Eternal Triangle

Dream Weaver

Brian and Justin left Kinnetik in search of a restaurant that was still open. They finally found an all-night deli and ordered their food. They collected their orders and sat at a table near the window.

"So Justin, what the hell has been going on?

Justin fidgeted with his fork, avoiding the level hazel gaze. "What do you mean, Brian? Nothing's been going on."

"Don't give me any crap, Justin. Hell, even Ted and Emmett were giving me the third degree tonight about your disappearance from around Liberty Avenue. Debbie chewed me a new asshole about the way you look." Brian leaned over, grabbing Justin's chin and forcing him to meet his eyes, "Everyone's noticed how tired you are and how much weight you've lost. Now, cut the bullshit and tell me."

Justin jerked his chin away from Brian's fingers, "I've just been busy, that's all. Don't worry about me, Brian. You have enough on your plate."

"Lay off the fucking martyr syndrome, Sunshine. It's not a good look for you."

When Justin remained silent, Brian decided to try a different tactic. He asked casually, "How are the plans coming for our trip to London? I've finalized the reservations for the hotel and with the airlines." He ignored the surprised look on the blond's face and teased him gently, "We leave on April 6th and return on the 16th. That gives you nine days to plan for. Think you can handle it?"

Justin was confused by the change in topic; Brian and he had barely spoken to each other for weeks, then suddenly they were talking about their vacation plans? He cautiously probed, "Umm, Brian? Are you sure you still want to go? I mean, we haven't exactly been…"

The brunet leaned forward, a serious look on his handsome face, "Look, Justin. I know the shit regarding Michael has caused friction between us. I appreciate the patience you've shown, even if he doesn't." Brian smiled faintly at the look of gratitude that comment garnered and continued, "I'm promising you this-and you know I don't make promises lightly-from now on, Michael won't be as involved with our lives as he has in the past. It's time I talk to him-he needs to move on."

"Brian, I realize this has been a difficult time for him and he needs his friends… it's just that…" Justin paused, wanting to organize his thoughts so he could make Brian understand, "I like Michael… well… mostly…" The young man grinned mischievously, "But I like you better-I've missed you, missed spending time alone with you-and I don't mean just for sex, either."

A warm look passed between the two men, then Brian reminded him, "The plans, Justin?"

Justin snickered, "Well, to be honest, I haven't done a damn thing on them since I moved back in with Daph. Guess I have my work cut out for me, huh?" He hesitated then asked, "Do you really think we'll get to go? I mean, nothing's going to come up…"

"Nothing will. I promise."

The lovers chatted idly as they finished their food, discussing the different tourist sights they would want to see on their vacation. As Justin collected the trash onto the tray, Brian whispered seductively, "So, Sunshine, have anything special planned for tonight?"

Justin shot a glance at Brian; he knew that look. His heart sped up as he answered, "No."

"I can change that."

They left the deli and walked the couple of blocks back to Kinnetik, picking up Brian's car from the parking lot there. On the way to the loft, Justin leaned his head against the headrest and closed his eyes, content for the moment. Brian had promised him that they would be together more, sans Michael.

"Brian, you know that it's okay if Michael's around some-I know he's your best friend and all, but I just need to have some boundaries drawn where he's concerned." Justin opened his eyes and tilted his head, watching as Brian maneuvered the 'Vette through the Pittsburgh streets. He smirked and said, "Maybe you can set up a 'date night' with him, say, once a week or so."

"Brat."

They were soon standing in front of the door to the loft. Justin bounced impatiently as he waited for Brian to unlock the door and disarm the alarm. As soon as the door slid shut, he found himself pinned between Brian's hard body and the cold metal of the door. Nimble fingers worked the zipper on his jacket as a pair of warm lips attacked him, nipping and suckling along his neck. "God, Brian, I've missed this… missed you…"

Brian lifted his head and smiled as he reached for the hem of Justin's tight tee shirt. He slid his hands beneath the soft fabric, seeking the supple skin underneath. He slowly slipped his fingers over taut stomach muscles, enjoying the look of bliss that gradually came over the blond's face.

