Chapter 9

17 Months Post-513

Brian arrived at the diner for breakfast shortly after Michael, Ted and Emmett. They'd put in their order, but when Debbie saw his arrival, she came back over to get Brian's.

"Egg white omelet, wheat toast, no butter and coffee black," he ordered.

"Justin leave?" she asked solicitously, with the love of a mother understanding the missing of a loved one.

Glancing at the clock on the wall at the back of the diner, Brian shook his head yes. "Plane should be boarding now."

"It was great to see him. I wish he was living here. His smile lights up the place. There's always an empty spot in my heart when he's not around."

Michael glared at his mom, but she ignored his look.

"That bell is ringing pretty insistently, Deb. Shouldn't you go pick up your orders?" Ted commented since he knew that Brian was already missing Justin. He would most likely have a bear of a boss for a few days until Brian's routine returned to normal.

Debbie nodded as she answered, "Oh yeah. Those plates come up really fast." She scurried to the other part of the restaurant to pick up her orders and deliver them.

"Ben's got a faculty meeting tonight. Why don't I come over and we can order pizza and watch the iStar Wars/i marathon on TNT?"

Brian shook his head. "No can do. I've got too much work to do with a couple of deadlines coming up."

"Some other time then."

"You just wouldn't believe the meeting I had yesterday. Mrs. Caldecott of Caldecott Industries, you know the big house on the hill off Pennsylvania Street. Anyway, she wants to have this party for her bridge club, and do you believe she wants me to put orchids and daisies together in the same bouquets. They're both beautiful flowers, but really they just do not go together." Emmett announced to no one in particular, but wanted to contribute to the conversation.

"I'm sure you'll set her straight, Emmy Lou," Brian said, tongue-in-cheek.

Emmett looked at his friend and smiled his toothy grin, happy that someone at the table listened to him. He was slightly taken aback that it was Brian, but then again, he knew Brian listened to most of the conversations his friends had.

"Are you and Blake ready for your trip next week?" Michael asked Ted as he was looking a little lost, unsure what to add to the conversation.

"Blake's not starting any groups this week so he is free to leave, and I've almost finished the contracts for the new campaigns," Ted said as he looked at Brian, letting him know that he planned on finishing his work and not leaving Kinnetik in a lurch. Ted salted his eggs and took a bite.

"Speaking of travel, we're planning a visit to Philadelphia next weekend. Hunter wants to see the college there. I never thought I would be taking my kid to see a college." He looked at Brian and then at Ted, the only members of the group who had completed college. He tried to judge their reaction, but neither seemed to have one.

"So your foundling is blowing the coop?" Brian took two packets of sugar and dumped them into his fresh coffee.

"Briannnnn. I'm so proud of him. He's really turned his life around. I can't believe that a few years ago he was living on the streets and…"

"I think it is wonderful what you and Ben did for Hunter," Emmett said as he poured syrup on his pancakes. "I have a hard enough time taking care of myself, let alone a teenager."

Brian didn't add any further comments; he was thankful that his friends were willing to fill the conversation with their trivial pursuits rather than talk about Justin.

After breakfast, Brian and Ted walked to Kinnetik.

"I've got those quarterly projections we need to go over. Should I bring them in this morning or do you want to see them in the afternoon?"

"This morning would be fine. I've got a few deadlines I need to meet and this way I'll be able to work uninterrupted."

"Okay, boss."

Ted and Brian started working on the projections, but Brian's cell rang two hours later.

Recognizing the ring, he picked it up immediately. "You're home?"

"Yeah. The flight attendant tried to hit on me again, but as usual I ignored him. He needs to get a life."

"He has good taste. Ted and I are in a meeting. Later."

"Later."

"I know it's hard having Justin so far away. If you ever want to hang out or…"

Brian glared at Ted. "Theodore…"

Ted didn't say anything more about Justin, but concentrated on going through the quarterly projections with Brian.

Brian completed his work with Ted and worked uninterrupted throughout the afternoon. Leaving at 7:30, he was bone tired and returned to the Loft. He heated up some leftover Thai and had a few shots of Beam while he watched the first iStar Wars/i movie that Michael had mentioned this morning.

As the credits rolled, his cell rang and he picked it up. "Hey."

"You sound tired. You okay?" Justin lay in his bed as he greeted his partner.

"Yeah. Long day. Some twat kept me from working most of last week and I have a shit load of deadlines to meet by next week," Brian answered, tongue-in-cheek.

"Said twat should be punished for keeping you from your work," Justin said playfully.

Brian moved to the bed and put his phone on speaker while he quickly got undressed, then lay down on the duvet. "Unfortunately he's 300 miles away, and while my dick is long, it isn't that long."

"True."

"I worked all day; what did you do?"

"Not a lot. I was feeling a little down when I got home so Sean and I watched a iMadagascar Penguin/i marathon tonight."

