Cottages

Chapter 1

“Dad, what are you working on?” Patrick asked his father. John was in his attic office fine tuning the plans for Lindsay and Mel’s cottage. Using the sketch that Lindsay had given him, John was making the template for their design. Beau was outside patrolling his lane, cataloguing all the latest sights and smells since the newest cottage had been built.

“Come and see,” John replied as he pushed back from his drafting table so that Patrick could climb onto his lap. As John slid his chair closer to the table, Patrick began his inspection of the plans.

“A new house. No, it’s too small. It almost looks like Uncle Brian’s half of the cottage,” Patrick said. John smiled proudly. His son was recognizing the differences between structures on paper. “Who does this belong to?”

“Lindsay and Mel. Do you remember passing the Somerville cottage?”

“Yeah, it’s kinda falling down.”

“Well, Anderson Construction is going to try to prevent that from happening.”

“Who drew this?” Patrick asked as he picked up Lindsay’s sketch.

“Lindsay. She’s quite an artist.” Patrick nodded in agreement. “She wants a sun porch studio where she can paint and Melanie requested a quiet office,” John explained. “We'll be renovating the two smaller bedrooms for Gus and JR.”

“Why doesn’t Aunt Lindsay paint like Uncle Justin?”

“I don’t really know. Maybe she doesn’t have the confidence to paint that Justin has.”

“Bree paints. She paints all the time. She just picks up her brush and does it.”

“Your cousin is very special and quite confident in her abilities. Your uncles have seen to that.”

“She has confidence,” Patrick agreed.

“Yes, she does. And so do you.”

“But I don’t draw like Bree does.”

“And I can’t draw or paint like Justin but I can draw up plans for buildings and I know where rooms should be placed. Your Uncle Bri doesn’t draw very well either but he has an eye for color and knows how to use art to sell things. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I think so. We all have some talent and we know how to use it,” Patrick said as he absentmindedly smoothed out the creases in Lindsay’s drawing.

“That’s right. But sometimes when we are not given the right encouragement, we don’t have a chance to recognize our talents and let them grow.”

“Aunt Lindsay?”

John nodded. “I’ve seen some of her work. It’s very good but she doesn’t seem to think so.”

“If she had a sun porch, do you think she’d paint more?”

“Maybe. I think that’s what she’s hoping for.”

“And does Aunt Mel want to paint too?”

“No, I believe Mel wants to write.”

“But lawyers write all the time. Poppa does,” Patrick said in frustration. He had tried to read some of the briefs his father wrote and couldn’t make head or tail out of them. The legal-eze was way too complicated. John laughed out loud.

“Mel wants to write for fun.”

“Oh.” Patrick concentrated on the cottage plans. “Is that a load-bearing wall?” Patrick pointed to the end of the cottage where the sun porch would abut the main cottage.

“Yes, I was going to put a small door so they could access the porch. Why?”

“And this?” Patrick pointed to the room that was labeled office. It was next to the porch.

“Mel’s office. What are you thinking?” John and Bobby always encouraged Patrick to express himself.

“Sometimes Aunt Mel and Aunt Lindsay don’t always get along,” Patrick said softly. He was so grateful his parents were always so loving toward each other. And he had no doubt about how much his uncles loved each other. That was evident every minute of every day. “Can you put in another door?”

“Yes, where?”

“Here,” Patrick pointed to the wall that was mutual to Lindsay’s studio and Mel’s office. “Maybe a glass door like Uncle Bri has from his bedroom onto the porch.”

“I can do that but why?”

“It would add more light to that room...”

“Yes, it would and…?” John knew there was something else.

“They could be together more, even when they’re doing stuff separately,” Patrick wisely observed. John gave his son a hug.

“You’re right. I think they need something like that,” John whispered into a red hair covered ear. “And you need a hair cut, young man,” John said as he gently tickled his son’s sides. Patrick giggled with glee. “Is your homework all done?”

It was the beginning of October. Life was returning to normal after Gus’ birthday party. Anderson Construction had been commissioned to renovate two cottages, the Munchers’ and Leda’s. A special construction crew headed up by John’s business partner and best friend, Gordon Smith, would be manned by many of Hunter’s kids. That crew was scheduled to work on Leda’s cottage. The Harrisburg crew would take care of the Lindsay and Mel cottage. The plan was to have both cottages completed and livable before winter.

“Yes, Dad,” Patrick replied.

“Want me to check it over?”

“Poppa did that already. He said it was your turn to start dinner and that you should take a break. You’ve been up here all day.”

“I do have to work,” John said reasonably.

“I know. But you also have to eat and I’m hungry.”

“Then I guess I should start dinner.”

John carefully put away his drafting tools and the plans for the girls’ cottage then followed his son down the stairs.

 

*****
 

“Something smells good,” Brian said as he walked through John’s kitchen door. “Are we invited?” Brian asked with a lopsided grin. He had just come in from outside. Brian had been clipping back the plants in Emmett’s garden and inspecting the greenhouse. He planned on tackling Molly’s garden and then his own.

“Of course you are, there’s plenty. I think I’ve forgotten how to cook small,” John remarked as he was stirring a pot of gravy. Brian stood close to take a peek in one of the pots on the stove. “Baby bro, we have time for you to shower before dinner,” John said as he screwed up his nose.

Brian took a whiff of his armpit and made the same face. “Shower, right,” he said as he put the lid back onto the pot.

“Good decision. Dinner will be here when you’re done,” John reassured his brother. Brian nodded then scurried to his side of the cottage.

