I couldn't remember Brian having slept any more restlessly than he did last night; his constant tossing and turning had me concerned. Not that I expect him to cuddle after sex; if fact, I was pretty sure he would have slept with his back to me all night if his body could have tolerated it. I tried and was rebutted a number of times to be closer to him as we slept but finally retreated to my side of the bed alone.

I wasn't exactly surprised when I woke to an empty bed. I sat up, blinking repeatedly and rubbing the gunk out of my eyes to help them focus. I spy Brian standing in front of the windows of the loft, gazing absently at the river view below, and smoking a joint. Judging by the nearly full ashtray and the wafting smell in the air; I gather he had held this position for a while.

I step out of bed and cross to him. He is still naked; as was I although I took the sheet from the bed with me as I step down the stairs to him, wrapping it around me as I walk. I feel the heat in my hand as I stood for a minute unacknowledged behind him; my palm to his lower back. He finally turns briefly and gives me a forced half-smile.

"Are you all right?" I ask, as I run my hand up his back to rest on his shoulder. I dig my hand in to gently massage the muscle as it tenses under my touch.

He grabs my wrist and removes my arm but says nothing.

A sting of rejection resonates in my face but Brian remains standing there stoically, indifferent to it. It seems talking about what transpired the night before would not be on the menu this morning.

I grab the joint from his mouth and take a long draw before passing it back to him. I place a hand on my still semi-erect morning wood in an unspoken peace offering. I turn back to our bed. "Coming?" I toss out over my shoulder and drop the sheet. I lay face down on the bed and look over my shoulder in a "come and get it" pose.

Brian, I had hoped, would read my action for what it was; an apology for my impudence the night before. He follows me to our bedroom and stares at me sprawled out on the bed. His facial expression reads an internal discord; his eyes dance a line of lust and contempt. I roll to my side, pose seductively for him, and meet his intense glare. I ache for him and practically will him back to our bed with the look in my eyes, unsure of what to say. Suddenly, his eyes go cold and dead and a shiver crawls up my spine as I know contempt had won. My heart sinks as I watch him turn silently away from me to enter the bathroom. He shuts the door in a final symbolic rejection and turns on the shower.

A swell of emotions follow tears that well up, overcoming me. I choke them back; unwilling to give any more power to the hurt and anger I feel. Every fantasy of Brian playing the part of faithful, domesticated lover evaporates so quickly from my mind, and every ounce of my body feels deflated. The air was heavy and I had trouble catching my breath as fear sweeps over me. Fear that in my quest to draw him close; I would finally lose him. This fucking bet! I quickly dress and slip on shoes. I can't stand to be near him any longer; the look on his face conveying what I know lurks under his beautiful surface. Brian being faithful to me was so horrifying to him that he can't even look at me any longer. Since I wasn't about to wait around to be kicked out of the loft yet again; I left without a further word.

I grab a shower at Daphne's and as usual she can interpret my "Brian Kinney just ripped my heart out again" face; so I am grateful she asks nothing. When I get out of the shower, there is a note on the table with some peach yogurt and a spare key.

Had to work, stay as long as you need, consume something besides cigarettes- Love Daphne.

I picked up the bowl, rinse the creamy substance down the disposal and place the dish in the sink. I grab a pack of cigarettes and light one. I have less than an hour before I need to be at the diner. I consider a call in sick but I was with Debbie today and I knew she would be overwhelmed with the Sunday morning crowd if I didn't show. It's not her fault Brian is an asshole. I rationalize the distraction might be good; so I grab the spare key and head reluctantly to the diner.

I move through my shift robotically with some success. Slinging pink plate specials and greasy food to help the mostly still-hungover crowd absorb their residual alcohol makes the morning go by quickly. I was too busy to really think about all that had transpired but I still found myself wearing a forced smile partially because I didn't want the third degree from Debbie and partially because I knew it vastly improved my tips.

I manage to delude myself that I feel no pain; that was until Brian came in to the diner…. followed by him.

At first I don't recognize him; it takes me a few passes and sideway stares to connect the dots. But there it was; the man from Woody's. The man who garnered my attention that started this whole fucking thing; I had no earthly idea what the fuck he was doing here but Brian occupied the same booth so I surmise two painful conclusions from this act of cruelty. First, Brian has no intention of honoring our little wager and second, he still plans to punish me repeatedly for having the nerve to actually win.

"Debbie" I call out looking straight at Brian "I need to take a break".

"Okay Sunshine" she said without appreciating the gravity of the situation. I leave the diner through the kitchen door and stand in the alley out of site from the gossip queens that frequent the diner and with considerable self-loathing began to cry. I pull it together because I'll be damned if I will provide additional fodder for the rumor mill now well informed of our recent bet. It is already beyond humiliating since many consider our non-relationship effectively reduces me to a fucking back-up plan for the great Brian Kinney; I didn't need anyone thinking I was now his sex-slave to boot. I gather myself together; rub my eyes free of moisture and return to work. To my surprise, Brian was no longer there.

I take a deep breath and approach the stranger. "What can I get you?" I say coarsely without looking up.

"Your phone number for starters" he responds, he licks his lips and places a hand on my thigh a little too comfortably.