Grinning, Brian responded, "Only you would find cartoons a distraction."

"The animation is amazing. If my hand worked better, I would love to do some of that. It's always been an interest," Justin said matter-of-factly, with no pity in his voice.

Brian didn't respond to the comment as no words would change the facts, and they both knew that Justin had come to accept his limitations, or at least work with them. Instead, Brian whispered into the phone, "What are you wearing?"

"Nothing. I'm lying on top of the duvet, stroking my hard cock."

"Put some lotion on your hands."

Justin did as he was told. "Done," he said as he pushed the speaker phone button on his phone as well.

"Take your cock in your hands. Now rub it between them."

Brian could hear the short breaths Justin was taking as his arousal took over.

"Play with the head. Take your thumb and forefinger and run it up and down the shaft. That's my mouth sucking your beautiful cock. I taste your precum as it slips from your slit. You're moaning and I feel you arch into my mouth, eagerly trying to increase the friction. Take your other hand and play with your balls. Play with each of them individually. Roll them in your fingers as I suck your cock."

Justin did as Brian described: one hand was stroking his cock, circling the sensitive head as the other hand played with his balls, fingering the tightened flesh. "Briannnn," he called out as he felt the familiar tingling in his sack, announcing his impending orgasm.

"Faster. Increase the speed of your hand and take your other hand and circle your opening. Now push in with just your fingertip."

Justin's breaths were heavy now.

"Push in all the way with your finger and move it to the same rhythm that you're stroking that hard cock. That's it. Come for me. Come for me, Justin."

"Ahhhh. Briannnnnn. I lovvvvveee youuuuu," Justin screamed into the air as his orgasm washed over his body.

Justin lay on the bed for a few moments as his body recovered, then smiled as he felt his body relax for the first time since yesterday's morning blow job in the shower. He grabbed the towel he had laid on the bed and wiped himself clean.

"Thanks. Are you ready for me to return the favor?"

"No need. I'm done. Listening to your pants and moans got me off tonight."

"Oh. And I was looking forward to listening to you lose control," Justin teased.

"I do not lose control," Brian adamantly responded, knowing that Justin was just pushing his buttons. "I've got a shitload of work tomorrow. I better go for now. Later."

"Later," Justin returned the familiar greeting and hung up the phone. iShit I already miss him and it hasn't even been 24 hours./i

18 Months Post-513

The next few weeks passed just as Sean predicted. Justin got up, painted, visited galleries, talked to Sam, and each evening he came home to talk to Brian. They shared tidbits about their day and ended each call with hot phone sex. Justin missed Brian and Brian missed Justin, but it was something that neither man talked about, since at this point in time they couldn't be together.

Justin had completed two paintings in the last three weeks, and had preliminary sketches for three more. Sam made his weekly visits to Justin's studio and complimented him on his work. Three weeks later, he was very excited and showed up half an hour early for his weekly visit. After knocking on the door for five minutes, Justin finally recognized the noise as a knock and let him in.

"You're early today. Got plans for the weekend. Getting out of this hot, stinky, city? I know I'm counting the days until I return to Pittsburgh. It's still hot there, but nothing like the oppressive heat in this cement jungle." Justin placed the brush in the turpentine and walked over to the kitchen area to pour two cups of coffee, one for himself and one for the Sam.

"I just got off the phone with The Point Gallery. Elizabeth is an old friend of mine and she saw your work at the Forum. Impressed doesn't even begin to describe her glowing words. She wants you to do another show, not solo but with a well-known artist, almost equal billing. Her gallery is in the middle of Chelsea. This is such an excellent opportunity for you. You will go very far."

Sitting at the counter drinking his coffee, Justin took in Sam's enthusiastic words. Brian was going to be so proud of him. He couldn't wait to tell Brian, but decided he wanted to see his face and would wait until the weekend to tell him in person. "That's great. When is the show?"

"In the spring. Galleries like Elizabeth's have their calendars filled at least six months ahead. That should give you sufficient time to come up with all the pieces you need for the show, won't it?" Sam picked up his coffee, took a drink and smiled grandly at Justin. Walking over to Justin's latest canvas, he congratulated himself for seeing the raw talent in this young artist.

Counting on his fingers, Justin realized that the show would be six months away. "I have four pieces finished; how many does she want for a show?"

"Thirty would be good, with a few large canvases thrown into the mix. Six months should be enough time, correct?"

iAs long as I can fit in short visits to Brian, I should be able to do it. That is, of course, as long as his health is okay./i "Sure, Sam. That shouldn't be a problem." Justin finished his coffee, placing both of their cups in the sink. Walking over to his canvas, he picked up a new brush, adding touches of color to the painting. Sam realized that the meeting was over and let himself out. Justin continued to paint for several hours until his hand gave out and his stomach growled.

TBC