Image Is Everything

Chapter Three

Brian found his mind wandering as he photographed the underwear model. It was someone else that he wanted in the damn underwear, not this guy. Finally they were finished and he sent the man on his way, saying he would let him know how the pictures turned out.

He really didn't care how the fucking pictures turned out. This account for a minor company based in Pittsburgh was not that important to him, but he knew he was being less than professional. This had never happened to him before. He was known as a perfectionist, a demanding and focused taskmaster. What the hell had happened to him since he met Justin Taylor?

Brian had gone to grab some dinner after Justin left the studio last night. He had picked at his food thinking the whole time about the blond almost model that had suddenly entered his life. Finally he had given up trying to enjoy his food. He had gone back to the studio and developed the photos that he had taken of Justin.

He walked over to his desk and looked at the pile of pictures he had set there. Justin Taylor, blond, innocent, beautiful, captivating! Brian studied the top photo, his favorite. It was one of the ones with Justin on the couch when Brian had somehow elicited that wondrous smile from him. He had wondered what would show up in the photograph. It was even better than he could have dreamed of.

Justin was leaning back on the couch, laughing up into the camera. If Brian didn't know it was from the lights, he would swear there was a halo around that angelic face. It glowed like the sun, that smile radiating an ingenuous warmth that was totally mesmerizing.

Brian knew this was the model for Mark Phillips campaign. Justin would knock their socks off, especially with Brian as the photographer. He needed to get some decent shots of the kid in something other than those fucking cargo pants. He would see what they could do this afternoon when Justin came back. He had left a message on his machine asking him to wear something a little more formal when he returned to the studio. He wondered what Justin would look like in a suit, in a tux, in nothing at all.

Shit! His fucking cock was acting up again. Every time he thought about the blond he wanted to fuck him more. He needed to get a grip. He would have the blond soon enough. He had been told pointedly by Justin that he had a boyfriend. That was a minor technicality. Justin could keep his fucking boyfriend. Once Brian got what he wanted Justin would be free to go back to his long-term fuck. Brian knew he would eventually get his desires fulfilled. He always did. It was merely a matter of time.

Brian looked at his watch. It was a little after one o'clock. He had four more hours before he saw Justin again. He couldn't believe he was measuring the day by how much time he had to wait to see a certain blond. He was fucking losing it!

He decided he would walk the four blocks to Liberty Avenue. He would stop at Michael's comic book store and get him to come to the diner with him for lunch. Michael was always a good distraction. That could use up most of the afternoon until Justin got there. Shit! He was doing it again. He locked the door to the studio.

Fifteen minutes later he pushed open the door of the comic book shop. Michael was behind the counter. Brian walked over to him and kissed him.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the day?" Michael asked with a big grin. He was always happy to see Brian.

"Visiting you."

"What for?"

"Do I have to have a reason to visit my best friend?"

"No, but…"

"I thought I'd go to the diner and grab some lunch. Come with me."

"I already had a sandwich, and I couldn't leave the store anyway."

"You're going to send me into the wilds of the Liberty Diner to face your mother all by myself?"

"Looks that way."

"Meanie."

Michael giggled. "You're a big boy. I'm sure you'll be just fine."

"Mmm … I don't know. Very scary without you."

"I can't go. I have a business to run."

"You're getting to be quite the staid old businessman."

"Who you calling old, Willis?"

"If the tights fit…"

"Brian," Michael whined.

"Oh, all right. I'm going. See ya later."

Michael grinned as he watched Brian leave the store. His mother would surely give him the inquisition. He was sorry he couldn't go to lunch with his friend. He always liked being with Brian.

Brian walked into the Liberty Diner and slid into a booth. He thought he had been rather unobtrusive in his entrance.

"Why haven't you been at Sunday dinner for almost a month?" the brazen redhead demanded.

Brian groaned inwardly. "I'm just lovely, Deb. And how are you?"

"Don't get cheeky. Answer the question."

"Let's see. I was away on a photo shoot for part of the month and then I was recovering from jet lag when I got back."

"Un hunh," Debbie said believing none of it. "I'm expecting you this Sunday, so don't let me down."

"I wouldn't dream of it. Now, could I get a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with no mayo?"

"Why certainly, sir," she said with a mock bow.

He waved his coffee cup under her nose and she bustled off to get the pot. After she filled his cup she slid into the booth across from him. He was late enough that the lunch rush was over and she had plenty of time to check into what he was doing with his life these days.

"Brian, when are you going to settle down a bit? Michael and Ben are very happy. Maybe it's time for you to find someone."

"Debbie, I don't tell you who to fuck so …"

"Asshole, I'm not talking about fucking!"

"Then what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about finding someone to love, someone to share your life with."

"I don't believe in love and I don't believe in commitment and I certainly don't believe in fucking marriage!"

"Who said anything about marriage? I'm just talking about having a little concern and caring for the next hole you stick it up."

Brian grimaced. Sometimes Debbie was just too hard much. "Could we talk about something else? Or better yet, why don't you get my fucking sandwich and not talk at all."

"Fine," she said and stood up. "I'm only looking out for your best interests."

