* Search for Missing Treasure *

Justin walked into his flat and sat his books and portfolio down. Grabbing a drink, he turned on his computer. He was expecting an email from Michael on the last batch of pictures he had sent for the latest edition of Rage. Going into the bedroom, he removed his shoes and returned to the computer. He couldn't help the smile that spread over his face. Not only was the expected letter from Michael there along with other emails from his friends and family, but there was also one from Brian and one from Vassili.

Saving those two for last, he read and responded back to the others first. Finally he opened the one from Brian.

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To: JusTaylor@yahoo.com

From: Bkinney@earthlink.net

Hey Sunshine,

How's it going? Fucked any good-looking guys lately? I landed that account I told you about and got an extra windfall. They were so impressed with the ad campaign that they sent a couple of their cronies my way. Of course I made sure that they all signed the same type of contract that Browns Athletics did. At this rate, Vance will have to make me a full partner or risk me leaving, starting my own company, and taking my accounts with me. Of course this is cutting into my club time. I've only been making it to Babylon and Woody's about four times this week. Speaking of which, Sap has gotten some new dancers and you should see them.

Rage is doing really well over here. You should be getting a check from Mikey soon for the last two issues. I told him he better get his butt in gear and get you your money. You should have seen his face. I then pointed out that just because you had a full scholarship, it didn't give you money to live on.

Gus misses you. I try and go over there once a week and spend time with him. The first thing he does every time is show me the latest book, drawing, or gift that you've sent him. He's always asking about you. Should I be jealous? I've answered as much of his questions as I could. Unfortunately Lindsey heard me and began to question me about how I knew so much. I finally told her that we had been emailing each other. She just smiled that smile I hate and nodded her head as if she knew something that I hadn't told her.

Well, I gotta go.

Brian

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Justin saved the letter and opened Vassili's.

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To: JusTaylor@yahoo.com

From: VasG@sovietworld.net

Hi Justin,

Obviously I made it back all right. You wouldn't believe the mess that greeted me when I got back. Several paintings were delivered for me while I was away and then to top it all, the day before I got back, there was a fire in one of the wings of the museum. None of the paintings were burned, but several have water and heat damage. I'm going to be swamped for months trying to clean all this up. I hope things have been better for you.

I miss you

Vassili

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Justin contemplated the two letters. He knew that Vassili loved him but he also knew that Vassili knew he loved Brian. Reading both letters again, he was suddenly hit by their similarities.

Both men loved him, yet both men were making no claims, because they both were giving him this time to pursue this chance to be on his own, to make his own decisions, to become the man he wanted to be, while remaining in his life on the sidelines, always there to help if needed.

The shock of this realization hit him and he had to sit back and take a couple of deep breaths as he felt the tears fill his eyes. Calming down, a smile spread across his face as he realized what he had to do.

His letter to Vassili was easy.

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To: VasG@sovietworld.net

From: JusTaylor@yahoo.com

Hi Vassili,

That is terrible about the fire. You're so lucky that none of the paintings were lost. Are you going to be able to save the ones that were damaged? I'm glad you got home safely. Things have been about the same since you left. Going to classes, dinners at Bruce and Arden's, the usual stuff. Well, I need to go work on a project.

Can't wait for our summer trip.

Justin

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Next, Justin reread Brian's letter again then started his reply.

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To: Bkinney@earthlink.net

From: JusTaylor@yahoo.com

Hi Brian,

I knew you could do it! Congratulations! You deserve to be a full partner. That's what he should have made you in the first place. Just don't stretch yourself too thin and end up making yourself sick. I think you can survive missing a night or two at the clubs.

Thanks or talking to Michael about my part of the proceeds. Every little bit will help considering it's more expensive to live here then in the states. Especially since it's getting colder here and I'm going to need to get some more clothes.

Tell Gus hi for me and give him a big hug and a kiss for me too. I'm glad he still remembers me but for how long? I'm going to be gone a long time.

