted would have my balls if anyone hurt a hair on your adorable body.”

What the fuck did he just say?

Justin looked at Brian in surprise. “I’m not a child, Brian.”

Brian was aware of that fact; his cock was too.

“I can take care of myself,” Justin told him angrily. “I don’t need YOU or anyone else always babying me like this!”

“Justin, we’re not ­ “

But Justin didn’t want to hear another word. He turned and walked away, but Brian was hot on his heels. Outside in the reception area, Brian spun the blond around to face him, his hands gripping the slim arms tightly.

“Don’t you dare fucking walk away from me when I’m talking to you!” Brian practically roared.

Michael stopped filing his nails and wondered what the fuck was going on. He had just gotten back from a late lunch and was contemplating whether he should tell Brian about his suspicions that someone had been keeping tabs on their place of business - lately he couldn't help but notice the odd feeling he had that someone was watching him and then, there was the fact that the same car had been parked outside the building for the past couple of days.

It was possible he was being a worry-wart, after all, worrying was in his blood.

However, that thought went straight out of his head. He was more concerned about the blow-up taking place in front of him right now. What had Justin done? Did it mean he was leaving?

Mikey crossed his fingers behind his back and listened.

“You’re nothing more than a spoilt, selfish little shit,” Brian was shouting. “Damn ungrateful too.”

Justin pushed Brian away. “Thanks for the sweet words, Brian,” he said bitterly. “It must be nice being as fucking perfect as you obviously are.”

“No one said I was perfect, but ­ “

“But nothing!” Justin shook his head. “You and Ted have humoured me enough, it seems.” Taking a deep breath, he added, “And just to let you know, Brian, I am grateful, very much so. Maybe you’re right ­ this job isn’t for me. I’m going to go home and find something more suitable for me to do… you know, something boys my age do. Perhaps I could play with my Spiderman doll and then paint pictures in my colouring book!”

Without another word, he was gone.

Brian exhaled loudly and cursed under his breath, his frustration evident.

“Everything ok?” Michael asked.

Brian laughed mockingly. “Fucking fantastic, Mikey. Or can't you fucking tell?”

Dave was a great guy. Justin had come to that conclusion at eleven o’clock that night when he was pulling into his driveway. Even though he had tried to cancel on the dinner, mainly because of the huge fight he had with Brian, Dave had said no and persuaded him to come out. Not wanting to stay home and sulk and feel sorry for himself, Justin had agreed.

Dave had chosen a seafood restaurant, where the customers wore crab-shaped bibs and there were performing goldfish ­ men painted in gold dust dancing the night away. It was meant to keep Justin amused, which it did. He was glad for the distraction.

But try as he might, Justin couldn’t get Brian’s words out of his head ­ he was a spoilt, selfish shit. Fucking Brian! What did he know?

Even though Justin wanted to blab his feelings to someone ­ anyone - he didn’t tell Dave about Brian. Besides, what was there to tell? There was nothing going on between him and his boss. His employer. His… fuck! Only, Brian wasn't his fuck... and that was the problem.

So the conversation had been kept fun and lively and Justin had tried to keep his spirits up. Food always helped.

After a good night hug, Justin said goodbye and agreed to meet up again soon.

Walking to his front door now, his sullen expression returned. Placing the key into the lock, Justin heard footsteps behind him and froze.

“Justin.”

Nearly jumping out of his skin, Justin turned around to face Brian.

“You nearly fucking scared the shit out of me!” Justin told him furiously.

Brian ignored the blond’s comment and said, “Open the fucking door and kill the drama queen antics.”

Justin did as he was told and walked inside, Brian right behind him. Switching on the light, he locked the door and walked towards the kitchen.

“What are you doing here, Brian?” he asked coldly.

“Could I at least get a cup of coffee before you start reaming into me?” Brian demanded.

Justin sighed, but put the kettle on. “Are you hungry?”

Brian shrugged.

Justin took that as a yes and opened the fridge, surveying its contents.

“I have some leftover Chinese,” he said, pulling it out to smell the food. “Which has gone bad.” Justin laughed. “How about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”

Brian raised a brow. “Sure.”