Justin gasped as the tee shirt was abruptly pulled over his head and Brian's mouth latched onto his nipple. He blindly reached up and tangled his fingers through the auburn hair, pulling the man closer to his chest as he lapped at the taut peak. He flinched slightly as a cool hand wrapped itself around his straining cock-when had Brian unfastened his jeans?-and moaned quietly as it slowly worked its way up and down the length. A thumb edged across the sensitive head, smearing the drop of precum that had beaded there. "Bri… please, Bri… bed-I want you… fuck me…"

The brunet raised his mouth slightly, whispering, "Hush, Justin," then began ghosting kisses down his stomach as the man slowly lowered himself to his knees. "Relax, baby, and let me do this…" A pair of hands quickly pulled the snug jeans down over the rounded butt, freeing Justin's erection, then Brian engulfed the entire length with his mouth.

Brian peeked up at Justin through his lashes as he released the hard cock, then ran his tongue along the warm skin underneath. He held the twitching hips still with his hands and teased at the dripping slit with the tip of his tongue. Wincing slightly as the blond tightened his grip in his hair, he leisurely maneuvered his finger between the globes of Justin's ass, sliding it across the puckered opening there.

Stuttering, Justin tried to warn his lover, "Bri… an, I'm about to… ahh… BRIAN…" He screamed as the finger plunged into his welcoming warmth, causing his balls to tighten. He felt his knees weaken as his orgasm hit, thankful for the tight hold of the other man's hands. Brian swallowed around his cock as cum spurted down his throat, milking Justin's erection for every drop.

When Justin stopped shuddering his release, Brian gently released his softened penis and nuzzled his nose in the soft curly hairs at his groin, breathing Justin's scent in deeply. Dropping a kiss on the sensitive head, Brian stood up and gathered the still-trembling young man in a tight embrace, swooping down to capture Justin's luscious mouth in a hard kiss. He finally lifted his head and growled, "Bed… now, Sunshine… I'm going to fuck you… so hard…"

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Justin stretched languidly on the mattress, enjoying the well-fucked sensations that flooded his body. He turned his head on his pillow and watched as his lover slept. Body relaxed in sleep, Brian had a look of contentment on his face-hell, they were both glad they had gotten past their latest relationship hurdle. Justin moved closer to the warm body at his side, wrapping his arm across the other man's waist and placed his head on the nearby shoulder. The blond laid there, happy to listen to the steady beat of the heart under his ear and soon followed his lover into sleep.

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June 19, 1584-Tremont Estate-outside London, England

The Earl of Tremont urged his mount into a run, wanting to feel the wind rushing against his hot face. He was headed toward his private retreat, a place he fled to when he felt the need to escape the pressures of his responsibilities. Blaise had spent the morning locked up with his estate managers, and he needed time to himself.

Slowing the racing stallion as they reached the overgrown glen, Tremont glanced about, sensing something was wrong. He cautiously dismounted and led the horse to the edge of the pond, allowing the winded animal time to drink, then tied the reins to a tree limb. Spotting fresh footprints in the damp soil, he stood with his back to the pond, hand casually resting on the hilt of his sword, eyes rapidly scanning the surrounding woods.

Nothing happened. Deciding that whoever had been there earlier was probably long gone, he removed his sword, then methodically began stripping off his clothes, lying them in a neat pile on a large rock. He waded into the cool water until it reached his waist, then dove in, skimming across the surface of the water in smooth strokes. Once his initial restlessness had dissipated, he rolled over and floated on his back, enjoying the feel of the sun on his skin.

Blaise exited the water, strode over to his clothing, grabbing his linen shirt and began toweling himself off. As he spread the shirt out to dry, he heard a muffled sneeze somewhere to his right. In one smooth move, he had his sword out of the scabbard and was pointing it in the direction where the sound had come from. Raising his voice so it would carry, he ordered, "Show yourself and I might let you live."