My classes are going really well. Several of my teachers have suggested I take pottery classes to help my hand. All that kneading and stuff. I went and checked it out and found that while my hand did tire and hurt a little bit afterward it was also pretty relaxing.

This has actually turned out to be a good thing though as they've announced that we all have to have no less then three items in the winter art show and they all have to be from three different art forms. So my drawing and painting is one, graphics would be the second and then pottery the third. I even have something already in mind. Can you guess what it is? My hands know it by memory.

Now to answer your first question. Yes I have! His name is Vassili and I met him in St. Petersburg. He is a restorationist and got invited to come here for three weeks. We had a blast and the sex was hot. You would have liked him. Hell! You would have liked to have fucked him. It's been quiet since he went home though. Well, I better get going. I've got a project due in a couple of days that I need to work on.

I miss you!

Justin

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Justin hit send before he lost his nerve and erased it all and started over, leaving out Vassili. Closing down the computer he went over to his easel and looked at the drawing he was working on. It was a still life and was due in two days. Closing his eyes, he smiled slightly and picked up his pencil, and continued his drawing of the bedroom at the loft; bed messed up but empty, clothes thrown everywhere. When he was done, he was going to cover it with a blue wash as if the lights were on. Before long he was deeply intranced in his work, the emails forgotten.

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Brian walked into the loft, dropped his briefcase by the desk, turned on his computer and went to go take a shower. It had been a stressful day full of meetings, and a hot shower, dinner and a trip to Babylon sounded like a good way to relax.

Stepping out of the shower, Brian dried off, slipped into his favorite black jeans and stood looking over his shirts as he tried to decide what to eat. Taking out his sleeveless black shirt, he smiled as he remembered how much Justin liked it. Of course one of the reasons he liked it so much was because of the snaps instead of buttons that made it so quick and easy to remove.

Putting on his shirt, he reached for the phone to order some Thai and walked toward his computer. Sitting down he quickly got rid of the junk, scanned some of the others and smiled when he finally came upon Justin's. Opening it, he read it still smiling. If anything, his smile got bigger over his excitement and concern about his job and him. Then his smile turned a little sad at Justin's concerns that Gus would forget him and he decided that he was going to have to call Justin sometime when he was with Gus so they could talk to each other.

When he got to the part about the pottery, he just knew Justin was talking about his dick. He couldn't help but laugh about this and knew he was going to have to talk to him about that. His laughter quickly faded though when a surge of jealousy and pain that raced through him when he read about Justin and Vassili. Deep inside, he knew that he had no right to feel this way. He and Justin weren't together and it wasn't as if he hadn't asked. He also knew that Justin knew that he was still tricking. Heck, even though he hadn't come right out and told him, he had hinted at it.

Just then the buzzer went off and Brian went to let in the delivery boy with his supper. Walking back over to the computer, he sat eating his food as he contemplated Justin's letter. Looking over at the phone, he sat his food down and began to dial.

He smiled when a sleep filled voice answered. "Hey Sunshine."

"Brian?" Justin asked, sitting up and looking over at his clock.

Brian looked at Justin's email and the name Vassili glared at him. "You were expecting someone else?"

Justin felt a thrill run through him at the hint of jealousy Brian hadn't been able to keep out of his voice. "No, I wasn't expecting anyone else. It's just been awhile since we talked. We've both been so busy."

Brian took a deep breath, picked back up his food and forced himself to relax. "So, what's this about making your own dildo of my dick? You sure you can get the proportions right?"

Justin laughed, leave it to Brian to jump on that first out of his letter. "I think so but you could always take some pictures of it and send them to me."

Brian grinned, "Pictures huh."

Justin smiled and bit his lip as his cock began to harden at the thought of Brian posing for those pictures. "Yeah, of course I'd need them from all angles." Justin said, his voice growing husky.

Brian heard the change in Justin's voice and felt himself begin to grow hard. Sitting down his food, he took the phone and placed it in his lap so that Justin would hear the pop of the button and the parting of his sipper as he released his hard-on. Bring the phone back up to his ear, he heard Justin's breath catch and grow slightly faster.