"I know, mom," he said taking her hand and kissing it. He could feel the calluses and knew they were from honest hard work and concern for her family and friends. He did appreciate where she was coming from.

"You're not getting any younger, you know," she said in spite of herself.

"Fuck! Don't you ever give up?" References to his advancing age really pissed him off. He dropped her hand unceremoniously. She humphed away to get his sandwich. He knew he had made her mad, but maybe now she would leave him alone for a few minutes.

When Brian returned to the studio it was after four o'clock. He had finally got his sandwich and had been allowed to eat it in peace. He had left Debbie a big tip and a promise to be at Sunday dinner.

He checked his messages. There was one from Mark Phillips asking if he had come up with any possibles for the youthful model in his ads. If everything went well with Justin, he would have an answer for the designer tomorrow. The second message was from Justin saying that he would wear his school uniform. It was the only suit type clothes he had. Brian groaned. That would make a super impression on Mark Phillips.

Justin's voice continued on the message and something made Brian pay attention and frown. "My boyfriend is probably going to meet me at your studio," Justin's soft voice stated. "I hope that's all right. Um … see you at five."

Brian wondered what was going on. He certainly didn't want the fucking boyfriend there, but something in Justin's voice had told him that Justin didn't want him there either. He'd be interested to see the asshole that seemed to have captured Justin Taylor's heart.

Promptly at five the studio door opened and Justin came in, a greasy looking dark haired young man hanging all over him. Justin looked slightly annoyed as he tried to extract himself from the grip of what Brian assumed was the boyfriend.

"Mr. Kinney, Brian," Justin said taking the hand of his boyfriend and stepping away. "I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Ethan. Ethan, this is Brian."

Brian nodded not liking the look of this so-called boyfriend at all. He wondered what Justin could possibly see in him. "I see you wore your blazer," Brian said ignoring this Ian person.

"It's the only suit sort of thing I have," Justin said blushing as he admitted it.

"Do you want to see the pictures I took yesterday before we start?" Brian asked.

"I'd like to see them," Ethan stated wanting to assert his presence and his rights in this situation.

"They're on the desk," Brian said turning to adjust his lights. "The best ones are on top."

"Oh, my God! Brian, they're wonderful! Do I really look like that?" Justin asked.

"It's your face, isn't it?" Brian asked finishing positioning the light and turning around to witness one of Justin's sunshine smiles as he looked through the stack of pictures. He noted Ian leaning over Justin's shoulder with a scowl as he looked at each picture.

"They're so good!" Justin said. "I can't believe it. You must be a great photographer."

"I am."

Ethan glared at Brian. "They're not bad," he said grudgingly.

"High praise from you, I'm sure," Brian said sarcastically.

"So do you think it's worth me pursuing this modeling thing?" Justin asked his face full of hope.

"You can see that the camera loves your face," Brian said honestly. "I asked you to wear something more formal today because we need some full length shots."

"Is this all right?" Justin asked holding out his arms.

"It'll do. We'll start with it anyway."

"You look great, as always," Ethan said kissing the side of Justin's face.

"Stand over here," Brian said pointing to the wall where he had trained the lights. Justin moved to the spot. "Put one hand in a pocket and look nonchalant."

Justin obliged following that command and each other instruction he was given. He was a natural in front of the camera. After Brian had shot about half the roll of film, he told Justin to take off his blazer and tie and open the shirt collar. He snapped several of these more casual pictures.

"Take off your shirt," Brian said.

"He's not taking anything else off," Ethan interrupted glaring at Brian and then at Justin.

"There's a blue pullover in the change room back there that I'd like you to wear for the last set of pictures."

"Sure," Justin said unbuttoning his shirt. He went back to the change room, Ethan glaring at him all the while. Brian refused to look at the boyfriend. He played with the lights while he waited for Justin to reappear.

"Ready?" Brian called.

"I'm coming. This is the softest sweater I've ever felt," Justin said coming back. He looked stunning in the blue that matched his eyes.

"It's cashmere," Brian said. "It's one of mine. I thought the color would match your eyes," Brian said with a grin. "Let's adjust those sleeves." He rolled the too long sleeves under and positioned Justin where he wanted him. He felt Ethan glaring at him as he walked back to retrieve his camera. He gave Justin a series of instructions which the young man followed nicely. Brian finished off the roll of film.

"Do you think these will be as good as the first ones?" Justin asked hopefully.

"Better," Brian said earning one of Justin's wondrous smiles.

"We need to go," Ethan said pointedly.

"Okay," Justin said the smile fading quickly as he looked at Ethan.

"My sweater," Brian reminded the young man.

"Oh, sure, I better change." Justin disappeared into the change room.

"Are you a student too, Ian?" Brian asked.

"It's Ethan and yes, I am."

Brian sucked in his lips.

"I'm ready," Justin said coming out of the change room still buttoning his shirt. He had his blazer over his arm. He smiled at Brian. "When will these pictures be ready?"

"Call me tomorrow and I'll let you know," Brian said.

Ethan grabbed Justin's arm and started hauling him towards the door.

"Thanks, Brian. I'll talk to you tomorrow," Justin called over his shoulder as Ethan shoved him out the door and slammed it behind them.

"So that's the boyfriend," Brian mused.

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