Justin made them both a sandwich, sliding a plate towards Brian.

“How long were you out there?” he asked the brunet before taking a bite.

“Half hour?” Brian responded, unsure.

“You could’ve called me.”

Brian snorted. “And have you hang up on me? I don’t think so.”

Justin got up when he heard the familiar whistle; made them both a cup of coffee.

As they sat on the kitchen stools side by side, Brian asked after a few minutes of silence, “How was your date?”

“It was ok,” Justin replied primly.

“Just ok?”

Justin gave him a cold look.

“Can’t I ask a simple question?”

“It’s late, Brian. Just tell me why you’re here.” He couldn’t refuse adding, “I thought you had said all you wanted to say earlier.”

Brian swallowed the last of his sandwich and slowly sipped on his coffee. He used that opportunity to admire the blond.

“Well?” Justin pressed.

Brian sighed. “I came to apologize.”

Justin blinked. He wasn’t sure he had heard right. “I thought sorry was bullshit?” He remembered Brian tossing that comment in his face in Palm Springs.

“I was an asshole,” Brian said softly, ignoring the blond’s question.

Justin chewed on his bottom lip. “Yes, you were.”

Brian laughed. “We’re actually in agreement about something?”

Justin hopped off his stool and started making his way towards the sink with the dirty plates, but Brian stopped him. Standing in front of the blond, Brian took the plates and placed them back onto the counter.

“Those can wait for later,” Brian said softly, entwining his hands with Justin’s. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“What do you want me to say?” Justin asked stubbornly.

“Justin.”

“Brian, I don’t understand what happened.” Justin confessed, his voice taking on a whiny edge. “I know I made a mistake, but…”

“You can’t make mistakes, Justin,” Brian explained. “Not in this line of work. I need to be able to depend on you.”

“You can!” Justin swore vehemently. “What happened today ­ well, it was just plain stupidity on my part.”

Brian shook his head. “You’re not stupid.” He couldn’t resist touching the boy’s soft, pale cheek.

Justin didn’t know what was happening. He was getting lost in those hazel eyes. His heart was furiously hammering away in his chest as he inched closer to Brian until their foreheads were pressing against each other.

Brian knew he shouldn’t let anything happen between them. It was immoral and wrong. Justin was his employee for crying out loud! If things went sour, he’d have to fire the kid. He should fight the attraction… but it was too damn hard. The mild scent of man mixed with something musky filled his nostrils, enticing him to lower his head and brush his lips against the blond’s.

It was better than he remembered.

Justin’s tongue wrapped itself around Brian’s, sucking ever so gently, almost cautiously. Brian hated being teased. He took control of the kiss, devouring the boy’s mouth as he tasted every inch of the delicious mouth. Grape jelly and creamy peanut mixed in with the blond's unique taste was damn arousing.

Justin’s tiny whimper brought Brian back to the present. He tore his mouth off the blond’s, his breathing choppy against a flushed cheek.

“I…” Brian didn’t know what to say. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

Justin licked his lips, the taste of coffee and Brian sending shivers down his spine.

Brian groaned. “Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Lick your lips like that,” Brian told him.

Justin grinned wickedly. “You mean like this?” He demonstrated again and heard another groan before Brian had his mouth covered for another quick kiss.

“I shouldn’t have done that either,” Brian muttered and tried to move away from the blond bombshell standing so innocently in front of him.

Justin wouldn’t let him go.

“Don’t do this to me, Brian,” Justin pleaded. “Not again.”

Brian looked into the blue eyes and cocked a brow in confusion.

“Babylon,” Justin was quick to remind him. “I wanted you then, but not half as much as I want you now.”

Brian sighed and tried again to pull away from the blond’s hold, but Justin's grip was firm.

“We can’t do this,” Brian explained.

“Why not?”

“It’s… it won’t work.”

“We’re just going to fuck, Brian.”

Brian shook his head. “It won’t just be a fuck and you know it.”

Justin was honest enough with himself to admit that the brunet was right. He let go of Brian, but the man didn’t move.

“I’m sorry,” Brian said quickly when he saw the disappointment on Justin’s face.