A grimy, thin figure slowly stumbled out of the underbrush, head lowered and clasping a dirty bundle of clothing close to its chest. As the person cleared the brush, he raised his head proudly and said, "I'm sorry. I meant no harm, I was just…" The voice faltered and a shoulder was raised in a shrug. The young blond was clearly tense and looked as if he was ready to run at a moment's notice.

Tremont was surprised-the cultured tone of the voice warred with the appearance of the young boy. This was obviously no peasant or vagabond on the run from the law. He studied the youth for a moment, then decided that he posed no threat to him and lowered the sword.

Jerome breathed a sigh of relief-the man before him was an imposing sight even without his clothing. He took a step backward, stammering, "I… I apologize for… startling you. When I heard the hoof beats, I… I thought it might be my father's… I'll just be going…"

"Wait. What's your name, whelp?"

Jerome hesitated-he didn't think this man was one of his father's men, but he couldn't be sure. "Umm, Jerome, sir."

"Do you know whose land you're trespassing on?" Blaise was intrigued with the slight youth. He appeared to be about fourteen or fifteen but held himself with confidence, despite his current condition. "How old are you, boy?"

"Seventeen, sir and," Jerome glanced around, hating to admit he didn't have the slightest idea where he was, but reluctantly continued, "I don't know who owns this estate." He rushed on, "I haven't been poaching or anything, sir. I just wanted…"

"You are on La Terre de la Liberté, the Earl of Tremont's main estate." Blaise narrowed his eyes-the boy had paled when he learned his location. This Jerome had clearly heard of him and seemed to be hiding something.

Jerome closed his eyes, 'Shite, things have just gone from bad to worse.' His father, Christopher Tailor, Count Schillingswood, and the Earl of Tremont were bitter enemies. The count, impoverished due to his gambling habits, resented the apparent ease in which Tremont lived his life. The man appeared to have it all-money, land, power as well as the ear of the queen. Jerome opened his blue eyes and once again began to edge away from the still-nude man, "I've… I've heard of him, as well as his temper. Please sir, allow me to leave without informing the Earl of my presence," he pleaded.

Tremont considered what the boy had said-and didn't say. He hadn't recognized Blaise; that could work to his advantage. "Er, Jerome, isn't it?" At the boy's nod, he continued, "I won't say anything to the Earl, for now." He smiled faintly at the look of relief that came across the youth's face, adding, "You look as if you haven't eaten or slept in days. There is a cottage nearby where you can get some food and rest. It's unoccupied at the present time-you can stay there tonight and we'll decide tomorrow what you should do."

"But what about the Earl? Won't he be angry if you let me remain?"

"No. I'm the… gamekeeper for the estate; he won't question my actions." Blaise began pulling on his clothing as he spoke. Once he was dressed, he held out his hand, "Come, boy. We'll both ride Hades here over to the cottage-you're so slight, he won't even notice the added weight."

Jerome looked between the offered hand and the large black stallion. He had never been good at riding-it was just one of the many reasons his father had beaten him. The blond peered into the hazel eyes gazing back at him and a sense of security swept over him. It wasn't rational, but he felt that this man would keep him safe, no matter what. Jerome slowly extended his own hand and placed it into the other man's, jumping as a jolt of electricity shot up his arm and through his body. 'What the hell was that?'

Tremont drew in a sharp breath-the tingling in his hand was unexpected. This small blond was nothing like the men he was normally attracted to. He looked deeply into the surprised blue eyes-yes, this whelp had felt it too. The situation was rapidly becoming complicated.

The taller man stepped forward, wrapping his large hands around Jerome's slender waist and tossed him easily onto the back of the waiting horse. Blaise mounted the stallion, settling his lanky body flush against the back of the youth's, then turned the horse toward the cottage. As they rode, his cock started to stir as he silently enjoyed the feel of the warm body in front of him. Blaise looked down at the bright head and thought, 'Well, this should prove interesting.' He smiled into the soft hair, anticipation growing with each step the horse took.

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March 21, 2007-Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Brian's warm hazel eyes fluttered open the next morning and darted around the bedroom, finally coming to rest on the seated figure at the end of the bed. Justin was happily sitting there, nude, legs crossed underneath his body and fingers flying across the page in front of him. The auburn-haired man smirked-he had lost count of the number of times he had woken up to this familiar sight-the young artist sketching his favorite subject.

