As a change of pace, Justin decided to work on one of the rooms at the Quoin. He still had lots of work to do on the sprawling mural but he liked to mix things up a bit. The room that he was in was sky blue. He was working on an erotic border for the room. It was a variety of cocks and asses and mouths all in erotic play. Justin almost fell off the ladder when he saw Frank and Brian walk in. Brian caught him by the waist and helped him down.

"Thanks," Justin breathed as Brian moved away.

Brian was in his street clothes. He wore low riding blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a red hoodie sweater that looked amazing on him. Brian looked so hot in red. Justin pushed those thoughts out of his head when he realized Frank was talking to him.

"I was wondering if you would mind taking a little break?"

Justin wiped his hands on his jeans. "No, not at all. What's up?"

"I'd like you to paint two pictures of Brian here. I'm thinking of hanging one in the lobby and the other in a suite. Would you mind taking on another job?"

"Uh no, that's fine. How big do you want the painting?"

"You're the artist, what do you think?"

"Well this place is fairly huge I'd say 30x 36 would be a good size."

"Great, I'll let you boys get to it then."

Frank left the room, and Brian and Justin were left staring at each other uncomfortably.

"Well I guess we should get started then."

Justin dug in his messenger bag for his sketchbook. It was lucky that he also had his digital camera with him so he could work from the picture later and not have to have Brian pose all day.

"Where would you like me?" Brian said quietly.

Justin quickly looked around the room and almost immediately found the perfect spot. There was an 18th century royal blue velvet chaise that Brian would look amazing draped across.

"The chaise."

Brian walked over to the chaise and started to remove his clothes. Justin gulped; he hadn't realized he was going to be doing a nude. He must be more overworked than he thought. He should have realized given the place where he was. When Brian took off his jeans a small round silver object fell from his pocket. Justin bent over and picked it up. On closer inspection he saw that it was a small pewter orange. When Justin handed it back to Brian their hands touched and sparks were felt between them. Brian tucked his treasure safely back in his pocket.

Brian sat down on the chaise, more than a bit uncomfortable. He was going to kill Frank for this. He had a raging hard on and he was expected to lay here naked in front of the guy he would like to get to know better. Justin went into professional mode. It was the only way he could deal with this situation.

"Ok, just lay back and bring your right leg up and let your left fall to the floor. Just try to relax." Justin blushed. "Could you let your legs fall open a bit more?"

As Brian spread his legs more he realized he wasn't the only one with a hard on. Brian stiffened when he saw the camera.

"What's with the camera? I thought you were going to paint."

"The pictures are just so you won't have to pose all day. I can work from the picture most of the time. I'll take a few pictures and then I'll do a rough sketch, then you can be on your way. Don't worry; I won't post them on the internet."

Brian smiled slightly at that. Justin snapped a few pictures. Justin's intense scrutiny was driving him crazy. He couldn't help the bead of precum that bloomed from his slit. Justin saw everything through the view finder and had to bite his lip. Justin heard Brian mumble something.

"What?"

"Sorry." Brian glanced down to his erect cock dripping dew.

"No, that's perfect. It's really hot. Could you maybe… more?"

Brian squeezed the tip of his cock and more precum bubbled out of the slit. Brian groaned softly. Justin zoomed in and took a bunch of pictures.

"That's perfect," Justin sighed.

Justin pulled up a chair and sat his sketchpad on his lap in hopes of hiding the bulge in his pants. He began to sketch Brian's long beautiful body.

"Relax, this will be painless, I swear. Tell me about the pewter orange." He thought he could get Brian to relax if he distracted him.

"It's the only thing I have left of my grandmother's. I lived with her almost all my life. She died when I was seventeen."

"Parents?"

"Divorced."

"Oh, tell me more about your grandmother." Justin continued to sketch furiously while talking with Brian.

"She lived in the country, New Brunswick. She used to grow oranges in a hothouse. They were the sweetest in the area. She used to make up baskets and give them to her friends."

"You must miss her."

"I do but it was so long ago."

Justin smiled. "How old are you?" He looked up in time to catch Brian narrowing his eyes at him. Justin made a mental note that age was a touchy subject for him.

"How old do you think I am?"

Justin shrugged. "I don't know, um, twenty-six." Secretly Justin was being kind. Justin saw Brian's smile.

Brian sighed dramatically. "Twenty-nine. How old are you? I'm hoping that since you're in college you're at least legal."

