Domestic Bliss

Graduation Approaches

Brian watched Justin hunched over his sketchbook. The young man was in total concentration. Brian wondered if Justin would even hear him if he spoke. He doubted it with his partner so wrapped up in what he was doing.

At that moment Brian wished he could draw. He looked at the side of Justin's face with the strand of blond hair hanging down almost into his eyes. The soft curve of the cheek and the purse of the mouth as Justin concentrated fascinated him. Justin's fingers flying over the page were a source of constant amazement to Brian. If he could capture that look of rapt intensity on paper, he would be happy. It was the essence of his lover. Justin was all creativity and determination and talent and sensuality. He couldn't believe how much he loved this man.

With a sigh Justin stilled his pencil and held the sketchbook out in front of him studying his work. The end of the pencil found its way to his lips and he chewed lightly on it as he surveyed his efforts.

"May I see?" Brian asked from his vantage point.

"Um … sure," Justin said.

He handed the book to Brian. It was Molly. Justin had captured the mischievous glint in her eye and that little telltale hint of humor about her mouth. He had also managed to portray her innate kindness and intelligence. It was a stunning portrait.

"What brought this on?" Brian had to ask.

"I saw Molly after school today. I stopped by mom's condo to talk to her about a couple of things," Justin said keeping his words deliberately vague. He didn't want to get into this with Brian.

"You captured your sister beautifully," Brian said handing back the sketchbook.

"Thanks," Justin replied as he returned his eyes to the sketch, looking at it critically for areas that might need improvement.

"Have you ever done a self portrait?" Brian asked.

Justin snorted. "I've done several. They are mandatory in a lot of courses. I have an abstract one, a monochromatic one, a sculptural one, a truly ugly one in oils. Why?"

"I've never seen any of them," Brian said with a frown.

"And you never will."

"Why?"

"Because I hate them. I hate having to draw myself. It never looks like me. It's embarrassing."

"I don't think anything you do would ever be embarrassing," Brian said truthfully. That was exactly how he felt about Justin's artwork. It was always wonderful and magical to him. He only wished he had such talent.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I still don't like them."

"Will you show them to me sometime?"

"Maybe … if you're a very good boy," Justin teased.

"Oh, I can be very good, or very bad."

"And you're being very bad right now," Justin grinned. "How come you're interested in my self-portraits all of a sudden?"

"I was watching you draw and wishing that I could capture you at that moment."

Justin wrinkled his nose but smiled at Brian. "Really?"

"Really. Have you done a sketch of yourself?"

"Not really. Not one like this one of Molly."

"Do you think you could do one for me sometime?" Brian asked.

"You actually want one?"

"I actually want one."

Justin frowned. "I'll see what I can do," Justin said. Rarely did Brian ask him for anything and he always wanted to fulfill whatever his partner asked for.

"And I don't want an abstract," Brian added as an afterthought.

"The abstract one that I have is actually a pretty good likeness," Justin smirked.

Brian snorted. "I want one of you just like this one of Molly."

"Yes, sir," Justin saluted.

"So what were you talking to your mother about?" Brian asked.

"Shit!" Justin thought. He had hoped to sneak that by Brian without arousing his interest. Unconsciously Justin began rubbing his right hand. It had tensed up after all the time he had been sketching. "I was talking to her about graduation."

"Graduation? That's in a few weeks, isn't it?" Brian asked as he moved over to sit beside Justin on their new leather couch. He took his partner's hand and began gently massaging the muscles. He could gradually feel them start to loosen and Justin sighed in contentment.

"Yep, graduation's on the fifth of June."

"Got your tux all picked out?" Brian asked with a grin.

"It's not like the prom," Justin said with a frown.

"Oh shit! That's not what I meant, Justin. I was just being a wise ass."

"That's okay," Justin said realizing he had jumped to the wrong conclusion. "All I need is to rent the gown and mortarboard."

Brian studied Justin for a minute. "And decide how many tickets you need for the ceremony?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Justin asked getting defensive. This was exactly what he had been hoping to avoid.

"Were you talking to your mother about inviting your father?" Brian asked as he continued to work on Justin's hand.

Justin shook his head, but he said, "Yeah." Sometimes Brian knew him too well.

"It's okay to want him there, Justin. I don't have to sit with him. In fact, please make sure that I'm on the other side of the auditorium."

"Don't worry," Justin said. "He won't be there."

"Why?"

"It's not Dartmouth that I'm graduating from. All else is fucking irrelevant."

"Is he still hung up on that?" Brian asked.

