Brian knew that he was playing with fire, but he couldn't stop himself. Wanting neither to stop Justin, and his advances, dead in his tracks with forbidding words, nor to encourage Justin with the tone of his voice, he stated simply, "Just one. There are no rules. Not until we're married."

Justin couldn't help but smile brightly. His eyes even shone a more brilliant blue.

Brian watched Justin nervously, though he appeared to be completely unfazed. The ball was in Justin's court now. He wasn't sure what he would do if Justin continued with the seduction, how long he could hold out. Brian knew that he could easily make an excuse and leave; he knew that what would follow would be even more torture, but it was likely to be the kind of torture he'd be jerking off to later. He enjoyed knowing that Justin still wanted him, sexually at least. He enjoyed seeing him half-naked and hard. He enjoyed imagining, even for a little while, that he might actually take Justin up on his offer…or be unable to refuse. The truth is, he didn't know what he would do, or what he was capable of doing, and the more dominant part of himself desperately wanted to test his limits.

Justin stood up and approached Brian, sauntering up to him as he unbuttoned his jeans. When he was just a couple of inches away, he leaned in and brushed his cheek against Brian's. Then, he whispered huskily, "I want you so much, Brian."

That sent a shiver through Brian's entire body.

Brian would never have anticipated what came next, though Justin would have been surprised to hear that. In the more than five years since they'd met, nothing substantial had changed for Justin. He was as in love with Brian as he was that first day, and he wanted him just as desperately. From that day to this, both his love and desire for Brian had remained constant.

Justin whispered, "I love you, Brian. I always have, and I always will."

He slid his left hand behind Brian's neck and drew him near, until their lips met. He brushed his lips against Brian's gently, nudged Brian's nose with his, and looked up until their eyes met. Holding his gaze, Brian saw a fire and determination resident in his crystal blue eyes that he had not seen in a long time, not when Justin's eyes were trained on him. The look was so intense that it quite literally took Brian's breath away. His eyes widened.

Then, Justin said, in a soft but serious voice, something that surprised them both, but mostly Brian. "We will fuck again, in fact, many, many, many times, but not today. I'm not a trick; I never was. The next time you're inside me, you'll be mine. No one else's."

Brian didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. Or all three. In the end, he decided to take as much pleasure in this moment as he could. Finally close to Justin with no one else watching, Brian gazed at him, letting his eyes do what his hands and lips could not. Focusing in turn on his lips, his neck, his ears, his cheeks, and his eyes. Then, he turned and left.

Justin watched him leave, that intense look still burning in his eyes. He didn't say a word. He didn't move to stop him. He just observed his retreating form closely, trying to ascertain what might be in his heart by the way his body moved. When Brian finally disappeared, he still wasn't sure.

Brian had to get out of that apartment. His heart may belong to Justin, but he was not about to let Justin know that, not if Justin only wanted him because he was supposedly engaged to Timothy. Brian had offered Justin everything he'd ever wanted, or everything Justin had said he wanted, but Justin had still left in the end, had still rejected him. If Brian let his guard down, if he was honest with Justin, he would probably discover two weeks later that Justin was leaving again. Justin clearly needed something else. Someone else. Brian thought bitterly, if he had been 'the one' for Justin, Justin would not have been able to let go, would not have wanted to, not even if the timing were truly bad. He might at least have invited Brian to come with him to New York City. But he would not have broken off the engagement. He would not have moved to a different state alone, not indefinitely. He would not have allowed Brian to end their relationship.

Brian sighed and dialed the moving service he sometimes used (for work) and told them that he'd pay double if they could make it to Justin's apartment in under ten minutes. Sure enough, five minutes later, three hot movers entered the building. Now Brian didn't need to feel guilty about bailing on Justin (in terms of helping him move). Of course, he still felt miserable, but now he was also jealous as hell. When he called the movers he'd had an ulterior motive. He needed a wake-up call. Now that Justin thought Brian was tricking, still tricking, he would most likely fuck one of the movers. He was probably ready to explode. Brian sure as hell was. Brian needed to know that that determination he'd seen in Justin's eyes and the words he'd uttered were just the result of jealousy. Justin may hate the idea that Brian had 'moved on,' but he did not really want Brian for himself. And the movers were the first step in proving that. Brian watched through his window as Justin and the movers worked. When all the boxes and furniture had been brought inside, the movers left. Frowning. That left Brian puzzled.

Then a few minutes later, Brian heard a knock. As he slid the door open, he caught sight of Justin heading back down the stairs. He stopped when Brian looked at him and said, "Thank you for the, uh, gift, Brian, but I passed. After what I wanted, none of them would have been the least bit satisfying."

Justin smiled brightly upon seeing Brian's shock and quickly added, as he proceeded down the stairs, "I'll come by in a couple of hours. We can get ready for the double date together."

Brian just raised an eyebrow.