Wild Child

Chapter 28

Justin awoke with a start. He could feel Brian's heat up against his back. They had fucked halfway through the night. Justin turned a bit and felt the burn in his ass. He glanced over his shoulder at Brian. The man was an insatiable lover, even though he was twelve years older than Justin.

Justin smiled as he turned a little more and watched Brian sleep. He wanted to touch Brian's cheek and his eyes and trace the outline of his nose. Brian was the most beautiful man. Justin could hardly believe he was here once again in the loft in Brian's bed.

Carefully Justin slid out of bed wanting to go relieve himself. He padded naked over to the bathroom and slid the door closed behind him. He didn't want to wake Brian. After relieving himself, Justin opened the door and looked at the bed. Brian seemed to still be asleep.

Justin quietly made his way down the steps and into the kitchen. He found the coffee and started a pot. Having done that, he stood behind the counter looking around the loft. Brian was right. He hadn't changed it much. The sofa was new, but still white and not all that much different than the one that had been there years ago. Brian had good taste and his choices didn't become dated. There was a new dining table, but the naked man still looked back at him from the far wall. Justin smiled.

The chaise was situated in the alcove. Justin felt his ass clench and burn again as he remembered those ice cream kisses once again. The loft had so many memories both good and bad.

"Justin?" Brian's voice came from the bedroom.

"Down here."

"I … I thought maybe you had left again," Brian said appearing naked at the top of the steps.

"No, I'm not running this time."

Brian smiled. "What are you doing down here? I miss you."

It was Justin's turn to smile. "Can't you smell the coffee?"

"Yeah, now that you mention it." Brian came down the steps and swept Justin into his arms. He kissed the willing lips and let his hands slide up and down Justin's back and over his bare ass.

"Yum," Justin gasped as the kiss ended. "You've got me hard already."

"Let's go back to bed until the coffee's ready," Brian said with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.

"'Kay," Justin grinned and allowed Brian to take his hand and lead him up to the bedroom.

A couple of mutual blowjobs later, they were ready for the coffee.

"Do you have anything to eat?" Justin asked pulling open the fridge door.

"Not much, since I don't spend a lot of time here. There might be some frozen bagels in the freezer."

"I see times haven't changed much," Justin laughed as he rooted around in the freezer.

He found the bagels and set one to toast. Peanut butter was in the fridge so he pulled it out. Brian poured them each a coffee and they sat at the counter munching on their meager breakfast.

"I should call and make sure Gus is all right," Brian said.

"Yeah," Justin agreed. "Lindsay's with him, but he'll wonder where you are."

"He's knows I'm with you, so he'll be happy," Brian smiled.

"I'm glad he likes us together."

"He remembered you even though he was so little when he last saw you."

"I make a good impression," Justin chuckled.

"You certainly do," Brian agreed placing a kiss on Justin's cheek before heading to the phone. "Lindsay?" he said after a moment. "I'm at the loft. Yes, with Justin. We'll be home after lunch. You'll be ready to go to the airport? Oh, Justin said Sidney would love to see you. If you are ready when we get back then we could stop at the gallery before I take you to the airport. Okay, see you in a while."

Brian hung up the phone and noticed a flashing light on the loft answering machine. He pushed the button wondering who would have left a message for him there.

Greg Fernley's whining voice came on: "Brian, Brian, please call me. It's all a big misunderstanding. I need you. I want us to be together. I promise things will be better. Just call me. I need to see you."

"Fuck!" Brian reacted.

"He doesn't give up, does he?" Justin asked having heard the whole message.

Brian erased it. "It'll be a frosty day in hell before I call that fucker back."

Justin chuckled. That was what he wanted to hear. "Did Lindsay want to go see Sidney?" Justin asked as Brian sat down beside him at the counter. He thought that might be a safer topic of conversation.

"Yeah, I thought we could … um … fuck again, and then I'd buy you a real meal before we head on home."

Justin grinned. "That's what you thought, huh?"

"Yep."

"You always have good plans."

"Not always, but I like this one."

Justin took Brian's hand and they made their way back to bed once again. They lay down together Brian cradling his lover gently in his arms.