"That and the fact that I'm gay."

"And that you're with me."

"Mom says he won't even consider coming."

"The rest of us will all be there for you," Brian promised.

"I know, and I appreciate it. I just wish…" There was no point in finishing that statement.

"Come here," Brian said.

"Why?"

"So I can make you forget all about your asshole father."

Brian pulled Justin across his body and found the soft lips that were always eager and ready. He kissed Justin softly at first, gradually deepening the kiss and finally adding some talented tongue to the mix. After a few minutes he released Justin's mouth. They were both gasping for air, chests heaving.

"You have to be the all time greatest kisser on the face of the earth," Justin giggled.

"You're pretty damn good yourself."

"And together we're awesome."

"Awesome," Brian repeated. He wondered if he had actually taken Justin's mind off his father.

"I think I'm ready for bed," Justin said suggestively. "How about you?"

"Bed sounds lovely. Sleep I'm not so sure about."

"Who said anything about sleep?"

They made their way up to their new bedroom and the delicious new bed. Brian tumbled Justin backwards onto the bed and began kissing him again. The intensity of the kisses escalated until they both needed to be naked and joined. Brian began peeling off Justin's clothes kissing and nipping each newly revealed piece of flesh. Justin lay back and allowed his man to have his way with him. He moaned and whimpered as the lips and tongue roused him to a state of near combustion.

When Brian finally released Justin's straining cock from his jeans Justin groaned in relief and whispered, "Please."

Brian smiled down at him and then merely stood up and started removing his own clothes. Justin watched the long, lean body being slowly revealed as Brian divested himself of each piece of clothing. Justin knew Brian was tormenting him with his slow, careful movements. He wanted to leap off the bed and rip all the remaining clothes from Brian's body. Instead all he did was whimper and stroke his aching cock.

"Leave that alone," Brian ordered. "That's mine." Justin reluctantly pulled his hand away from his leaking dick.

Brian smiled that Justin had obeyed his command, and slowly pushed down his jeans revealing his own length hard and ready. He grabbed the tube of lube and slid atop the smaller body. He squirted some lube onto his fingers and pushed Justin's legs up. His finger passed over the pink little pucker causing Justin to rise up with each stroke seeking more.

"Are you ready, graduation boy?" Brian asked with a smirk.

"That's graduation man," Justin stated trying to sound very grown up and in control. His balls ached and his head swam. All he wanted was relief from the handsome man atop him.

"All grown up, are we?" Brian asked in that husky and oh so sexy voice he used sometimes.

"Very grown up."

"Ready for anything?"

"Anything."

Brian's fingers began probing and opening up Justin. Justin grimaced at the sudden intrusion and then rocked against Brian's fingers as the man continued to scissor in and out of his ass.

Suddenly Brian stopped and Justin groaned as the fingers withdrew. Justin's eyes fluttered open as he watched Brian slather lube on his dick and stroke it a few times. Brian grabbed Justin's knees and set them on his shoulders. His cock reached for Justin's hole, the place it knew so well and where they each found such pleasure. He pressed in and watched Justin's face screw up at the initial penetration. When Justin's eyes opened Brian drove the rest of the way home relishing the tight warm channel and the strong arms that clenched his own.

"Ready for your graduation present?" Brian asked.

"More than ready," Justin replied as he drove his hips up forcing Brian even deeper inside of him. He clenched the muscles of his anus and Brian groaned at the constriction.

"Feisty little twat, aren't you?" Brian said through gritted teeth.

He felt Justin relax his grip and he pulled back, only to drive in fully. They continued their struggle for control for a few more strokes. The battle between them only served to heighten their desire and drive them to new levels of ecstasy. They rocked against each other grunting and biting like the animals they were. The rutting continued until they were both dripping with sweat and panting for breath.

"Oh, fuck, Brian!" Justin gasped.

"That's what we're doing," Brian managed to shout as he continued to pound into the willing ass.

"I'm ready to explode," Justin cried.

Brian reached for the thick cock and began to stroke in time with his thrusts. Suddenly he felt Justin's ass squeeze tight around his dick and then they were both lost. Blinding light burst around them and the mattress shook beneath them as the waves of orgasm swept them away.

Some time later Brian rolled off his lover and turned his head to look at the object of his continuing desire and the only man he had ever wanted over and over again. He was sure he would want this man until the moment he took his last breath.

"Happy graduation, Sunshine," Brian said softly.

"Thanks," Justin gasped as the world stopped spinning and he could finally make his eyes focus on his lover. "That was some present."