I take a step back causing his hand to fall, "Sorry, that's not on the menu" I say flatly out of reflex, a pick up line as unoriginal as they came but sadly I heard it regularly from customers.

I stare at him, his confusion evident. "But Brian…." He starts.

"Brian what?" I hiss angrily attempting to prevent unleashing my fury at Brian on this unsuspecting stranger.

"He called me this morning and said you won the bet", he glances at me reading my face but I am unsure why.

"Yeah, what the fuck does that have to do with you?" I mutter trying not to attract any more attention to the situation.

"He said you wanted me…you won me actually. I was the wager. That I should reward the victor" he spoke to me as if I was some fucking desperate nelly- bottom, that I should be grateful to have the pleasure of experiencing his dick up my ass. It was humiliating.

I slam my fist down on the table causing a glass to fall. The shattered glass causes a commotion that draws a crowd. I take one look at Debbie, my heart practically leaping out of my chest; as the wave of nausea hits me. Debbie thankfully reads my face, she shakes her head in solidarity not knowing the specifics but knowing whatever it was; Brian was behind it. "Go, I got it" she offers.

I flee the peering eyes at the diner and practically sprint back to the loft. This was going to end one way or another….now!

I slide open the door and find Brian lying nonchalantly on his bed, blowing smoke rings into the air. His casual demeanor only feeds the fury inside me.

"Brian" I scream "What the fuck was that?"

To his credit he did look sincerely surprised to see me. "What are you doing here?"

"You think I'm going to let that go? What the hell was that?"

"Congratulations! You win sunshine. Now take your prize and fuck him. He is what you wanted, right?" Brian rose out of bed and met me face to face in the doorway his lips stopping inches from my lips "Just do me a favor and don't bring him here" he snaps.

"That wasn't the bet and you fucking know it!" I scream.

"Well consider it a bonus then; for a game well-played", his contemptuous words did little to mask the pain on his face.

"Brian" I beg "Fucking just cut it out. Just stop it please. I don't want anyone but you; you son of a bitch. You win, okay. I'm calling off the bet. I can't deal with these fucking mind games for six months."

I finally let out all the resentment and anger in one primal release "Just. Fuck. Whoever. You. Want!"

With that Brian grabs me and pulls me into his arms roughly. He forces his mouth on mine in an animalistic, frenzied kiss. His tongue slides in and out of my mouth with possessive strength. I stiffen against the unfamiliar harshness of his action but open my mouth, allowing him to own what he pleases to help us get past this moment. He pulls me into him, causing my knees to buckle slightly as he guides me crudely to the floor. His hands make quick work until I lay in only my briefs against the cold hardwood. His body covers mine; placing his full weight on me reserving his hands to explore my body. The lust I could feel radiating from Brian temporarily sweeps away the hurt and confusion I still have at his earlier behavior.

I raise my hips so he can remove my underwear freeing my engorged cock which he quickly captures in his mouth. He works his tongue over my leaking dick and I explode forcefully into his throat. "Fuck me" I command.

He reaches for a condom from his jeans and without hesitation, lifts my legs onto his shoulders and claims me for himself. I watch him as he enters me; regretful that he keeps his eyes closed. Brian as selfish as he was outside of the bedroom, had always been a considerate lover, his eyes usually study my face while he enters me gauging and adjusting to my comfort level. A small sharp breath and whine escapes my lips at the abrupt, poorly lubed intrusion on such an unforgiving surface. He pauses sensing my discomfort and waits for me to adjust. He stops, looks at me, and for the first time since last night I think he really sees me. He sits back on his feet; leaving me empty once again. He stands slowly locking his eyes on mine and to my surprise reaches down offering me a hand. He pulls me up and walks me backward to our bed kissing me; this time tenderly. He grabs the bottle of lube and pushes me gently to the mattress. This time he keeps his eyes open as he enters me. He thrusts into me; stopping to lean over and kiss me. I close my eyes and let Brian apologize to me the only way he knows how.

After we finish; he collapses and lays there wet and sticky, just holding me. I know at some point, he will grow uncomfortable with the level of intimacy and roll off so I enjoy every moment while it last. He does eventually draw back, supporting more of his weight, and looks at me again. To my surprise he just shifts sideways slightly so contact of our bodies is maintained but the fullness of his weight on my smaller frame is alleviated. He runs his hands over my hair, dragging the back of his hand down the line of my jaw against my cheek.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Sunshine?" he asks sincerely.

I smile, "yeah, I think I graduated from virgin twink status quite some time ago" I joke.

"I mean…." he says with an uncharacteristically serious but hesitant tone "….you think…Um…well…you've never…you know… had to bear the full burden of my sex drive. Are you sure you can handle it….for six months?

"Brian" I pause considering what I'm about to do, "I told you the bet was off. I don't want you to be monogamous if it's going to cause a rift between us. I still want it, more than anything, but I know it won't mean anything if it's forced. I mean, it's not like it would be a real commitment that way."

"Justin", he says softly. He leans down and kisses my neck next to my ear. "A deal's a deal!"

A/N: Okay Britin shippers...you didn't really think we could have a monogamous Brian without some angst first, did you? As always, love the comments and love the suggestions. Keep 'em coming.