Justin chuckled. "I'm nineteen. Is that going to be a problem for you?"

"I don't mind if you don't."

"Good, well that's it. I'm finished for now."

Brian swung his legs around and grabbed up his jeans. He wiggled into them. They were tighter than ever. He'd have to take care of that.

"Could I see the sketch?" Brian asked tentatively.

Justin handed over his book. Brian stared at himself in all his glory. Justin was truly a great artist.

"This is amazing, Justin."

Justin blushed a little. "Thanks."

Brian pulled on the rest of his clothes. "Later." He was out the door before Justin could say a word. Justin brushed a hand over his aching crotch. "Later." He echoed Brian's parting word, and it was also a promise made to the hard lump in his pants.

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Brian couldn't believe Frank's audacity, he thought, as he walked the city streets. He knew something was up when he was asked to come in on his day off. Sure, Frank may have wanted pictures done but Brian suspected it was just an elaborate ruse to get him and Justin in the same room. God, he hoped he wasn't that transparent. The last thing he wanted to do was come off as a lovesick school boy. In no time flat he was at a little rundown adult bookstore. The name of the place was faded and half there, so unless you knew it was there you'd end up missing it. There was a little rainbow flag on the door proclaiming it was a gay adult book store. Right now he really needed to see Trixie.

As Brian entered the shop, he saw Trixie leaning against the counter flipping through a magazine looking bored as all fuck. When she looked up and saw he was there her face lit up with a beautiful smile. If Brian was close to anyone it was Trix and not just because she was his drug dealer. They were a lot alike and naturally gravitated toward each other.

"Hey Brian, check this out."

She turned the magazine around so he could look at it. It was a pair of two very limber men fucking in an unbelievable position.

"Geez, Trix, you're such a fag hag. I can see that all the time at work."

She stuck her little tongue out between two full raspberry painted lips.

"You know how I object to the word hag."

Brian reached out and brushed back a strand of her wild ruby red hair. "You know you're beautiful."

"Yeah, yeah, quit trying to sweet talk me. I know you came in for your usual fix."

Trix reached into a nearly invisible pocket in her tight red leather tunic shirt. She produced a small bag of powder and a bag of pills. She palmed the goods and slid them over the counter to him. His large palm covered hers and took his drugs. He slipped Trix the cash plus a little extra. Trix supplied most of the working boys at the Quoin with her pharmaceutical goods, but she was not a user herself. Brian poured out a small line on the back of his hand and inhaled sharply.

"Trix, could we talk?"

"Sure, it's not like there's a bunch of customers beating down the door." She led him into the storage room. "So what did you want to talk about? I mean I love you like a brother but you never really want to talk."

Brian pulled out his pack of cigarettes. "Can I smoke back here?"

She shrugged. "Sure, why not."

She watched Brian light up and exhale a puff of smoke. She pulled up a packing create and sat down while he leaned against the door casing. She wasn't going to rush him; he'd tell her what was up in his own time.

"There's this kid Frank hired at the Quoin, Justin. He's an art student. He's painting the walls with elaborate murals." Brian took a drag off his cigarette. "Trix, I don't know what the fuck to do. I like him, he's so beautiful and he's made it more than clear that he likes me too."

"But you don't want to get hurt."

"Exactly." Brian nodded, he knew she'd understand.

Trix laughed bitterly. "Brian you came to the wrong person. You know I don't do dates as much as you do." She sighed, "If you really like him then take it slow. Have coffee with him or something."

Brian snorted, "Take it slow? He already saw me naked. For some reason Frank got this burning desire to have paintings done of me. Maybe I should just fuck him and be done with it. I know I have to be driving him crazy."

"Don't do something you'll regret later. I'm not going to tell you what to do. It's your life, your choice. If you really think he's worth the risk then ask him out already. If not then put the poor boy out of his misery."

Brian stubbed out his cigarette. "I'll think about it, thanks, Trix."

"You're welcome, Brian."

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Trixie wasn't a meddler by nature, but since Brian had come to her all flustered over some guy she felt the urge to check him out. On her lunch break she headed over to the Quoin. Frank welcomed her but turned a blind eye to the business she usually dealt there, which was fine by her.

"Hey, Frank, where can I find Justin the artist?"

"He was painting in the east wing last time I saw him. What do you want with him?"