"For me too," Brian admitted.

"Did you get a present when you graduated?" Justin asked curious.

"You could say that," Brian said thoughtfully. "I got my job at Ryder."

"That's not what I meant. Did you get a watch or a car or something fantastic?" Justin asked thinking of things he might like to receive.

"This is the Kinney family we're talking about here," Brian said with a grimace. "The best present I could get from them is for them to leave me alone."

"They didn't give you anything?" Justin asked surprised that they wouldn't be proud of their son graduating from university.

"They didn't attend the ceremony. I never told them anything about it."

"Really?" Justin could hardly believe his ears.

"Can we talk about something else?"

"Like what?"

"Like what you want for graduation."

"You're going to get me something?" Justin asked with that sunshine smile.

Brian chuckled. "What do you want?" The smile faded from Justin's face. Brian watched the clouds cover the sun and the happiness disappear from that sweet face. "You want your father at the ceremony," Brian said flatly. "I don't think I can give you that."

"I know. You've given me so much already. I have the Jeep and we have this house. And I have you. What more do I need?"

"As long as you have me, I can't think of a thing," Brian smirked.

"You are so bad! But really, I don't expect anything."

"Well, if you think of something that you would like just say so. I have a few shekels still in the bank."

"I'll think about it, but with the house and us together, I don't need anything else."

"Whatever you say," Brian said as he was attacked by the blond twink who had claimed his heart.

-----

A couple of hours later Brian wandered downstairs. He had dozed a bit after he and Justin had finished fucking. His lover was sound asleep in their bed, but something was bothering Brian. That's why he couldn't sleep. He wanted to grant Justin's wish to have his father attend his graduation. Brian knew that Craig's attendance would also mean acceptance of his son, and that was really what Justin was asking for. The only problem was that Brian did not have it in his power to make that come to pass.

Brian flopped down on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. If he couldn't make Craig come to the graduation maybe he could find a great gift for Justin, something that would make his father's absence less significant. The only problem was that Brian had no idea what that gift might be.

He glanced at the coffee table and saw Justin's sketchbook laying there. He reached over and picked it up. He began flipping through the pages. He saw the picture of Molly that Justin had just drawn. It really was very good. He continued to turn the pages. There was Gus, a recent picture of the boy on a swing in the park. Brian smiled. He saw a sketch of Jennifer looking cool and serene, but also full of love. Justin was so lucky to have a mother like that.

Brian turned some more pages and found a sketch of Ted. He wondered when Justin had done that one. Ted looked good. It must be fairly recent, after Ted had recovered from his temporary fling with Emmett. Brian was so glad that they were back to being friends instead of lovers. The whole squee factor of those two being a couple had been hard to bear.

Brian looked thoughtfully at the portrait. Then he walked over to the bookcase and opened a drawer. A stack of Justin's old sketchbooks lay inside. He took out one and flipped through it. Suddenly the idea struck him. Now if he could just get Justin to cooperate he might be able to come up with the perfect graduation present. He closed the sketchbook and pulled the rest of them out of the drawer. This might work.

-----

The next morning Brian helped Justin load his last project for PIFA into the back of the Jeep. It was a multi-media thing about world peace or hunger or something. Brian wasn't sure, but he knew that Justin would have done a good job with it regardless of the subject matter.

"There, all set," Brian said closing the door.

"Thanks for your help," Justin said giving Brian a peck on the cheek.

"That's all I get for my hard work and physical exertion?"

"Poor baby," Justin said. "What would you like as a reward?"

"I don't think we have time for that. I'm due at the office in twenty minutes."

"Later then," Justin said.

"Later. But … um … remember when you said you would do a self-portrait for me last night?"

"Yeah, I remember. You really want one?"

"I told you that I did."

"I'll see what I can do about that," Justin said shaking his head.

"Will there be someone to help you with this thing when you get to PIFA?" Brian asked.

"I'll find someone. See ya for dinner," Justin called as he drove away.

Brian got into the Corvette. He had better get a move on or he wouldn't be ready for his first client of the day.

-----

Justin's graduation was three weeks away and Brian was still trying to arrange the gift he thought might make Justin happy. Justin seemed to have given up on the idea of his father attending and for that Brian was thankful.

Brian had debated going to talk to Craig Taylor, but had finally decided that that would do more harm than good. Every time he and Craig Taylor were in close proximity one of them got injured or thoroughly pissed off. Neither result seemed likely to bring Craig to the graduation.

One afternoon Justin showed up at Brian's office. He was not expected and hoped that Brian might have a minute to talk to him.