Stroking himself slowly, Brian asked, "What kind of angles, Justin. How would you like to see my dick. What kind of poses."

Justin began to stroke his cock as he thought about the pictures and knew that Brian was doing the same. "Well, I'd need one from both sides and the top and bottom. Of course you'd have to be hard. That way I can capture every ridge and vein. Especially the big one along the bottom that you that you like me to lick that leads straight to that wonderful head.

Brian groaned as he imagined Justin doing just that, right before he'd take him totally in his mouth. "I don't think that would be a problem. If I do this though, will I get some photos of that ass of yours? I especially want to see that tight little pucker of yours winking and glistening as if I'd just given you a rim job."

Justin began to stroke faster and said in an almost breathless voice. "Sure as long as I get some shots of your balls and the tip of your cock with your pre-cum bubbling out of the tip as if it was just waiting for me to taste it."

Brian sped up his strokes as he continued to imagine Justin blowing him. "What else do you want?" He all but groaned out.

Justin felt himself getting close. "I want…I want…Ah! Fuck the pictures! I want to feel your dick inside me right now. I want to…uhm…"

The sound of Justin reaching for his release as he told Brian what he wanted was pushing Brian closer. "Cum for me Justin, let me hear you cry out. I can see you now bucking into your hand as you reach for it. I can see…groan…I can see your dick swelling and your cum shooting out all over your chest, just begging for me to lick it clean."

Justin listened to Brian and knew that he was doing exactly what Brian was describing. "Brian…I…Oh God!"

Brian knew and saw Justin cumming in his mind and he thought about Justin's tight hole squeezing him, begging for his release as well.

Before Justin was finished, Brian had joined him. Together they tried to catch their breath so they could talk again. Brian looked around his desk and grabbed the napkins that had come with his take-out. Cleaning himself up, he heard russelling over the phone and knew that Justin was doing the same. Closing his pants, he glanced over at the letter again and hit delete before closing down his computer. Going over to his stash, he pulled out a joint and lit it. Inhaling deeply, he let the rest of his tension flow from hi body. When Justin had settled back down, Brian stretched out on the bed and began to talk to him about what was going on.

After about a half hour, Brian finally asked about Vassili. Justin described him and told Brian about how they had met. At first he felt the jealousy flow through him, but as Justin talked about him, he knew that Justin didn't love him, that he liked him as a friend, thought he was hot, and enjoyed having sex with him but that was it. He could tell that Justin was nervous about telling him all this, so he did what he did best, kept his questions and replies sexual and interested.

After Justin was finished talking about Vassili, he asked Brian about his recent conquests. Brian knew that it hurt Justin to hear about him with other men. "Justin, do you really want to know?"

Justin paused thinking before he answered. "Yeah, I think I do. I mean, I know it's going to hurt some but I know you. They don't mean anything to you and besides, I know that we're not together and you want us to become more like friends until I get home. I think that this might help in that. After all, isn't that one of the things friends talk about?"

Brian proceeded to tell Justin about the last couple of tricks but no more then that. After all there was hurting someone and being down right cruel.

When they finally said goodnight, both men felt pretty good. Justin snuggled back down under his blankets and was soon fast asleep with a smile on his face despite the fact that he was going to have to get up in a couple of hours. Brian looked at the clock, stood, removed his clothes, and crawled into bed. He still had time to hit Babylon but he was relaxed and no longer felt the need to go. Within minutes he too was asleep.

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The Winter Festival came and went and Justin was pleased with his projects. He was still keeping in touch with everyone back in Pittsburgh and Brian had even surprised him a couple of times by calling him while he was with Gus. Justin was also keeping in contact with Vassili and they had finalized their plans for the summer.

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Christmas came and as much as Bruce and Arden tried, it was still difficult for Justin. He missed his family and his friends terribly. He even missed the diner with it's noise and loud decorations. To keep himself from getting to depressed over it, he buried himself in his work and projects. He had made a few friends and that had helped some and he had even gone on a few dates but he still felt lonely.