"I'm so glad you're here," Brian whispered against Justin's hair.

"I'm glad I'm here too."

"Are you going to stay?" Brian felt compelled to ask.

"Let's leave that for another time. Make love to me, Brian."

Tenderly Brian started kissing Justin's lips and his face and his neck. He worked his way down the familiar body until he claimed his prize. He sucked Justin's thick cock into his mouth and ravished it with his lips and tongue. Justin grabbed the sheets and hung on. A Brian Kinney blowjob was an exquisite experience. Before long Justin was grabbing Brian's hair and begging for release. Brian was happy to oblige as he deep throated Justin and felt the man shoot down his throat. He swallowed it all relishing the familiar taste.

When Justin opened his eyes, he saw a smirking Brian Kinney staring down at him.

"You taste so good," Brian grinned.

"You haven't lost your touch in the blowjob department. Your turn," Justin said.

Brian held up his hand. "I'm fine. I wanted that to be special for you."

"It was, very special," Justin whispered.

"Then let's go shower and I'll treat you to brunch."

"Sounds like a deal." Justin stood up and reached for Brian's hand. They made their way to the bathroom hand in hand. The necessity to touch and be close had not diminished.

About one o'clock they returned to Britin. Gus was happy to see them, and Lindsay looked at them quizzically. She wondered what had happened between them but didn't want to blatantly ask. They found out that Lindsay had packed and was ready to go into Pittsburgh to see Sidney Bloom whenever they were ready. Her plane left for Toronto just after seven that night.

Brian pulled Gus aside as Mrs. Hadley was making them some sandwiches before they left. "Did you and your mother have a talk?"

"Not exactly," Gus admitted reluctantly.

"Gus!" Brian said sternly.

"I'm afraid to bring all that up. She'll remember what I did and hate me all over again," Gus wailed.

"Do you really think she doesn't remember? Gus, she knows what you did, but she will forgive you."

"You don't know that!"

"I do. Gus, you need to do this … for both your sakes, for all of us."

Gus looked like he wanted to cry. "I'll try," he finally said.

"Go in the library and I'll send your mother in."

Gus nodded, looking truly forlorn, and then headed to the library. He had no idea what he was going to say to his mother.

Brian went over to Lindsay and told her Gus wanted to speak to her in the library. She looked at him strangely then nodded and followed her son. The door to the library was closed when she got there so she knocked gently and called, "Gus."

"Can you wait just a minute, Mom?" Gus asked.

"Sure, honey," she said and leaned against the wall waiting.

After a few minutes the door opened and Gus held out a piece of paper towards her. Lindsay stared at it almost afraid to touch it.

"What is it, Gus?" she asked finally making her hand take it from her son.

"Open it and see." Gus had a funny little smile on his face. He looked so much like Brian at that moment that she had to smile back. She relaxed as they stepped inside the library and Lindsay unfolded the paper. She gasped as she looked at the large heart drawn on the page. It was full of words which she started to read:

"Mom, Dad says I should apologize to you for the way I acted in Toronto. I've wanted to tell you how sorry I am for a long time. But I've been afraid that you wouldn't accept the apology and that it was too late to finally say it. I thought if I wrote it, you could take it with you and think about it before you decided if you could forgive me. I love you and I'm really, really sorry. Your son, Gus."

Lindsay felt the tears on her cheeks. This was more than she had ever hoped for. She would keep this piece of paper always. She turned to face her son.

Gus looked at his mother's tearful face and felt all hope leave him. He had made her cry, made her remember all the horrible things he had done. He was about to bolt out of the room when Lindsay smiled at him through her tears.

"This is beautiful, Gus. Thank you for making this for me. I'll cherish it always. I love you and I forgive you."

She took a step towards Gus and they were hugging, holding on like they never wanted to let go.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you so much, sweetheart. I'm so glad we could do this."

"Me too," Gus grinned.

Lindsay finally released her son and they both wiped at their eyes. Lindsay took Gus' hand and they walked out to the pool where Brian and Justin were waiting for them. Gus smiled at his father and nodded his head.

