Mykonos – Late Afternoon

"Justin?" Brian dropped the carryout sack on the kitchen counter that he had picked up at the small Greek deli down in the village; the two men had frequently stopped there in the two weeks they had been on the island. It was great place for them to find the high-carb, fattening grub Justin always gravitated to, while Brian could maintain his habit of eating healthier food.

"Justin?" he repeated when he didn't receive any response. He was starting to get a little concerned, when he finally noticed the blond sitting with his back to him out on the veranda, apparently watching the crashing waves below.

He quietly walked out to join the other man, who had his customary sketchpad sitting next to him, and gently placed his hands on the other's shoulders so as not to startle him. Justin turned his head to smile up at him as Brian leaned down to give him a tender kiss. Noticing the slight sadness in the expressive face, he frowned a little. "You look awfully pensive, Sunshine," he observed. "What's on your mind?" He sat down next to his husband and joined him on the tiled floor. Justin turned back to silently watch the ocean far below; even from this height, the waves collided so violently with the large rocks you could still hear the rushing water and the pounding of it as it splashed against the boulders.

He sighed a little, as Brian reached his hand around the slender shoulder to pull him closer in a comfortable camaraderie, his newly-acquired pewter and gold bracelet reflecting off the sun that was rapidly setting just above the water. The sky was quickly changing from its typical blue to shades of pink and purple as the sun began to creep ever closer to the horizon.

"It's kind of silly, I know," Justin quietly began, his eyes unable to stray from the spectacular show being displayed for them where the sun and ocean met. "On the one hand, I can't wait to get home and tell everybody that I'm a kept man now," he teased, as Brian grinned. "I'm so glad that we're finally married," he remarked happily, his eyes shining as he thought about their ceremony and wedding night in Vermont on the first leg of their journey. As the sun finally slipped below the surface of the water, he turned to look at Brian as he continued. "But I'm also sorry to see it all end." He looked wistful as he explained, "these past couple of weeks have been SO wonderful, Brian. Being alone, just the two of us….."

"With the pigeons and what was that damn bird's name? Peter, Petraeus….."

"Petros," Justin interjected. "Don't worry – I've got all kinds of sketches of him from down at the marina. He will live on forever in our dreams from now on," the blond assured him teasingly.

"Oh, I'm overcome with emotion at THAT thought," Brian growled as Justin grinned at him briefly before continuing his thoughts. "Well, Petros notwithstanding, it's been more wonderful than I could have imagined." His eyes swept over the villa they had called home. "This house……it holds so many unbelievable memories now. This was the perfect place for us to get away. Going sailing the other day – who knew you were such an accomplished seaman, Mr. Kinney?" he noted, as the other man gave him a mock salute, eyebrows raised. "Watching the sunset every night, and even having a few chances to see it rise, too…..that is, when we weren't too busy watching something else rise, that is." The two shared a mutual, knowing smile. "All that fattening Greek food to try…..we have GOT to find an authentic Greek restaurant in the Pitts. Maybe I can get Deb to try selling Baklava at the diner?" he said hopefully. Brian rolled his eyes at THAT comment.

"Well, maybe not….."Justin decided, smiling. "Better have her stick to lemon bars. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, yeah…..The beaches, the clubs, exploring Delos, all of it. It's been absolutely wonderful and exactly what we needed. And you can close your ears if you want, Mr. Kinney, but you know what?"

"No," the brunet replied quickly. "But something tells me you're about to let me in on it."

"You are correct-a-mundo," Justin verified, as he leaned over and began to rain butterfly kisses all over the other man's neck, face and ears. He gave the tender, fleshy lobe a love bite as he whispered in the other man's ear, his hot breath sending shivers up the brunet's spine, "When it was all said and done, it really didn't matter where we were, as long as we were together."

Brian couldn't help smiling as his body responded automatically to the husky sound of Justin's voice; it still amazed him after all these years that this man could get him so turned on just by the way he spoke to him. Sometimes he thought Justin could be reciting a fucking nursery rhyme and his cock would STILL stand rigidly at attention. His voice sounded a little heavy with desire as he commented, "You must admit, though, Sunshine, that being out of the Pitts and the crappy weather and living it up by the ocean as we fucked our brains out did have a certain appeal."

Justin grinned in agreement. "Yeah, that DID add a little something to it, I guess," he admitted. "But we still get to fuck our brains out when we get back to the loft, too."

"Count on it, Sunshine…..That was part of our wedding vows," Brian murmured, as Justin once again began his sensual assault on the other man with his soft, talented lips. "Actually," Brian whispered, "fucking my brains out here on the veranda was stipulated in our marriage contract, too."