Finally winter was over and spring arrived. The Beltane festival and spring art shows were scheduled and everywhere you looked around campus were easels and sketch pads among the people covering the lawns and gardens. In one of his emails to Brian, he described it as if the world suddenly woke up.

The night of the Beltane festival arrived and Justin went to Bruce and Arden's house to go with them to Carlton Hill to watch the procession and join in the festivities. Walking into the living room he sighed to find a nice looking young man waiting there. He knew that they meant well but he wished that Bruce and Arden would quit setting him up.

"Justin, have you met Quinn? He's just started here this semester."

Justin shook his head. "No, I haven't."

Bruce placed an arm around Arden's shoulders. "Justin Taylor, meet Quinn Ferguson. Quinn, Justin."

The two men shook hands and Justin couldn't keep his eyes from widening at the sudden tightening of his stomach muscles. Bruce watched and looked at Arden who was smiling over the introduction. "Well, lets go. I hope you don't mind Quinn joining us, and I shouldn't be surprised that you two haven't met since you're in different semesters."

Arden laughed as they walked toward Carlton Hill. "What he also hasn't told you is that he's another lost lamb that he found one day and suggested he apply here."

Justin looked at Quinn and saw the color stain his cheeks as he ducked his head. He also realized that they hadn't been setting him up with Quinn but were just trying to make him feel welcomed, as they had done for him by including him in things. "Don't worry," He leaned over and loudly whispered, "I'm one of those lost lambs too."

Quinn looked up and Justin was mesmerized by how green his eyes were. Justin smiled and received a big smile in return. Looking over at Bruce and Arden he asked, "So just what is the festival like? I mean, I know a little about Beltane but not much."

Just about that time drums began to beat and the procession began. Quinn watched Justin watch the procession and leaned over and began to tell him about it. "The procession is led by the May Queen and the gentleman beside her is the Green Man, her consort. Those four women are her Handmaidens and all those other women are her White Women Warriors who have to protect her from evil and to make sure that the progression of the seasons is done right and proper. Those three there are the Blue spirit guides.

Justin let the soft burr of Quinn's accent roll through him as he watched what was going on around him. Quinn continued. "After the May Queen reveals herself and crowns the Green Man on the Acropolis, the processional drummers will begin again, and they will move off counter-clockwise around the hill, passing under the fire arch symbolizing the entrance into the magical realms. They will then pass through sites representing the four elements which are populated by nymphs, goblins, sylphs and sprites."

As everyone began to move so they could see each area of the procession, Bruce and Arden separated from Justin and Quinn, both smiling at each other at the way Justin seemed engrossed by Quinn's narration.

Justin and Quinn didn't even notice as Quinn went on. "At each point, the inhabitants purify a space for the May Queen and Green Man to enter and provide a symbolic dance and music for their blessing. After the procession has passed through each site, the performers join on at the back until the collective entourage is almost a hundred strong.

When the circuit of the hill is almost complete, the court is ambushed by the Red Men and their Beastie Drummers who are spirits from the underworld. A standoff happens between them and the White Warriors as the Red Men attempt to distract the court from its task with lewd behavior and seductive rhythms. The Warriors focus proves too strong to be broken however and the Blue Men break up the confrontation, allowing the procession to move toward the hollow at the center of the hill."

Justin watched everything happen just the way Quinn described it and knew that he was going to have to draw some of this when he got back to his flat. As Quinn continued, he felt Justin lean toward him to hear him better and he leaned as well until they were touching. Looking back at the procession, he continued, his heart beating as hard as the drums were from the closeness of the blond man.

"Within a circle made by the performers, the Green Man is ritually killed by the Handmaidens and stripped of his winter ivy. The May Queen then brings him back to life in his Spring guise, and after dancing wildly, he is married to her and summer can officially begin. They will then go to the bonfire and light it from the Need Fire, going around it three times clockwise. With their duty done, the court will retire to the Bower to be entertained by the elements."