"Hey Cynthia," Justin said as he got off the elevator.

"Justin, it's good to see you. Is Brian expecting you?" Cynthia asked.

"No, but I was hoping he might have a minute."

"They're finishing up a meeting in the conference room. They should be out soon. Brian's next appointment is at 4 pm. That gives you almost a half hour."

"That's great," Justin said. "I'll wait in Brian's office if that's all right."

"Go ahead. I'll tell him you're here as soon as he comes out."

Justin walked into Brian's office looking around and assessing the cool, neutral décor. He wondered if he might have an office like this someday. He didn't think that was too likely. He walked around behind Brian's desk and decided to try out his chair. He swung it around and sat down. It was a great chair, so comfortable, and it molded to his body like it was meant for him. He leaned back pretending to be thinking up the next great advertising campaign.

"Planning to steal my job?" Brian's voice caused him to jump and turn back around.

"No, no, but it was fun imagining," Justin admitted with a grin.

"Now that you're finished with school I'll have to keep my eye on you," Brian teased. He shut his office door and walked over to Justin, leaning down and planting a sweet kiss on his favorite lips.

"You always keep your eyes on me," Justin smiled. "That's why I love you so much." Brian made a sort of face, but Justin knew he liked hearing things like that.

"What are you doing here?" Brian asked.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Couldn't it wait until I come home?"

"It probably could, but I was restless and I wanted to discuss it."

"Discuss what, Justin? I don't have a lot of time."

"I'll get out of your hair," Justin said with a sigh. He stood up ready to leave.

"Don't pull that crap on me. You came all the way down here. Now what do you want?"

"I shouldn't have come. You're busy."

Justin headed for the door. Brian blocked his way. "Justin, I'm not too busy, if this is important. Tell me."

"I got a couple of replies about jobs today and I wanted to talk to you about them," Justin said. "That's all."

"That's great. I assume they were offers by the way you phrased that."

"Yeah, but I don't know what I want to do."

"That's a pretty normal reaction under the circumstances," Brian said.

"I bet you knew exactly which offer you were going to take," Justin said looking directly into Brian's eyes.

"I did," Brian replied, "but that's because I knew I was going into advertising. You sent your resume out to graphics firms, animators, advertisers, art galleries."

"I know," Justin sighed. "I wish I knew what to do."

"You'll figure it out. Wait for a few days and see what offers you get. You don't have to decide anything right now."

"I know, but…"

"Justin, I have to get some stuff ready for the next meeting. Why don't you go say hi to the people in the art department? You can look around and see if you like the idea of working in that kind of environment."

"I interned in an art department for several months." Brian knew that. He was just trying to get Justin out of his hair.

"I know, but it wasn't here."

"I don't know."

"You're fucking starting to whine. Go tell Cynthia to escort you down there. If you're still here when my meeting's over, I'll take you to dinner."

"Somewhere nice?" Justin asked his smile returning at the thought of food.

"No, the diner." Justin made a face. "Of course it will be somewhere nice. We can stay downtown."

"I'd like that."

"We can talk about your prospects over dinner," Brian added.

"I hope I have some … prospects, that is."

"You have the world in front of you, Sunshine. Now get the fuck out of here."

Brian hustled him out the door hoping Justin hadn't noticed the brown paper packages leaning against the sofa. He'd have to get those put away before Justin came back. Brian quickly stuck them all in the closet and headed out for his meeting.

-----

Brian took Justin to a classy restaurant not far from his office. They had steak and salad and Justin had a huge dessert. During dinner they talked about the future.

"I thought it would all be so simple," Justin said.

"Nothing's ever simple. That's the first rule of life."

"It wasn't the first rule of my life," Justin protested.

"Not until you found me anyway," Brian said with a rueful smile.

"How am I ever going to decide?"

This was one of those things that a young man should discuss with his father, if he had a father who would listen and not criticize. Neither of them did. "Do a PMI," Brian said trying to come up with some kind of idea to help Justin.

"What the fuck's a PMI?" Justin asked with a frown.

"Don't they teach you young'uns anything nowadays?" Brian asked.

Justin glowered at him. "I thought I was finally grown up. Kindly stop referring to me as the young'un."

"You'll always be … younger," Brian said deciding not to press that issue. "A PMI is a technique where you make three lists about something you're trying to decide. There is a plus column, a minus column and an interesting column. You list everything about the topic that you can think of under the appropriate column. The resulting lists give a good basis for comparison."

"That actually sounds like a good idea," Justin said.