"Is that right?" Justin chuckled. "Well, never let it be said that I didn't live UP to my agreement," he decided. He suddenly pushed Brian down on the thick cushions they had laid out on the marble-tiled floor and straddled the other man's tanned legs; the stark contrast between Brian's dark skin and Justin's pale tone was striking.

"I'm glad to see you didn't turn into a lobster while we were here, Sunshine," Brian observed softly, as he slowly caressed the other man's thighs. before tugging his swim briefs down. "Although I see that one part of your anatomy is quickly changing color, though," he observed, as he took hold of Justin's cock and gently squeezed.

Justin blushed as a soft groan of pleasure escaped his lips. "You always were a slut for my cock, you naughty man," Justin growled mockingly as he reached down to pinch and twist one of his husband's erect nipples. Brian was the one who groaned now as Justin deliberately squirmed on top of the brunet, his ass cheeks provocatively brushing up against the brunet's cock with each pass.

"NOW who's the slut?" Brian retorted; Justin squeaked as Brian suddenly reversed their positions and he flipped Justin on his back. Looking smugly down at the blond, he remarked, sighing melodramatically, "One more night of non-stop skin diving and then it's back to the Mile High Club the rest of the way home. So much fucking, so little time," he teased, grinning lopsidedly in that endearing way that always made Justin's heart beat faster.

Justin held onto the other man's upper arms as Brian swooped down for another heart stopping kiss. As he pulled back from their tongue duel several seconds later, Brian peered down into the face of the man he loved more than he ever thought possible. He looked deeply into the crystal blue eyes for a few seconds, just like he had so long ago after that eventful dance, before almost shyly leaning back down for a gentler, softer kiss. "I love you so much, Mr. Taylor," he murmured fervently against the soft mouth, as he felt a million-watt smile being flashed in return.

"Brian," Justin whispered, almost reverently. At the risk of incurring his husband's good-natured scorn, he couldn't help adding, his request coming out almost like a plea, "Make love to me. Then you can fuck me into tomorrow afterward."

He was pleasantly surprised, though, when Brian didn't roll his eyes or smirk at him. He simply stared back at him with that tender, boyish smile that always made his heart soar, the same one he had given Justin that night at Britin when he had first proposed marriage and then made love to him afterward. Brian slowly melded their bodies together and placed both of his hands on either side of the blond's face to steady it for another toe-curling kiss, turning the pale face at an angle to deeper their hold on each other's lips. "My pleasure," Brian huskily murmured finally, as they eventually had to break for air.

Next Morning – Liberty Diner

"Hey! Have some tea?" Debbie called out from behind the counter.

"Sounds great," Jennifer smiled congenially, as she placed her briefcase down beside her on an accompanying stool and slid herself under the counter.

"Working this morning? Debbie asked. "Shit," she cracked, slapping her head with her palm a little, "why does that sound like I'm speaking to a call girl all of a sudden?"

Jennifer laughed. "Sometimes when I'm showing clients potential new houses, I feel like I'm working the streets, all right." She gratefully accepted the lemon herb tea that Debbie placed in front of her with a nod and a smile. "Yeah, I just got done driving around Lawrenceville with a pair of clients to look at potential condos with them. As a matter of fact, they're interested in one not too far down the road from where Justin and Brian live. If they'd been back already, I would have had an excuse to stop in the studio and say hi to my son."

"Yeah, speaking of the world travelers, when are they due back? I've got a bone to pick with that son of yours. I was expecting regular updates from that little shit and he's only e-mailed me twice," she growled good-naturedly. "Although, knowing Brian I have a feeling he's been keeping your son pre-occupied."

Jennifer blushed a little. "I'm sure you're right," she agreed. "They're actually due back tomorrow," she said excitedly, her blue eyes sparkling so much like her son's at the moment. "I spoke to Justin last night for a few minutes. He sounded SO happy, Debbie. Probably the happiest I've heard him sound in a LONG time. He said they've had the most wonderful time. He was looking forward to coming home in a way, but he was also a little down that their trip was coming to an end. He said he's taken tons of photos, though, and he's been drawing anything that moves, walks, swims, or captures his eye in his words, which, he said, was just about everything in Mykonos." She smiled tenderly as she recalled their conversation. "I'm so glad they both had a chance to get away after this past year." She noticed as she looked back at Debbie that she had become very serious all of a sudden; a slight pained look appeared on her face. "Debbie? What is it?" she asked, concerned that the other woman maybe WAS upset with her son. "You know Justin loves you…..you know how it is when you're on vacation. I'm sure he didn't mean to slight you or anything. As it was, we were just on the phone for a few minutes before I distinctly heard what I'm sure was a certain someone, shall we say, assaulting my son behind his back. I'm sure I heard Justin giggling, even though he was doing his best to cover it up," she said conspiratorily.