Justin and Quinn watched as the fire point crew and the Red Men form a second fire kindled from the first in a mad dance. "Come on." Quinn whispered grabbing Justin's hand and walking with him between the fires. "Now we are purified." He couldn't help but laugh.

As everyone gather on the other side of the fires they waited for the last performance to begin. "Now the Red Men will approach the bower and successfully seduce the White Women into dance. Once that is done, the show is over but the music and dancing and all that goes with Beltane will continue until dawn."

Justin watched as the players spread out among the audience and began placing wreaths and garlands of greens and flowers among them. One young lady came up and placed a wreath of flowers and greens on Justin's head and a wreath of greens on Quinn's before moving on.

"Come on! Let's dance!" Quinn hollered, pulling Justin behind him to where everyone was dancing wildly about.

Justin couldn't help but laugh at his antics and joined in. After about fifteen minutes of heavy dancing, both decided to strip off their shirts like so many of the other were doing and find something to drink. Finding a spot a little away from the roaring fires, they settled on the grass.

"Tomorrow they will have the Maypole dances. You do know what Beltane is don't you? I mean not the procession but what most people think it is?" Quinn asked.

Justin took a drink of his beer and nodded before answering. "Yes, it's a fertility holiday. Fertility for the land, the livestock, and the people."

Quinn nodded, "Yes but is also a wedding and a return of vitality, of passion. It is the one night of the year that married people can remove their wedding bands and all that they imply without suffering any consequences. It's a time for wild and passionate sex."

Justin looked around and noticed that while there were a lot of people dancing and some just sitting around watching and talking, there were also quite a few people making out. Looking more closely, he noticed people leaving and others arriving, all with the aura of sex about them. Turning to Quinn, he started to say something but couldn't as Quinn kissed him. Justin couldn't believe the instant hardening of his cock from such a simple kiss.

As Quinn backed up, Justin looked at him and Quinn was suddenly afraid that maybe he had overstepped himself. "Come on." He said, draining the last of his beer and standing, holding out his hand to Justin. "Let's dance some more."

Justin looked up at Quinn and setting his cup aside, took his hand. Together they walked back to the bonfires and joined in with the other dancers. Justin watched Quinn as he got into the drumming music and grew harder at the sight he was given.

Quinn danced with the fire to his back, the fire turning his auburn hair to flames, his head was slightly thrown back and his eyes were closed. His bare chest gleamed in the firelight and Justin felt the need to draw him but at the same time, he wanted to kiss him. Quinn opened his eyes and Justin was startled by their green intensity.

Justin stopped dancing without breaking eye contact and walked up to Quinn who had also stopped, and kissed him. Where Quinn's earlier kiss was gentle and tentative, Justin's was consuming like the fire that burned beside them.

Quinn knew he could stop the kiss if he wanted to but with Justin's hands on either side of his face he felt impossible to do so, not that he wanted to in the first place. Instead he felt almost trapped and consumed. He couldn't stop the groan that escaped him. Holding onto the waist of Justin's pants, he returned the kiss hungrily and rubbed his cloth covered hard on against Justin's.

When they finally broke the kiss, both were panting with need. "Come on." Justin said, grabbing Quinn's hand has he all but ran to where their shirts laid on the ground, stopping only long enough to scoop them up and continued to lead Quinn away from the festival.

Quinn never asked where they were going and continued to be quiet the whole way up the stairs to Justin's flat. Once inside, Justin threw their shirts to a nearby chair, turned and kissed Quinn again as he began to undo his pants. Quinn quickly removed his shoes and Justin pushed his pants down.

Justin stepped back and looked at Quinn's naked form. "One of these days I want to draw you but for now, I'm going to fuck you. I'm going to fuck you the rest of the night and into the morning."

Quinn's cock jumped at Justin's words and he closed his eyes to fight the feeling that he was about to cum, just from Justin looking at him. When he opened his eyes, it was to find that Justin had removed the rest of his clothes and was standing there, waiting for Quinn.

