Chapter 3

Brian had packed his briefcase, said goodbye to Cynthia and was waiting at the elevator for the doors to open.

"You must be Kinney," a voice said from behind him.

Brian turned and looked up into the face of someone he had never seen before, a young man who wasn't bad looking, but also nothing special. "What gave it away?" Brian snarked.

The man looked at Brian's wheelchair, but didn't voice what he was thinking. "I'm Kip Thomas," he said extending his hand for Brian to shake.

Brian eyed him up and down making him stand there with his hand extended for longer than was courteous. Two could play the power game. As Kip was about to draw back his hand, Brian grabbed it and shook it perfunctorily. "Nice to meet you, Kip Thomas," Brian said with a grin. He had already figured out that this was the infamous Kip Thomas, but the hapless young man didn't need to know what Brian had in store for him. "I hear I inadvertently kicked you out of your office, I mean, my office." Brian continued to grin.

Kip looked a little green when he heard Brian's comment. Brian could see the anger brewing inside the man. He liked pushing buttons.

"That's okay," Kip said after a momentary pause. With a smirk he added, "You're older and … incapacitated, so I guess you should get whatever office you need."

Brian felt the blood boil in his veins. How dare this asshole call him incapacitated? Brian was about to remind the young upstart that he was a far better adman than Kip would ever be, but he knew that it would fall on deaf ears. "Yeah, we old guys have to be taken care of. I hope you'll be able to pass on some of your discarded accounts to me," Brian said sarcastically.

Kip snorted, reminding Brian a lot of himself. "I've heard what a hotshot you are in the advertising world … and in bed," Kip said with another smirk. "But looking at you, I'd say those days are long gone."

The elevator doors opened at that moment. Brian wheeled himself in and did a skillful about face turn so that he was looking out at Kip. He pushed the button for the parking garage. "We'll just see about that," Brian said right before the doors closed. Kip Thomas had a thing or two to learn about having the last word.

Brian rode the elevator to the parking garage. All he could think about were Kip's words – "old and incapacitated". Kip Thomas had managed to take his day of triumphant return and make it into a hideous experience in less than a minute.

 

 *****
 

Brian threw his briefcase onto the passenger seat of his car. He swung himself from his chair into the driver's seat and rammed the wheelchair into the back. He leaned over and grabbed the handle of the door, listening to the forceful slam as it closed. That seemed relatively satisfying. There was nothing worse than trying to slam a door that wouldn't cooperate. However, he wished the slamming door made him feel better.

He sat behind the wheel, stewing. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure it was safe for him to drive when he was in his present state of mind. But then, maybe it would be best if he ran into a tanker truck or a bridge abutment and put an end to this misery.

After a couple of minutes he realized his hands were numb. He had been gripping the steering wheel so hard that he couldn't move his fingers. Gingerly he pried them away and rubbed his hands together to get some feeling back in them. Fucking Kip Thomas! He'd show him. Brian had always said that the best revenge was living well. In spite of all the physical problems Brian faced, he knew that there was no adman that could top him. He had to remember that, and not let assholes like Kip get to him.

Brian drew in a deep breath and inserted the key in the ignition. He needed to get out of there, away from Kip Thomas and the whole office scenario. He needed … Justin. Brian turned the key and heard the motor roar to life. He knew what he was going to do now. He was going home to the only person who really mattered.

 

*****
 

Brian waited as the elevator ascended to the top floor of his building. He threw the gate up and wheeled out of the elevator. The door to the loft was closed. He had been hoping that Justin would be there with the door open, waiting for him with home cooked food and a drink already prepared … naked, of course.

He couldn't help but smile as he unlocked the door and wheeled himself inside, calling, "Justin!"

There was no answer. Brian knew that he was a little earlier than he had expected to be, but he thought Justin would have been there to greet him after such a big day. He frowned and went over to the phone. He hit Justin's number and waited. The phone rang until it went to voicemail. Where the fuck was Justin?

Brian hung up the phone without leaving a message. He knew that if Justin was painting he would have the phone turned off and wouldn't answer. As much as he wanted to see Justin right away, he had to respect that Justin could be working. He went to his computer, deciding that sending an e-mail message probably made the most sense.

He brought up his e-mail program on the screen. He was about to start typing a message when he hesitated. What could he say? He didn't want to sound totally needy, but he wanted Justin with him. He needed his boyfriend to tell him that everything would be all right, to make it okay to go back to the office again, to give him courage to face Kip Thomas.

Hey BB,

I'm home, a little earlier than I expected. I tried to call you but you weren't picking up. If you get this, I could really use some company.

Brian read what he had written. It sounded too … demanding, too desperate, like Justin was supposed to get up there immediately. Brian erased some of his words and started again.

Hey BB,

I'm home, a little earlier than I expected. Work was interesting. When you take a break, come on up and I'll tell you all about it.

PP

Brian read what he had written. He decided that sounded innocuous enough. He hit send then headed up the ramp to his bedroom. He needed a shower and a rest. It had been one fucking long day at the office.