"No, no, it's nothing like that, Jennifer, Debbie reassured her. "Shit! I know Sunshine's been busy having a great time….I'm sure they both have. And I'm SO fucking glad about that – really. It's just…..Damn." The normally effusive woman was inexplicably at a loss for words, which concerned Jennifer even more.

"What IS it, then, Debbie? What are you trying to tell me….or maybe more accurately, NOT tell me?" she pressed.

"Maybe I should answer that." Both women looked up to see Carl Horvath walking toward them.

"Carl," Debbie said in relief. She was glad she didn't have to be the one to break the bad news to Jennifer. She really didn't know exactly what was going on with Prescott, but she had been told enough by Carl to know that there was still some kind of big trouble involved. He had cryptically told that she would have to wait to find out - it was still confidential and unresolved, so she was still pretty much in the dark about all the details. As her boyfriend sat down next to Jennifer, she turned his coffee mug over to pour him a cup. She had been trying like crazy to get him to cut down on all the caffeine, but she made a hasty decision that right now probably wasn't a good time to call him on it - or worry about it, for that matter.

"I don't like the sound of that," Jennifer stated, as a chill went through her. "You both look a little too concerned about something. Something I have a feeling I'm not going to like, right?" She looked over at both of them pointedly as she waited for an explanation.

Carl returned her stare grimly. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." He looked around at the fairly crowded diner before adding regretfully, "Unfortunately, I don't think this is the right place to discuss it, though. Did I hear you say, by the way, that Justin and Brian are due back in Pittsburgh tomorrow?"

Jennifer looked at him tensely. "Yes…..why?"

Carl hesitated briefly before revealing, "This……involves them, I'm afraid."

Debbie held her breath as the implication settled like a hard mass in Jennifer's stomach and she put two and two together. "Oh, God," she said. "This has to do with that man, doesn't it?" She asked Carl, the worry evident in her drawn face. "He didn't escape from prison or something, did he?" she asked urgently.

"No," Carl quickly assured her, as the woman breathed a sigh of relief. "He's not going anywhere, believe me. In fact, after this latest stunt he pulled, I think I can promise you that he will never see fresh air again. The only way he'll get out of that prison is in a pine box."

Jennifer frowned, puzzled. "Well, then…..what? What has this man done now?" After everything that her son and Brian had been through the last several months, she had hoped that the man's name would never have to cross her mind again.

"I'm sorry, Jennifer," Carl stated, politely but firmly. "Like I said – this is NOT the place to discuss this. What time are the boys due back tomorrow?"

The elegant woman was really getting concerned now, but answered him anyway, hesitantly. "They – their plane is due to arrive at the airport around 2:00 p.m.....I'm picking them up."

Carl noticed now that both women were mirroring the same look – both concerned and upset over what was going on regarding two men they both loved and had come to think of as their sons. "Okay. Then will you ask them to come down to the police station tomorrow….say about 4:00? I really don't think this can wait until later." He hesitated briefly. He really wished he could divulge what was going on, but he felt it was only fair that Brian and Justin were told first. "It's very important," he just said simply.

"Can we come with them?" Jennifer asked him hopefully.

Carl sighed; he knew this would affect these women as well as the two boys. But he decided that Brian and Justin had the ultimate choice over how much to tell them. "No…..I'm sorry. I need to meet with them alone first. Then, at some point in time, if they want to discuss what is going on with anyone else, that will be up to them. Will you please pass along that message to them?" He looked apologetically at both women; he knew Debbie would be dying of curiosity later but he also knew that she realized he would not be able to fill her in on what was going on, at least not yet; she probably already knew too much as it was.

Jennifer pursed her lips – she was dying to know what was so important that it couldn't wait barely two hours after her son and Brian returned home. Finally, she advised him, "Okay. I'll tell them."

Carl nodded at both ladies before gulping down the remainder of his coffee and leaning over to give Debbie a brief kiss. "I'll see you at home later, honey," he told her. Debbie twisted her mouth in resignation. "Okay – don't be late! I'm fixing lasagna tonight, she advised him sternly, wagging a red-lacquered finger at him.

"Yes, Ma'am," he dutifully responded with a small smile before he turned and left the diner.

Both women looked at each other simultaneously. "Why do I think there's big trouble brewing somehow?" Jennifer asked her, worry written plainly on her face. "I thought this was all behind them. What could possibly be going on NOW?"

Debbie placed a hand on her shoulder. "Jen…I think by now we know that when it comes to that fucker that stalked Justin, it just may NEVER be over."

"I hope you're wrong, Debbie…..God, I hope you're wrong."