Once Justin saw Quinn's eyes open, he reached out a hand, wrapped it around his neck and pulled Quinn in for another deep probing kiss that made Quinn groan again with the need that was threatening to up do him at any moment of Justin didn't do something.

Justin turned them around so that he was facing the bedroom and began to walk them toward the bed. Once they reached the bed, Justin broke off the kiss again and began to stroke his hands down Quinn's chest before he pushed him down on the bed. Quinn grabbed Justin's waist and held him still as he bent down and took Justin's cock into his mouth. Justin laid his head back as he enjoyed the feeling of his cock in Quinn's hot wet mouth. He continued to let Quinn suck his cock until he felt the need to fuck his face, then he stopped him.

Quinn looked up in confusion as to why Justin had stopped him but the answer was there on his face. Without a word Quinn scooted back on the bed as Justin followed him. Justin hovered above Quinn for a minute before he lowered himself down for another kiss. While they kissed he reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the lube and a condom. Slowly he began to kiss his way down his neck, where he stopped to nibble and suck until Quinn moaned and began to squirm. Leaving the neck, he kissed his way down to one nipple where he sucked it into his mouth as he teased it with his tongue. When Quinn arched up at Justin, he moved over to the other nipple and with his hands, grabbed Quinn's hips and held him down.

Quinn began to pant and tried to watch Justin but knew that if Justin didn't fuck him soon he was going to go crazy. Taking his hands he grabbed Justin's head and when he had his attention he said, "Fuck me! For pities sake fuck me now! We can go slower the next time!"

Justin smiled up into Quinn's face, squirted some lube into his hands and pushed a finger into Quinn's waiting ass. At the feel of the intrusion, Quinn released Justin's face, threw back his head and sighed. Justin made quick work of preparing Quinn and had to smile at the moan that came out of him when he removed his fingers. Quickly Justin rolled on the condom as he raised Quinn's legs to his shoulders and slowly pushed into Quinn. When he was all the way in, he couldn't keep from smiling at Quinn's hissing "Yes."

Justin started out with a slow rhythm as he bent over and kissed Quinn. Quinn moaned at the sensation his cock being trapped between their bodies as Justin pumped into him. Together they explored what they could with their hands, finding spots that made the other groan and moan as they continued to move together. Soon, Justin felt the need to speed up and leaning away from Quinn, began to pump his leaking cock and he pumped harder and faster into him. Within moments, Quinn arched up and cried out has he came in hard spurts that covered his chest. Quinn's hole clenching around his cock was just enough to make Justin cry out as well and fill the condom with his cum.

Collapsing on top of Quinn, he laid there as they both tried to catch their breaths. Quinn slowly reached up and wrapped his arms around Justin's still trembling body. Justin laid there and enjoyed the feeling of being held before raising up and withdrawing his cock from Quinn's ass and disposing of the condom. Looking over at Quinn, he arched his brows and smiled, "So, I can explore your body later huh?"

Quinn smiled back. "Absolutely, as long as you do that to me again."

Justin rolled over on top of him, still smiling. "Oh, I don't think that will be a problem."

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Justin was true to his word and he fucked, sucked, and rimmed Quinn the rest of the night and into the morning before either one fell into a deep sleep. When Justin finally awoke, it was with a smile on his face and a long satisfying stretch. Looking over, he expected to find Quinn, only to find that he was alone. At first it upset him, but then he decided that it was for the best. The last thing he needed was a boyfriend and he would have to make sure that Quinn knew that.

Rising, he took a long hot shower, dressed and went into his living room where he grabbed his sketch pad and went outside to do some drawings from the festival. He had promised Bruce and Arden he would come over for dinner and tell them what he thought of Beltane. He smiled as he thought of the night before and continued his drawing until it was time for him to go. It was while he was on his way to their house that he ran into Quinn.

"Hey Quinn," Justin said, deciding that he was going to go ahead and get it over with.