She grinned evilly. "Just want to see if he gets my seal of approval. Oh and Frank, real subtle with the portraits of Brian. He's on to you."

Frank had the decency to look sheepish.

She saw a cute little blonde painting. He was off in his own world with his headphones on. She leaned into his line of sight. Startled, he pulled off his headphones. She blatantly looked him up and down.

"Well you're a little cutie, aren't ya?"

"Um thanks, can I help you?"

Trix leaned up against the opposite wall. "Nah, I'm just checking out the scenery." She sighed, "Look why don't you ask him out for coffee cuz he's probably just going to keep putting it off."

Justin's mouth dropped open in realization. "Wait, you know Brian?"

"Sure."

"Then help me cuz I don't know what to do. That man is so frustrating."

"Whoa, I never said I'd help you. I don't know you. I'm loyal to Brian. I'll give you a few hints. Slow, coffee and if you hurt him I'll hunt you down and nail your balls to the wall. Got it?" She started to turn away when he stopped her.

"Wait, um."

"The guys call me Trix."

"Trix, can't you give me just a bit more insight?"

She thought for a moment. "Like all of us he just wants to avoid getting hurt."

She walked off down the hall feeling satisfied. She'd done her good deed for the day. Something told her Justin would be good for Brian. She was almost always right about people. She hoped she was right cuz she just hated to be wrong.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Justin was sitting on his overstuffed couch studying for an upcoming art history test. He had the radio playing in the background. It was the weekend so they were playing love songs and taking dedications.

"This is 106.3 and you're listening to Dleigh. Share your stories of love, loss, triumph. Dedicate a song to someone special tonight."

As Justin reached for the phone, he couldn't believe he was actually going to do it. He figured Brian probably didn't listen to the radio, let alone this station.

"This is Dleigh. You're on the air. Tell us about that special someone that's gotten to you."

"Well I sort of met him at work. His name is Brian and he's really shy, at least around me. I'd really like to be in his life if he'd just give me a chance. I'd like to dedicate a song to let him know I'm thinking about him. Could you play 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' by Savage Garden?"

"Sure thing and I hope you get your man. Brian, if you're out there someone is thinking of you tonight. This one's for you."

Justin lay back on his couch listening to the song. It was exactly how he felt about Brian if given half a chance.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Brian sat at his kitchen table putting together the latest model car he had got. It was a green Stingray Corvette. While he worked at putting the car together he listened to the radio. He almost dropped the car door when he heard Justin's voice. Brian turned up the volume on the radio. It made Brian all warm inside to know Justin was thinking about him. No one had ever dedicated a song to him before. He sat back and listened to the song with a silly grin on his face.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

In another part of town Trixie was folding the laundry while listening to the radio. She also heard Justin's dedication.

"Well, well, the boy has a romantic side to him. Brian's so fucked." She chuckled to herself.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Justin had been working on the mural and was ready for a break. When he turned around he bumped into Brian.

"Oh sorry, I didn't see you."

"The mural's looking good."

"Thanks."

"Justin, uh…." Brian looked down at the floor nervously. He felt so stupid getting this nervous over a fucking coffee date.

Justin took the initiative. "I was just going to take a break and get a coffee. Would you care to join me?"

Brian smiled gratefully at him. "Yeah I'd like that. I was just going to ask you the same thing."

Justin shouldered his messenger bag and took Brian's hand in his. They walked out of the Quoin and around the corner to Starbucks holding hands. They got their expensive coffees and sat at a somewhat secluded table. At first they just sat there drinking in silence.

Justin sighed. It was now or never. "Look, Brian, I'm just going to lay my cards on the table. I really like you in case you haven't noticed. I'd like to get to know better you but you're a pretty hard guy to get to know. So just tell me now if I'm wasting my time and making a fool of myself."

Brian grabbed Justin by the back of his neck and pulled him in for a deep searing kiss, licking the foam that lingered on Justin's lip.

"I've wanted to do that since I first saw you," Brian breathed deeply. "You're not making a fool out of yourself. I really like you too and I want to get to know you."

Justin couldn't help the brilliant smile that lit up his face.

"Brian, you don't have to be shy with me."

Brian placed his hand lightly on top of Justin's. "I know; lets just say I'm a work in progress. I'll try, just be patient with me."

Justin grinned, "I'm really glad we did this." He gestured to his coffee.

"Yeah, me too."

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