One hand behind his back, Brian opened his and Justin's new loft door (by turning a knob) and shook his head, muttering, "Freaky." He left it open.

He called out (the new loft was actually bigger than Brian's) cheerfully, "Honey, I'm home!"

Justin popped his head up and then emerged from behind part of their new pale green overstuffed sectional couch.

Brian chuckled. "What are you doing back there?"

"Lying on our new sheepskin rug, watching the sunset. Just taking a break after moving the furniture around."

Brian looked around, observing the mini-library Justin had fashioned, forming a corner with their four new three-shelf bookcases (two and two) on the far right (the couch was on the left) and placing their two new armchairs and matching ottomans opposite two of the bookcases (the chairs now faced the wall with the windows) and their tall four-arm adjustable freestanding lamp behind the bookcases. He had also placed Brian's desk and computer next to the two bookcases the armchairs faced. Brian smiled. If Justin were sitting in one of the armchairs and Brian were working at home, he'd see Justin every time he looked up.

Brian nodded slowly. "Looks great!"

Justin flushed with pleasure. Then he approached Brian and asked, "Whatcha got behind your back?"

Brian shrugged and looked behind him (to the right), swinging his body a bit to the left as he did (but not so far that Justin could see what he had), so he actually saw empty space when he looked behind him.

Justin folded his arms on his chest and stared at Brian blankly.

Brian sighed heavily. "If you must know…close your eyes, and I'll tell you."

Justin let his arms fall to his sides and closed his eyes.

Brian walked over to the windows carrying an easel and, periodically glancing at his desk, placed it in front of the middle window. He grabbed one of the ottomans in their mini-library and placed it behind his desk. Then he sat in his chair, swiveled it around and put his feet up. He had a perfect view of the easel, and, when standing at the easel, Justin would have a perfect view of both Brian's desk and their sheepskin rug. Brian's eyes brightened as he imagined lying naked on the rug watching Justin paint.

Brian placed his hands behind his head and prodded, "Check it out."

Justin opened his eyes and then turned around, finally catching sight of the easel.

He ran over to it and cried, "Oh wow, cool!"

Brian smiled softly and said, "Actually, that's the just the first part." Then to Justin's surprise and confusion, he left the loft. He returned a moment later with a huge box. He carried it over to the easel and set it down, giving an exaggerated grunt as he did so. Justin's eyes grew as wide as saucers.

He exclaimed, "Holy shit, Brian!" as he pawed through it. Brian had bought him sketch pads, pencils and brushes of all kinds, twenty or thirty tubes of paint, charcoals, pastels, a few canvases, and about a million other art supplies. He jumped into Brian's arms and kissed the man passionately.

"I can't believe you did this!" Then more softly, "Thank you. So much."

Brian whispered huskily, "My pleasure, Kitten" and then placed a tender kiss on Justin's lips. He pulled back abruptly and said, "Oh. I almost forgot. Here."

From out of his inside jacket pocket he pulled a white rose.

Justin's eyes widened.

Brian shoved the flower into Justin's hand. Then, looking down, he cleared his throat and rubbed his forehead. "The florist said that white roses represent new beginnings…"

Justin couldn't breathe or speak. For a moment, he just looked at the flower in his hand. Finally, he managed, "Brian…I…"

Brian looked up until his eyes met Justin's, which were glistening.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Justin looked over in surprise.

Brian breathed a sigh of relief, stepped back, and clapped his hands. "Ah. That must be the new shower!"

He grinned and opened the door for the delivery men.

Then he returned. "Three jets at various heights, two in front, one behind, jet black porcelain."

Justin's eyes widened. "Wow!"

"I paid the delivery men extra to install it."

"Do they know how?"

Brian nodded and smiled. Then he drawled, "I hope you're feeling dirty."

Justin moved close to Brian and nuzzled his neck. Then he purred, "I'm feeling downright filthy."

At that, Brian's eyes glazed over with lust.