He slowly sat up, wincing slightly as his muscles protested the vigorous workout they had received the night before. "Morning Sunshine."

"Good morning to you, sleepyhead. Coffee's on and breakfast is almost ready." Justin closed his sketchbook and leaned over, softly kissing the raspberry colored lips in front of him. He rolled off the edge of the bed and reached for his jeans, pulling them on and fastening them as he stepped down the stairs into the main room of the loft. Deciding not to put on a shirt, he moved into the kitchen and finished the food he had started earlier.

Brian came into the kitchen, clad in a pair of gray sweats and an old tee shirt, just as the blond was placing the eggs and sausage onto plates. "Hmm, smells good." He poured two cups of coffee and carried them over to the dining room table while Justin brought their plates and some utensils. They had just sat down and started eating when the door to the loft slid open and Michael entered, calling, "Brian, you here?"

"We're in here, Mikey."

"We're…?" Michael walked into the dining area and flinched, obviously not expecting to see Justin sitting there. "What are you doing here?"

The young man looked down at his breakfast and smirked, "Umm, eating?"

Michael harrumphed and said, "No, I mean… ah, fuck… never mind."

Brian glanced over at his friend, asking, "What are you doing here this early, Michael?" The other man looked upset and Brian hoped there wouldn't be a scene-the peace between Justin and him was still too fragile to handle much stress without breaking.

"I was hoping we could spend the day together… you know, maybe take in a movie or something." Michael paused when he spotted the look that passed between the two lovers. "Unless, of course, you've made other plans…"

"Umm, I don't…"

"No, that sounds like a good plan." Justin smiled at Brian's surprised look and continued, "I have some things I need to do today. I want to stop by the apartment and pick up a few things…"

Brian interrupted him, "While you're there, why don't you get all your shit." He nodded slightly as Justin shot him a questioning look. "It's about time, don't you think?" The brunet relaxed when a megawatt smile flashed across the other man's face and turned back to his friend, "Well Mikey, it looks like it's you and me today. Just give me a minute to finish eating and take a shower, okay?"

The two men ate as Michael chattered on about the different movies that were out. When Justin finished his food, he got up from the table and carried his dirty dish into the kitchen then went into the bedroom to dress. Brian soon entered and took him into a loose embrace, "Are you okay with today, Justin? I don't want you to feel…"

Justin stopped the flow of words by lightly placing two fingers onto the brunet's lips, "I said it was okay, and it is. I really do have things I need to get done and you said you wanted to talk to Michael. This seems to be working out for the best."

Justin intended to track down Mysterious Marilyn and talk to her about the dreams he had been having, as well as hit the bookstore for some information about London for their upcoming vacation. On top of all that, because of Brian's invitation, he had to go over to Daphne's, pack up his stuff, and bring it back to the loft. He reached up and kissed Brian's mouth then extracted himself from the other man's arms. Justin searched for his shirt-now where had they tossed it last night?-ah, there it was. He pulled it over his head, slipped his shoes on and smiled, "Okay, I'm outta here. Later."

Brian stood at the top of the stairs, watching as his young lover collected his jacket and left the loft. He called out, "Mikey, I'm gonna take a shower. I'll be out in a few minutes, alright?"

"Sure, Brian."

When he heard the water in the shower start, Michael began moving restlessly about the loft, thinking, 'Goddamnit anyhow. That fucking little twat is back. Brian obviously asked him this morning to move back into the loft. I've got to do something.' He flopped down onto the couch and began making his plans to get Brian away from the blond artist.

When Brian reappeared in the room about twenty minutes later, wearing a pair of jeans and a cream colored turtleneck, Michael carefully looked him over and thought, 'Yes, whatever I have to do to get him, he's worth it.' He stood up and smiled as the man he loved said, "So, Mikey, ready for some fun? Let's get out of here."

Yes, Brian was worth it, whatever the cost. He softly answered, "I'm more than ready, Brian. Let's go."

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