CHAPTER 9

“How’s are things going,” Ben asked as he walked up to Brian and handed him a coffee, “I can tell just by looking at you that Justin got in safely.”

“That obvious,” Brian asked as he accepted the hot drink.

“Considering that you don’t look like you slept at all, and if you did it was very little,” Ben said smiling.

“Don’t go there,” Brian, countered knowing where Ben’s thoughts were going, “We haven’t done anything yet, and I don’t think we are going to do anything.”

“Hold up, you told me when we got back from Aspen that the two of you had gotten very close, and I had assumed that since you were living together for the summer that you were definitely going to be sleeping together.”

“Shit, I don’t know,” Brian sighed, “don’t get me wrong, I want to sleep with him so bad I can taste it.  Ben you should see the piece he’s working on for his gallery meeting on Monday.  He wants marriage, and I don’t know if I can give that to him.  Being a military spouse is hard work, and I don’t want him to feel like an obligation.  Besides I think I’m falling in love with him, and I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Ben almost spit out his coffee, “Did you just say that you think you are falling in love with him?”

“Yeah,” Brian said as he flipped open his books, “how did you know you were in love with Michael?”

“I don’t know how to describe it, but I knew I had never felt that way about anyone before,” Ben answered as he opened his own books and prepared for another boring history of flight lecture.

~~~~~~~~~

“How was the flight,” Michael asked as he walked to his class at Carnegie.

“Tiring,” Justin sighed as he sat down on the large sofa, “I will have to send you pictures of our place.  It’s amazing.”

“I’m going to try and get out there at the end of the session.  Ben isn’t taking classes next month, and he wanted me to come out there and spend a few weeks.”

“That would be awesome.  I really want you to come and see the gallery I’m working at as well.”

“Cool, you sound like you have been awake all night so I’m assuming that means things are going well with Brian?”

“Don’t think it.  We haven’t slept together.  I showed him that piece with the hands.  He stared at it for a long time, but it was almost as if he was thinking what it meant for us.  I know it didn’t scare him but it made him think; besides I’m falling in love with him, and the last thing I want to happen is for him to get hurt.  How did you know when you were falling in love with Ben?”

“Let’s just say that you know, and you are willing to turn the world for that person.  I just got to class and you know how Dr. McKenzie is about cell phones.  I’ll call you back.” Michael said as he sat down in lecture.

“Later,” Justin said as he heard the phone click shut.  He had no idea how he was going to tell Brian.

~~~~~~~~~

As soon as Justin had gotten off the phone with Michael, he had decided to check in with the gallery while Brian was in class.  The layout had been all wrong than he had expected for his first show, and he had at least 3 hours of layouts to do if he wanted to spend anytime with his boyfriend.  He sighed as he walked in the loft.  Traffic had been hell, and all he wanted to do was eat dinner and sleep in Brian’s arms. 

“Hey, why don’t you go change and meet me on the terrace.  The burgers are done, and it’s such a nice night I thought we could eat out there.”

“Okay,” Justin replied.  Once he had finished changing, clothes he was joined Brian on the terrace.  The evening was cool, and since they had not had a chance to buy a table and chairs Brian had taken a few blankets, a large futon cushion, and some throw pillows and made a sitting area.  “What goes along with the burgers,” he asked after meeting Brian on the porch.

“Chips and soda,” Brian smirked, “Grab a plate.”

After they had finished eating both men settled into a routine.  Justin went back out to the porch to work on his layouts, and Brian finished his flight history assignments.  About midnight, Justin was standing looking over the railing into the night as Brian wrapped his arms and a blanket around him from behind and whispered, “Are you okay?”

“Just thinking about how wonderful it is to be in your arms,” Justin replied as he leaned into Brian’s warm embrace.  “I already wish I could stay longer than the two months.”

“Why don’t you,” Brian asked, “You have more than enough places that you can finish school, and the gallery is most likely going to want to keep you on full time.”

“But what about…,” Justin was cut off.

“Just think about it,” Brian whispered as he guided Justin to face him. “I want what is best for you, and I don’t want to force you into anything.”

“I know,” Justin sighed as he brushed his hand along Brian’s face.

Brian shivered slightly at the touch as he pulled Justin closer to him and whispered, “I want you close to me.”

“I want you completely,” Justin replied as he kissed Brian deeply.

~~~~~~~~~

They continued to kiss softly and passionately as they undressed one another.  They had only seen each other halfway naked, and they both tenderly caressed each inch of unseen skin as if to understand one another’s bodies inside and out.  Justin continued to run his fingers down Brian’s spine as he felt his erection grow harder with every kiss Brian gave him.  He let out a soft moan as he felt Brian’s own hard on brush against his as he laid him back onto the bed.  They kissed and touched every inch one another for what seemed like hours savoring the tastes and absorbing the feel of each other’s bare skin.  Justin moaned softly and gripped the pillow with his hands as lubed fingers gently opened him up.   He tensed slightly with the intrusion, but quickly relaxed as Brian’s eyes met his own as if to ask if he was okay.  Justin shivered slightly as he rolled the condom onto his boyfriend’s dick and whispered, “Just go slow.”

“I promise,” Brian whispered as he massaged Justin’s hips slowly giving him some time to adjust to the intrusion before he removed his fingers and slowly entered him.  Once he felt himself fill Justin completely, he gently placed one hand on his and sighed.  As they got into a steady rhythm, Brian kissed Justin’s neck as he leaned into him.  As Justin met each thrust, Brian began to speed up ever so slightly.  Justin sighed as he felt Brian’s fingers run through his hair and caress his skin. His own fingers grasped Brian’s as one hand casually caressed his skin.  Their rhythm together was perfect each matching thrust for thrust.  Brian sighed as he continued to thrust deeply into Justin hitting his prostate stroke for stroke plunging his boyfriend into ecstasy.  Justin mumbled incoherently as his orgasm shook his body pulling Brian over the edge.

As his breathing slowly returned to normal Brian whispered, “I love you.”

“I love you,” Justin whispered as he snuggled into Brian’s grasp.

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