Phoenix
- 9 -
Brian sat alone in the conference room at America West’s corporate headquarters. He had just delivered one of the best presentations of his career and the executives had excused themselves to make a decision.
Brian thought about what this presentation meant. If he got the account, he would need to spend time in Phoenix getting it together. If he didn’t get the account, there would be no reason for him to come back here, other than Justin. Brian knew that Vance would continue to send him on mundane pitches and his free time would be very limited. Realistically, it would be very hard for him to come back here to see Justin.
“Mr. Kinney, we’re ready.” Brian rose and greeted the men and prepared to hear his fate.
***
Justin was having a difficult time concentrating at work. He knew that Brian was giving the presentation that would determine their future. If Brian didn’t get the account, they would be through. Justin had a life in Phoenix and two more years of school. Brian would never be able to visit if he didn’t have business connections here.
“Justin, telephone.”
Justin walked to the other end of the bar very slowly. Knowing who was on the other end of the phone caused his heartbeat to race.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby!”
***
Brian drove over to Michelle’s house. He had promised Justin that he would pick up Shadow. Pulling into the driveway, the ad-exec had a heavy heart. Michelle was waiting at the door.
“Brian! Come on in.”
“Hi, Michelle.”
Brian walked into the living room and was immediately greeted by Shadow. The kitten began to claw up his Armani slacks. Picking up the kitten, Brian was greeted by soft purring.
“Wow, he really likes you. He doesn’t greet anyone other than Justin like that.”
“Hmmm,” was Brian’s only response.
“How did the presentation go?”
“You know about it?”
“My nephew doesn’t keep much from me, so how did it go?”
“I didn’t get the account.”
“Oh shit.”
Brian smirked at Michelle’s response. “Yeah.”
“Brian, how do you feel about Justin?”
“I love him.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
***
Brian didn’t leave Michelle’s house until after seven. Even though she was Jennifer Taylor’s sister, Brian got along with her surprisingly well. Probably because they were close in age. She gave him the third degree about what he was going to do. The answer lay with Justin.
Entering the empty apartment, Brian quickly let Shadow out of his carrier. It was obvious that the kitten had missed his home. Watching the cat tear around his home, Brian was glad he hadn’t followed his initial thoughts to ask Michelle to keep him for another night. Brian had plans for Justin tonight and he feared Shadow would only get in the way. However, the kitten was a member of the family too, and would be a consideration in any decisions the two men made.
Once Shadow was settled back in his home, Brian left to run a few errands. He wanted to have everything ready when Justin came home. If the evening progressed the way Brian hoped it would, they would have a lot of celebrating to do.
***
Justin walked up the stairs to his apartment with a heavy heart. Brian hadn’t gotten the account. Tomorrow he would go back to Pittsburgh and continue with his life. Part of him wished that he had never spent this week with Brian, but hearing Brian Kinney tell him that he loved him made all the pain worthwhile. He only wished there was a chance for them.
Unlocking the door, Justin knew he would be seeing Brian for the last time. He pushed the door open and found Shadow waiting for him. Not looking around the apartment, he picked up the kitten and held him close. Shadow began purring into his neck. Justin looked around the apartment, hoping he would find Brian.
All the lights were out and the living room was illuminated by candles. He heard movement and went into the kitchen. He found Brian there, standing by the stove.
“Sunshine, you’re home!”
“Bri, what’s going on? Shouldn’t you be packing to go back home?”
Brian held out a champagne flute for Justin, “You might want to put the cat down.”
Justin was about to put shadow on the dining room table where his water bowl usually sat. He noticed the table had been set with his china and there was a bouquet of roses.
“Brian, what’s going on?”
“First things, first.” Brian held out his own champagne flute, “A toast … to us.”
Their glasses clinked and the two men drank.
“Brian, I don’t understand.”
Brian led his lover to the couch and sat beside him. “Sunshine, a lot has happened today. The outcome depends on you.”
“But you lost the account …”
“Yes, America West decided they were going to stay with their current firm. However, they liked my ideas enough that they didn’t want to just dismiss me.”
“What do you mean?”
“They offered me a position as the head of their marketing department. They want me to be the liaison with their advertising agency. It would be a larger salary than Vance is paying me and I would need to move here.”
“Here?”
“This depends on you, Justin. I couldn’t live in the same city as you and not be with you. So the only way that I will take this job is if I am with you. What do you say? Will you be my partner, my lover … my whole world?”
Justin’s blue eyes began to fill with tears, “Bri …”
Brian silenced Justin lips with his finger. He pressed a button on one of the remote controls and the room was filled with the strains of a flamenco guitar. “Dance with me?”
Justin could only nod and took Brian’s hand. Taking his lover by the hand, Brian led the younger man to the middle of the room and held him in his arms as they began to dance.
Sometimes I close my eyes
And imagine you're with me
Chasing passion into the night
All tangled in a dream.
Oh, if you could see my heart
The way I feel inside
You would know just how far
I'm willing to go to get to you
There is nothing I won't do.
Show me what its like to lose control
Free the desire in your soul
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Let me take you to a place like no where else
Show you the things you never felt
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Oh, I want to taste your kiss
Be the reason for your smile
Touch the magic on your skin
Be the one that drives you wild.
Oh, if you could read my mind
You'd know you're everything I need
You'd see yourself through my eyes
You may understand what I'm going through
Just how much I want you.
Show me what its like to lose control
Free the desire in your soul
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Let me take you to a place like no where else
Show you the things you never felt
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Let me love you.
Let me love you!
Show you what its like to lose control
Free the desire in your soul
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Let me take you to a place like no where else
Show you the things you never felt
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Oh, I love you.
Show you what its like to lose control
Free the desire in your soul
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Yeah, baby.
Let me take you to a place like no where else
Show you the things you never felt
Oh, oh, let me love you.
Let me love you.
Let me love you.
Let me love you.
Let me love you.
***
Brian led Justin into the bedroom. After closing the door, they began to undress each other. Brian gently laid Justin on the bed and prepared to enter him.
“Brian, wait! We don’t have a condom.”
Looking deep into Justin’s eyes, “Do we need one?”
Justin’s eyes filled with tears, “No, Brian, we don’t.”
For the first time, the two men made love with no barriers on their hearts, their souls, or their bodies.
***
Brian awoke several hours later to the cries of a small kitten on the other side of the door. He paddled across the room to let Shadow into his bedroom. Making his way back to the bed, he found Justin awake, watching him.
“You’re a softy, Brian Kinney.”
“Well, this is his room too. We’re going to have to find a bigger place.”
“What’s wrong with this place?”
Shadow finished in his box and leaped onto the bed to wind himself around Brian’s legs. Chuckling at the small kitten, “This place is too small for us three men. Besides, we’ll need room for Gus when he visits.”
“Well, they are building new lofts downtown.”
Looking down at his lover, Brian could only kiss him, “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Shadow purred as the two men fell asleep.
The End