 

*****
 

Brian had been lying on his bed for a long time. Sleep wouldn't come. He was playing the scene with Kip Thomas over and over in his head. He heard the door to the loft being drawn back. He raised his head and watched Justin walk inside, pulling the door closed behind him. Justin was carrying some grocery bags that he set on the counter. He went behind the counter and Brian couldn't see him through the partitions.

Brian wondered why Justin hadn't called out to him when he came in. He must know that Brian was there or why would he have come up to the loft? Maybe something was wrong. Maybe Justin didn't really want to spend time with Brian. Maybe Justin was hoping that Brian was asleep and wouldn't wake up. This had been Brian's greatest fear since he and Justin had first got together. He had been afraid that Justin would get sick of having to help a cripple in a wheelchair, that the novelty of being with Brian, the paraplegic, would quickly wear off. Justin must have got his e-mail or why would he have come upstairs? But he wasn't saying anything. Maybe Justin knew that Brian was in bed and Justin didn't want to talk to him. Brian pulled himself into a sitting position, dropping his useless legs over the edge of the bed.

"Justin," he called.

"Fuck! Shit! You scared the crap out of me!" Justin yelled. "I didn't know you were home."

"Then what the fuck are you doing up here?"

"I came up to make you dinner. I thought a day at the office rated a very special home cooked meal. What the fuck did you think I was doing?" Justin demanded.

"I … I didn't know. I thought you knew I was here and you didn't want to talk to me," Brian said uncertainly.

"Why would I do that?" Justin asked as he came up the ramp to the bedroom.

Brian shrugged and didn't say anything else.

"So, how did it go?" Justin asked.

"Um … okay, I guess," Brian replied not wanting to reveal too much.

"That doesn't sound nearly as positive as your e-mail did."

Brian realized that Justin had no idea why he had come home early. "Something happened," Brian whispered.

"What? What happened?" Justin asked. The concern in his voice was very evident. He came over and sat down beside Brian on the bed. "Tell me about it," he said rubbing Brian's shoulders.

"I don't really feel like talking about it."

"Yes, you do, or you wouldn't have called out to me. What happened?"

Brian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I had a great day to begin with," he began.

"That's what I thought from the sound of the e-mail you sent."

"People seemed to be glad to see me."

"Of course they were," Justin said with a smile. "What's not to like?"

"I got my old office back," Brian said brightening up a bit at the memory of that.

"That's a good thing."

"Yeah, I guess."

"So what happened?" Justin asked again. He was used to Brian being reluctant to talk but this sounded like something serious. He needed to find out what had gone wrong.

"Cynthia told me that they had kicked a new ad exec out of my office so I could have it back."

When Brian stopped there, Justin prodded. "And…?"

"His name is Kip Thomas. He's the new, young, hotshot adman at Ryder."

"Like you used to be?" Justin asked beginning to see where this was going.

"Like I still am. Even after two years of not being in the office, I still bring in more accounts that anyone else there. Cynthia told me."

"Of course you do. I didn't mean anything…"

"I know, but all I heard about was Kip Thomas, all the things he had done … good and bad."

"Did you meet him?"

"Not at first," Brian said shaking his head. "I didn't really want to meet him, after Cynthia told me he got Sid Sadowski fired."

"Fired? How come?"

"Sid got on Kip's bad side, and Ryder backed Kip. He was bringing in more accounts than Sid ever could."

"Then maybe it was for the best that they let Sid go," Justin said trying to ease Brian's concerns.

"You don't understand. Sid did a competent job. He wasn't trying to be the best ad exec in the world. He was just making a decent living for himself and his family. There was no need to get rid of him."

"You said that you didn't meet Kip right away, but you did meet him eventually?" This Kip had to be the crux of the problem. Whatever had happened to deflate Brian's big day, Justin was willing to bet that Kip Thomas was the cause.

"Yeah, everybody had stopped by to wish me well and tell me they were glad to have me back in the office."

"That must have made you feel good," Justin said with a smile.

"Yeah, even if it wasn't true, it was nice to hear."

"So, did this Kip finally stop by to wish you well?" Justin asked. He chose to ignore Brian's self-deprecating comment.

"Not exactly."

"Tell me, Brian," Justin said gently. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth to get any information out of his boyfriend.

"I decided it had been a long day and that I was ready to go home. I was waiting at the elevator when Kip came up to me."

"What did he say?" This was what Justin had been waiting to hear. This had to be what had brought Brian down.

"He called me old … and incapacitated. Fucking incapacitated!"

So there it was. Justin knew those words were the things Brian feared the most. He didn’t want to ever be viewed as old, and most definitely not as incapacitated. Justin let out a long breath. He had worked so hard to make Brian feel whole again, to make Brian want his old life back, and this fucking Kip Thomas had destroyed all that with three fucking words. Justin felt his anger rising.

"Do you think Kip Thomas would still be at the office?" Justin asked between clenched teeth.