“I think you should go now.”

“Justin.”

“Please, Brian, just go.”

Justin turned away and started making his way up the stairs. Halfway up, he felt an arm slipping around his waist, drawing him back onto a solid chest.

“Yes or no?" Brian whispered the question. “There’s no turning back.”

Justin squeezed his eyes shut. Turning around, he wrapped his arms around Brian’s neck and leaned down to kiss the brunet.

“No turning back,” Justin agreed softly.

Brian scooped the blond up into his arms and asked, “So where the fuck is your bedroom?”

Justin smiled. “First door on the left,” he told Brian.

He couldn’t believe this was happening. Brian and he… they were going to... and then after, they…

Justin didn’t want to think about what would happen later. He licked at Brian’s adam’s apple and felt the brunet tremble.

“We’re almost there,” Brian said softly.

Closing the door behind him with his foot, Brian walked across the room to the huge bed and gently put Justin in the center of it. He slid in next to the blond, whose arms were already finding their way under Brian’s shirt.

“Did you want me to turn off the lights?” Brian asked.

Justin shook his head, leaning forward to place a small kiss on the newly bared shoulder. “I want to see you.”

Brian swallowed. He didn’t think he had ever felt so shy and nervous in his entire life.

“Are you going to help me out of my clothes?” Justin asked with a grin when he realized Brian wasn’t moving.

Brian laughed and immediately attacked the buttons to Justin’s shirt. The pink nipples that he discovered were too tempting and Brian couldn’t resist swooping down to flick a tongue across each rosy bud.

Justin gasped and moved his arm aside to give Brian better access. The brunet took full advantage, nibbling on each adorable tit until they were hard and a deeper shade of red.

Lifting his head, he found Justin’s blue eyes on him.

“I lost the nipple ring,” Justin whispered huskily.

Brian grinned. “Thank God.”

He dipped his head low and planted a loud kiss on Justin’s bottom lip. The blond opened his mouth for the invasion and wasn’t disappointed. Brian, the skillful and experienced kisser that he was, practically fucked the boy’s mouth with his tongue, easing in and out with a series of practiced techniques.

Justin didn’t know what had just happened, but all of a sudden, he was famished.

When Brian pulled away, Justin moaned. “I’d like to see you try that on my ass.”

Brian chuckled. “Patience, Brat.”

Justin scoffed, while Brian made short work of removing his pants before helping the blond with his.

Justin’s baby blues followed every movement Brian made, taking in the tender way the brunet touched him, how gentle he was being with him.

When they were both naked, Brian eased his body between the blond’s legs, his mouth eagerly seeking Justin’s for a deep, wet kiss. Justin let his hands roam over Brian’s smooth skin, enjoying every ripple and curve. Wrapping his legs around Brian’s slim waist, Justin felt his hard cock rub against Brian’s shaft.

Brian pulled away to compose his breathing, using the time wisely to get a condom from the pocket of his pants. He flicked it towards Justin. “Don’t leave home without it.”

Justin laughed as he ripped the paper open with his teeth. The memory of Palm Springs was funny now, but then, it had not been in the least bit amusing.

Brian covered the blond’s body with his own again. “Put it on me,” he demanded. “Put it on my dick.”

Justin slid the rubber onto the hard cock, his body already anticipating the invasion.

Placing the boy’s legs on his shoulders, Brian leaned down to brush his lips against Justin’s. The younger man’s moan as Brian entered him was squelched.

Slowly, practising as much restraint as he could, Brian fucked the blond, easing in and out of the tight hole. It was fucking heaven. Justin whimpered, his own moans mixing in with Brian’s as they found a perfect rhythm.

“Do you like that?” Brian murmured.

“Yes!” Justin gasped. “Fuck yes! Fuck me! Fuck me…”

Brian felt pre-cum spilling out of Justin’s dick and onto his stomach. The boy was so fucking hot ­ his bright blue eyes were squeezed shut as he fought against the pleasure of the experience.

Brian squeezed his own eyes close as he eased out of the tight tunnel to thrust back in, this time with more force. Justin groaned. His body was almost completely off the bed now as he gave in to the fuck.