"Why do you make that sound like I rarely have good ideas?"

"Usually you don't share," Justin told Brian.

"The fuck I don't!"

"The only thing you share willingly is food. That way you can get rid of it and don't have to eat it."

"I share other things."

"Name one."

"I share our home."

"Briiiaaan!"

"All right, maybe I don't share very often."

"Not unless I drag it out of you."

"Am I really that bad?"

"It's not that you're bad, you are … inexperienced."

Brian snorted. "I've had lots of experience," Brian said righteously.

"Let's not go there."

"Anyway," Brian continued, "try the PMI. It might help sort some things out."

"I will. And I'll wait for the rest of the companies where I sent my resume to reply."

"Good boy."

"Brian, do I have to take a job right away?"

Brian studied Justin. He wasn't sure what the young man was getting at. "Don't you want to work? At a real job - not the diner. I thought you were looking forward to independence and incredible wealth and being able to tell me to fuck off."

"I'd never tell you to fuck off," Justin said sincerely. Brian snorted derisively. "I do not!" Justin protested.

Brian snorted more loudly.

"Fuck you!" Justin reacted getting really annoyed.

"There, you just proved my point."

"Asshole! I didn't tell you to 'fuck off'; I said 'fuck you'!"

"A mere technicality." Brian was about to say something else when he saw that Justin was really starting to get mad. The last thing he wanted to do was fight. "Sunshine, you take as much time as you want before you start your career. I want you to be sure about what you're doing."

"Thanks, Brian, I really appreciate that. We're okay with finances, the house and everything, if I don't start a job right away?"

"We'll be fine. Take your time."

"How did I get so lucky to find you?" Justin asked.

"Nobody else would have me. It's only because you're so stubborn that you got yourself this lovely prize." Brian held out his arms indicating himself.

"You are a prize and I wouldn't trade you for anyone else. In fact, let's go home and I'll show you what a prize you are."

"I like the sound of that," Brian said signaling the waiter for the bill. "You better prove your point tonight because we have to pick up Gus tomorrow morning, and he's staying for the rest of the weekend."

"He loves his room so much," Justin said as they walked out of the restaurant.

"It works so much better with him having his own room. He's happier and so am I."

"Me too, but tonight it's just us, and we can be as loud and rowdy as we want."

"Rowdy, I like the sound of that," Brian said squeezing Justin's ass as they made their way back to the parking garage.

Life was pretty damn amazing at the moment.

-----

Brian stared at the phone. He wasn't sure what to do. A part of him knew he had to try, but the other part was screaming "Fuck this!". Reluctantly he looked at the piece of paper on his desk and dialed.

A female voice replied, "Coronet Construction."

"Craig Taylor, please," Brian said with a smile.

"May I ask who's calling?"

"Brian Kinney."

"One moment Mr. Kinney."

Brian was put on hold. He wondered if Craig would take his call. He wondered if he had a hope in hell of convincing the man to come to Justin's graduation.

"What do you want, Kinney?" an angry voice demanded.

"Hello, to you too," Brian said. The urge to slam down the receiver was almost more than he could withstand.

"Tell me what the fuck you want or I'm hanging up."

"It's about Justin," Brian replied trying to keep his voice even.

"I should have known," Craig said sarcastically. "What does he want now?"

Brian tried to control his temper. He knew all the things that Justin had tried to do to make things right with his father, and Craig had rejected every one of them. Brian wanted to tell the miserable bastard to fuck off, but he bit his lip and said, "Justin's graduating in a couple of weeks. He would like you to be there."

"And why are you calling to ask me this. What's wrong with my faggot son asking for himself?"

"He thinks he already knows the answer. Jennifer told him you wouldn't consider going."

"Then if you know that why are you bothering me?"

"Your faggot son would like you to be there. He still loves you, and I hope you still love him enough to be there and support him."

A long and loud sigh greeted that statement. "I've made it clear that Justin's life choices go against everything I believe in. Until he makes other choices there is no reason for us to meet."

"You sanctimonious son of a bitch!" Brian exploded. "I called to try and reason with you, try to appeal to the fact that this is your only son we're talking about, and for whatever misguided reason, he wants you there. He wants to be able to talk to you, to get your advice about his career prospects, to know that you still care about him. But I should have known you don't have an ounce of human decency, let alone kindness or love. So screw you! You'll never hear from me again."

Brian slammed the phone down. He wished it would shatter Craig Taylor's narrow minded view of the world, but he knew that would not be the case. Nothing had changed. He should have known better than to fucking try.

Life was such a crock of shit!

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