"I don't know. Why?"

"I'm going over there to kick his fucking ass up one side of the office and down the other," Justin declared adamantly.

Brian's jaw dropped. He knew Justin was feisty and didn't take shit from anyone, but he had never seen this side of his boyfriend. "Think you can take him?" Brian asked with a chuckle. He wasn't sure if Justin was serious. It seemed wise to treat this as a joke.

"It's not fucking funny! I'm going to take this asshole down a peg or two."

"I bet you could do it too," Brian said with evident admiration.

"You better believe I can, because I'm fucking serious."

"Kip Thomas is a fucking idiot. You could take him easily. Hell, I probably could too … from my wheelchair."

"Then why the fuck are you letting his words get to you? He's nothing … less than nothing. You know who you are. You know what you can do. Kip Thomas doesn't know shit!"

"Come here," Brian said pulling Justin against him. "I knew there was a reason I wanted to come home to you. You always know how to make me feel better."

Justin grinned and kissed Brian's cheek. "It's about time you realized that. I'm the best thing that ever happened to you."

"I have to agree with you on that one," Brian said capturing Justin's lips.

When the kiss ended leaving them both breathless, Justin whispered huskily, "I can make you feel even better."

"I know you can."

 

*****
 

"Jesus! Justin!" Brian moaned.

Justin was riding Brian's cock. His eyes were closed and he was panting at the exertion and the feelings that were running through his body.

"Almost there," Justin groaned.

"Fuck, yes!"

"A few more," Justin gasped as he continued to rise up and down on Brian's dick. "Oh yeah! Right now!" Justin came so hard that he fell onto Brian completely oblivious to his elbow connecting with Brian's jaw. Brian just held him there until his lover could breathe.

"You okay?" Brian asked. Justin could feel Brian's hard dick still up his ass.

"I'm great, but you…"

"It's okay. This happens sometimes."

"But … that was supposed to be for you."

"I know, and I appreciate the thought."

"Let me get you off," Justin said rolling away.

Brian shrugged and let Justin jerk him off till he came.

"Better?" Justin asked when he had cleaned Brian and himself up.

"Yeah." Brian rubbed his jaw. It was sore. "You throw a mean right elbow."

"Huh?"

"When you came, you smacked me in the jaw with your elbow on your way down to my chest."

"I did?" Justin asked horrified. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you? Are you all right?"

"Yes, yes, and yes."

"I should be more careful. It's just that sometimes I forget that you're … you know."

"In a wheelchair," Brian supplied.

"Yeah."

"That's why I … love you. I think it's amazing that you can forget about the damn chair."

"It's you I love, everything about you."

Brian looked into the deep blue eyes. He still had trouble believing that Justin was part of his life, part of his soul. He wished he could truly believe it, but some part of him still held back. He couldn't give himself to Justin completely, because he wouldn't be able to stand it if Justin didn't love him after that. And why should Justin love a cripple?

"Where were you today?" Brian asked knowing he didn't want to deal with his doubts right then. He felt the need to change the subject to something a little less emotional and a little less dangerous for their relationship.

"I went to see my mother."

"Jennifer? Why?"

"She is my mother. I'm allowed to have lunch with her."

Brian chuckled, rubbing his sore jaw as the chuckle made it pain. "I suppose that is allowed. However, this is the first time since we've … been together that I remember you paying her a visit."

"Hm," Justin replied thoughtfully. "You could be right. It seems like someone has been taking up all my time." He gave Brian a tickle to the ribs to punctuate the comment.

Brian grabbed his hand before Justin could get in a really good tickle. "Am I taking up too much of your time?" Brian asked.

Justin could see that Brian was very serious. He wished he had never made the flippant comment. "You don't take up anymore of my time than I want you to," Justin replied. He leaned in and kissed Brian's sore jaw. "Make the booboo all better," he whispered.

"Much better," Brian agreed. "But, you're sure I'm not monopolizing your time?"

"Very sure."

"So how was lunch with dear old mom?"

"Don't let her hear you call her that," Justin warned with a laugh.

"I'll keep it between the two of us," Brian promised. There were so many things between them now. It was wonderful to have someone to share with and joke with and make love with. If only it could continue that way.

"Anyway," Justin said taking a deep breath. "I did have a reason for going to see my mother."

"You did?"

"I wanted to talk to her about some houses or apartments for us." Justin held his breath. Even though they had discussed the need for different living arrangements for the two of them, they hadn't done anything about it. Jennifer had lined up some places immediately for them, but then Brian had backed off, wanting to get his first day at Ryder over with and see how that went before they started thinking about new places to live. And the whole topic had kind of been set aside in the lead up to Brian going back to the office. Now Justin had decided it was time to take the plunge and had asked his mother at lunch to scout out some properties for them to look at. He hoped Brian wouldn't be mad that he had done this, and more importantly, he hoped that Brian would consent to going to view them.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," Brian said seriously. Justin's face fell as he looked at the frown on Brian's beautiful face.
 

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