“Don’t… fucking… stop.”

Brian groaned. He couldn’t stop even if he wanted too.

He felt Justin stiffen beneath him and knew the boy was going to cum. Brian let himself go and came, seconds before Justin.

He collapsed on top of the blond and tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Brian woke up alone in the big bed. He was glad that the blond wasn’t around; it gave him a chance to come to terms with last night’s activities.

They had fucked until the sun came up and then, when neither man could keep their eyes open for a minute longer, they let sleep take over.

Brian felt exhausted; his body ached, but he didn’t care. He felt fucking fantastic. And scared shitless. All at the same time.

He had never spent the night over at a trick’s place. But then, Justin was no trick.

What had he done? Had he made a fucking mistake?

The door opened and Justin snuck his head in.

“Hey,” he said shyly, walking in with a breakfast tray.

“Hey,” Brian replied, easing himself up to lean back against the head rest.

The blond was wearing a white cotton robe and Brian was sure he was naked underneath. Just the thought of Justin’s creamy naked flesh had Brian responding.

Justin placed the tray over Brian’s thighs, ignoring the other man’s hard-on. “I made you some toast,” he said shyly. “And coffee.”

Brian wanted to laugh. He had never seen Justin as shy and awkward as he was now. The boy started to move away, but Brian pulled him back with a firm grip on his wrist.

“Come here,” he ordered gently.

Justin smiled nervously and allowed Brian to pull him close for a kiss.

“Did you sleep well?” Justin asked politely when the kiss ended.

Brian shrugged and patted the bed next to him for Justin to sit. The blond eased himself next to Brian, slipping an arm around the brunet’s neck.

“You should’ve woken me,” Brian told him after taking a sip of the strong black liquid.

“I’m sorry,” Justin said, refusing Brian’s offer of a bite of toast. “I had breakfast already, thanks.”

Brian raised a brow in surprise.

“My mom calls in on me in the mornings to wake me up,” Justin confessed. “Works better than a clock.”

Brian laughed. Pushing aside the tray, he got off the bed. “Can I expect you in at a decent hour today then?”

Justin could have done without the reminder that they worked together. He nodded and kept his eyes focused on a nick in the bedside table as Brian put his clothes on. His heart felt as though it were breaking in his chest. Brian was leaving soon and then… then what? What was going to happen to them? Would things just go back to normal?

Justin wished he had the balls to ask Brian to be honest with him. He wished he had the balls to admit his feelings to Brian ­ he was falling in love with him.

Meanwhile, Brian was experiencing his own issues. He didn’t know what the hell Justin expected from him now. Were they just supposed to go back to the way they were? Have a fuck when the mood struck them? Brian was fine with that, but… he wanted more. He had a feeling that Justin was special. The blond had already bulldozed his way into Brian’s life, making the brunet care.

And after last night, Brian was honest enough to admit he cared. Oh yeah, he cared.

Clearing his throat loudly, Brian turned to face Justin.

“I’d better get out of here or I’m gonna be late,” Brian said with a smile.

Justin returned the smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Sliding his hand up into the blond locks, Brian pulled Justin close.

“Are we good?” he asked softly.

Justin nodded.

“Are you sorry we…?”

Justin shook his head.

Brian sighed before brushing his lips against the blond’s.

“I’ll see you soon, ok?”

“Yeah,” Justin said, licking his lips and following Brian downstairs.

At the front door, Brian turned to press another kiss on the pale forehead. “Thanks for breakfast.”

“Anytime,” Justin said.

He closed the door on the retreating back.

So, he’s seeing someone else. The fucking bastard. How dare he? Doesn’t he know that he belongs to me? No one will ever come between us, no matter what.

I watch him get into his Jeep and pull off. I’m tempted to follow him… confront him… give him a piece of my fucking mind.

Everything will happen in due course.

He has to know… has to suffer… like I did.

He will suffer.

They both will.

JULY 5 - 2003

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[ Case 1 ] [ Intermission 1 ] [ Case 2 ] [ Intermission 2 ] [ Case 3 ]
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