Lindsay said, "Gus, may I show this to your father?" She still had Gus' note clasped firmly in her hand. Gus nodded and Lindsay handed it to Brian. Justin kept his distance not wanting to interfere in this family moment.

Brian looked up at Gus when he had finished reading the note. "I'm so proud of you, Gus."

Gus smiled and said, "You can show it to Justin too. He's almost part of the family … again."

Justin smiled affectionately at the kid. He was definitely a special one. He read the note through. "That's great, Gus. I'm sure your mother was really pleased that you did that." He handed the note back to Lindsay.

"Ecstatic," Lindsay grinned.

"Let's have some of those sandwiches before we head into Pittsburgh," Brian said as they sat down at the patio table. Mrs. Hadley had set the plate of sandwiches out there and was returning with a large pitcher of lemonade. "Join us?" Brian asked her.

Mrs. Hadley smiled and nodded. Lindsay handed her Gus' note and Mrs. Hadley read it. She smiled at Gus and gave him a thumbs up. Everyone laughed, a warm, friendly, comfortable sound that bespoke friends and family and happy times. Gus couldn't believe how good that made him feel.

After their late lunch Lindsay said goodbye to Mrs. Hadley. They loaded her suitcase in the Mercedes and Brian, Justin, Lindsay and Gus set off for the Sidney Bloom Gallery in Pittsburgh.

When they pulled up out front Lindsay hesitated, her hand on the door handle of the car. "I hope he won't be disappointed in me," she murmured as she opened the door.

Brian gave her a withering glare. "Nobody is going to be disappointed," he stated firmly. "I'm looking forward to seeing your show, Sunshine."

Justin smiled up at Brian and then opened the door of the gallery. Lindsay stepped into the familiar surroundings and looked around. Much was the same but all the paintings were different. A few of the moveable partitions were in different positions. She immediately assessed how she would improve the flow of the exhibit. As her thoughts progressed she didn't see Sidney come up beside her.

"Lindsay?" he said almost in disbelief. "Is that really you?"

Lindsay smiled. "Guilty as charged." She felt herself blushing and smoothed the old skirt she had on.

"It's so good to see you again. Come in the office so we can talk," Sidney directed.

Lindsay looked at Brian and Justin.

"I'm going to show Brian my paintings," Justin said. "Want to see them again, Gus?"

Gus smiled. "I wonder if Dad will be able to pick out the one I liked best."

Brian ruffled Gus' hair. The apology seemed to have cleared the air for them all. Hopefully Gus' attitude towards school would be the next thing to improve. "Let's go see."

After walking through the gallery and congratulating Justin on his artwork, the Kinney men waited outside Sidney's office. Sidney and Lindsay seemed to be in an animated discussion about something, and none of them wanted to interrupt.

"So Gus," Brian began, "you didn't ask me which piece I thought you liked the best."

"Which one?" Gus asked on cue.

"That one," Brian said pointing to the first one Gus had seen when he came to the gallery with Mrs. Hadley.

"You're right," Gus smiled. "Why did you pick that one?"

"It just seemed like the one you would select, the color and the lines and the overall feel."

"Sounds like you know your son pretty well," Justin observed.

"Did you see the painting with the man surrounded by clouds of sadness?" Gus asked.

"That one?" Brian asked pointing to the painting that had convinced Gus that Justin didn't want to see his father anymore. Gus nodded. "It seems sad."

"Is it Dad?" Gus asked Justin.

"It's not anybody in particular, but I was thinking about you when I painted it," Justin said looking at Brian.

"That's how I felt most of the time you were gone," Brian admitted.

"I guess we were still connected on some level even when we were so far apart," Justin said sliding his hand into Brian's.

Gus watched the interaction and smiled. He liked his dad with Justin so much more than he liked him with that Greg guy.

Just then Lindsay opened the office door and she and Sidney came out. "Guess what?" she gushed. "Sidney offered me a job here."

"But you live in Toronto, Mom," Gus said practically.

"I know, honey, but what would you think about me and Melanie moving back here?"

"You think Momma would do that?"

"I don't know, but I'm certainly going to discuss it with her."