"Hey Justin," Quinn smiled but saw the expression on Justin's face. Before Justin could say anything he continued. "Look about last night. It was Beltane. A night for sex and passion remember. I want you to know, I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now. I…I just got to school and I really need to concentrate on that. I could however really use a friend."

Justin stared at Quinn for several minutes before smiling back at Quinn. He didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed. Finally he decided that he would just be happy. "That's great. To be honest I was going to tell you the same thing."

Together they laughed and made their way to Bruce and Arden's for dinner. Over the following months, Justin and Quinn could be found in each other's company but they never repeated their night of Beltane, choosing to keep it strictly at a friendship level.

What Justin didn't know was that Quinn watched him and sighed when he was alone, wondering just how long he was going to have wait before Justin decided that he wanted more then friendship.

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"So Sunshine," Brian panted trying to catch his breath. "Are you and Vassili all set to meet up?"

Justin continued to catch his breath, amazed that after almost 8 months, that Brian could still make him cum so hard just over the phone. "Yeah, we're going to meet up in Lisbon, then take the train into Spain. We both want to get somewhere warm as soon as we can."

"Hum, two weeks backpacking around Spain. Sounds like fun." Brian said with a touch of sarcasm.

Justin laughed, "Not everyone is as spoiled and pampered as you are."

Brian grinned, "Just because I'd rather drive in an air conditioned car instead of walking or riding in a rickety old bus doesn't mean I'm spoiled or pampered. I noticed that you're not camping out or staying in hostels."

Justin continued smiling, "Well, we all do like a few comforts. Since Rage is doing so well and Michael has stayed on top of getting my money to me on a regular basis, we were able to pool our money and stay at some of the nicer hotels."

"So, after two weeks trudging around Spain, I bet your going to love coming home." Brian said planning on asking Justin if he wanted to stay with him instead of at his mom's.

Justin quit smiling. "Uh…Brian…"

Brian didn't like the way Justin had suddenly gotten quiet or the seriousness of his voice when he finally spoke. "You're not coming home." He suddenly knew.

Justin sighed. "No I'm not. I've been looking over my options and I've decided to take classes straight through. I know it means I won't be able to come home for the summer, but it means that I will finish in two years instead of three. Three years is just too long to be living in a foreign country."

Brian shut his eyes and thought about what he wanted to say and how much he wanted Justin to come home.

When Brian didn't say anything, Justin continued. "I've made several friends here and Bruce and Arden are great, but it's just not the same. If I were going to college anywhere in the states, it would be different. I'd be home almost every holiday and people could come visit on a whim and it wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to do it. I miss Pittsburgh. Emails, letters, photos, and phone calls are great but they can't take the place of seeing, talking and spending time with the people you care for. I…I hope you understand."

Brian did understand. "Yeah Sunshine, I do. It's the same here believe me. That's why everyone was so excited about you coming home. They'll understand though. You need to do what's best for you."

Justin heard the disappointment in Brian's voice even though he had tried to hide it. "Do you really?"

Brian sighed. "Yes Justin. I mean it. So tell me, what else have you been up too?"

Brian sat and listened as Justin filled him in on the past few weeks and couldn't keep the smile off his face as he noticed a few Gaelic words being used, or that his voice was taking on a slight burr. Of course he knew this was only natural, but thought it was cute and sexy. Not that he would ever tell him that. It was only after they had said goodnight and he was thinking over their conversation, that he realized the name Quinn had come up quite a few times. He wondered if it was the same Quinn that Justin had told him about from that festival awhile back. He was glad that Justin had finally made a good friend over there but couldn't stop the sinking feeling in his stomach. Of course he knew he was being silly since he and Justin were just friends, but it still didn't stop him from feeling that there was something else. He knew he couldn't begrudge Justin for falling in love with someone else. Especially since he knew how lonely he was. He would just have to wait and see what happened. Then he would just have to learn to live with it and continue to be there for him. Reaching over he put out his cigarette, turned out the light, and tried to get some sleep.

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