Gus gave his mother a big hug. "I'd like it if you were closer. Will I have to come live with you?"

"We don't have to decide that now, Gus. You're doing so well with your father. I don't want to interfere in that."

Brian gave Lindsay a strange look. He couldn't believe she would even consider making Gus live with them. He would fight that all the way.

They left the gallery and drove to the airport. There was little talk as each was lost in his own thoughts. Brian was secretly fuming about Lindsay even entertaining the idea that Gus would go back to living with her. Gus had made progress but he was far from cured. They still had the hurdle of school to overcome. He couldn't believe that after all the begging and crying they had done to get him to take Gus in the first place that they would think they could simply take him back at a moment's notice. No way was that going to happen.

Gus was thinking about how good it felt to have his mother forgive him. He liked being close to her again. He hadn't felt this way for a very long time. He liked the idea of his mothers coming back to Pittsburgh. He could see them more often, and he did miss JR. He would have to apologize to her too. He knew she was afraid of him.

Lindsay was thinking about the new life that might be opening up for them. The reasons they had left Pittsburgh were still there, but the political climate had grown better over the years. She would have a good job if she went back to work for Sidney. And Melanie could practice law again. Their future looked so much better if they made the move back.

Justin sat beside Brian in the passenger seat. He was weighing his options about the future. He had enjoyed being with this new and improved Brian Kinney. He knew Brian wanted them to be together. Justin was beginning to want that too. He would have to make his decision soon. What he and Brian had done the night before had led Brian to believe that Justin was going to stay in Pittsburgh. Justin knew that if Brian asked him to stay with him again this night, he would have to make his intentions known. It wasn't fair to either of them to let this go on without stating where he stood. He just wished he could be sure.

They parked the car and walked into the airport. Lindsay checked in while Brian and Gus stood watching her. Justin stayed off to the side trying to make his decision. He was running out of time. When Lindsay had checked her luggage and obtained her boarding pass, she rejoined them. Brian suggested they get a coffee and maybe something for Lindsay to eat since they didn't serve meals on this flight.

Seated in the restaurant they ordered drinks and Lindsay got some French fries. "I need my grease groups for today," she laughed.

Brian looked at her wondering how he could make it clear that he was not going to give up Gus just because Lindsay moved back. Gus wanted to use the restroom and Justin decided to go with him, maybe sensing that Brian and Lindsay needed some time alone.

"What the fuck was that all about at the gallery?" Brian demanded as soon as Gus and Justin were out of earshot.

"What do you mean? Of course, I would like to be closer to Gus," Lindsay replied.

"It sounded like you intended to take Gus back."

"I would love to have Gus back."

"Where the fuck do I fit in all this? You beg me to take him, he improves a little and then you want him back. No fucking way!"

"Brian, I…"

"No, Lindsay, I won't give him up again."

"I'm not asking you to, if you'll just listen."

"What do you mean?"

"I give you a world of credit for what you've done with Gus," Lindsay said squeezing Brian's hand. Brian let her do it, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "I would love to have Gus come and stay with us if we get a place in Pittsburgh. However, I don't expect to try to take him away from you."

"Seriously?" Brian asked feeling some of his worry dissipate.

"I mean it."

"What about Melanie?"

"I'll handle Melanie."

"Okay," Brian said relaxing somewhat.

Gus and Justin returned. They were talking and laughing together. Brian liked to see that. Lindsay ate her fries with some help from Gus. Shortly after, Lindsay hugged them all, said her goodbyes and disappeared through security.

"Would you like to go out for dinner?" Brian asked the men in his life.

"Could we go to the diner?" Gus asked. "I'd like a burger and fries."

"Of course you would," Brian grinned. "Is that all right with you?" Brian asked Justin.

"Do you think Debbie will be there?" Justin asked apprehensively. He wasn't sure he wanted a Debbie Novotny interrogation, especially when he wasn't exactly sure where he and Brian stood.

"I doubt it," Brian replied. "She usually only does the lunch hour shift anymore."

"Okay," Justin said. "The diner it is." Now all he had to do was make a decision before Brian wanted him to go back to Britin.

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