 

*****
 

“That was great, Dad!” Patrick said as he patted his satisfied belly.

“Good, Unca John,” Bree concurred, bobbing her head, her pig-tails bouncing with each nod.

“Thank you, thank you one and all,” John said as he stood to clear the table.

“I’ll take care of it, John,” Bobby said as he got up.

“I’ll help,” Justin added as he grabbed his dish and Bree’s. Brian got up to help as well.

“Brian, can we talk a minute?” John asked his brother.

“Sure,” Brian replied. They walked out into the sun porch to speak in private. “John?” Brian asked as he placed his hand on his brother’s chest. Brian’s hazel eyes searched John’s.

“I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to speak frankly without little ears overhearing.”

Brian took a deep breath. Over the years Brian had grown to love his brother more than he ever thought he could. John’s gentle wisdom, wit and humor made him more than a brother. John was Brian’s closest friend.

“What is it?”

“As you may know, the girls have hired me to renovate their cottage.” Brian snorted. “You don’t like the idea?”

“I don’t give a fuck what they do!” Brian snapped back.

“Brian...”

“I know, I really didn’t mean it that way. I guess I’m a little surprised they didn’t come to me, to us. We have plenty of land here. I wouldn’t have minded them as neighbors. Not much. I think I would have put them across from Emmett. Would serve them right to hear that nelly bottom queen screech every night as Drew plowed his ass.”

“Brian!”

“Yeah, yeah, so I’m an asshole. That’s been well established. So why didn’t the munchers ask us? I bet it was Mel.”

“You may be right, but whatever the reason, they will be neighbors just not on our lane.”

“Where is this cottage?”

“Near the turnoff by the general store.”

“That close?”

“Yes, we share the same stream.”

“So I can wish that the spring runoff will carry them away?”

“No, you can’t,” John said hiding his chuckle. Brian sounded so much like a petulant child. “What I do want...”

“Oh no! I am not going to do their garden and you can’t make me,” Brian said with a straight face but then burst out into laughter. He knew he sounded like a spoiled brat.

“Come on, Bri. No one else I know has a true flair for gardening like you do.”

“True,” Brian replied immodestly.

“Or is as modest.”

“True again.”

“So help me out. You don’t have anything pressing to do and you’re already in gardening mode. I promise you won’t have to do the actual work. Just look at the place and let your imagination run wild.” Brian gave his brother rather a sinister look. “Not that wild.”

“So no Venus flytraps or big huge plants that yell out, ‘feed me’?”

“No.”

“Damn. So what do I get out of all this?”

“The satisfaction that Gus’ mothers will have a little lovenest that will nurture their creative juices.”

“Ew, John. No talk about lesbian juices. I just ate,” Brian whined.

“You are pitiful, you know that?”

“So take pity on me and don’t make me do this.”

“Fine, but if Gus comes back from Penn to a broken home, it won’t be my fault. And think of JR, that sweet little girl. She deserves to come home from a hard day at school to a warm loving environment,” John said as he turned on the puppy dog eyes.

Brian stared at him. “You are so full of shit.”

“So you’ll do it?”

“I’ll do it. Who’s the landscaper?”

“Same ones we used for Emmett and Molly,” John said as he handed over the landscaper’s business card.

“Bitch,” Brian grumbled.

“Take a ride over with me after we drop the kids off at school tomorrow. It’s supposed to be nice out.”

“Fine, but you owe me big time.”

“You mean just me being your big brother isn’t payment enough?”

Brian’s face softened. “Yeah, it is,” Brian whispered as he smiled. Then Brian’s face took on a mischievous grin. “But you still owe me,” he growled making John laugh.

“Let’s go get some dessert, little brother,” John said as he draped his arm over Brian’s shoulders. The Kinney brothers went back into the house to rejoin their family.

 

*****
 

“Dad?” Patrick was about to go to bed and wanted to say good night to his father.

“Hey, my little man, ready to go to bed?” John said as he quickly checked his watch. After dessert John had returned to his office to work on the cottage plans.

“Yup.”

“Need me to tuck you in?”

“No, I’m a big boy.”

“Yes, you are,” John said as he ruffled the fine red hair.

“I just came up to say good night. Poppa wants to know if you’re going to spend the whole night up here.”

“I’ll be done in a little while.”

“Whatcha doing?” Patrick spied his father’s computer. On the screen was a website with pictures of English cottages.

“It occurred to me that my guys have restored or built a lot of cottages in the past several years. I wanted to do a little research.”

“Okay, but Poppa says don’t stay up here for too much longer or he’ll have to get tough,” Patrick said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

“Tell your Poppa, I’m quaking in my boots,” John said as he gave his son a goodnight kiss.

“Okay, Dad. You guys sure are weird sometimes,” Patrick commented as he started to climb down the stairs. “Night, Dad.”

“Good night, little man,” John said as he returned to his research.

 

*****
 

“Brian?” John called out from his balcony.

“Yo, bro,” Brian answered, causing John to roll his eyes. Brian was in his own office working and checking the progress on the Lethal Bike campaign.

“Can I borrow the Kinney album with the pictures of the original Kinney mansion?”

“Sure,” Brian called out over the expanse of the sun porch. “We need to devise a pulley system to send stuff back and forth.”

“You aren’t serious, are you?” John replied as he met his brother halfway to retrieve the heavy volume.

“Nah, but it would make things easier.”

“And us a whole lot fatter. Climbing up and down these stairs is good exercise.”

“If you say so. And why are you still working? You tired of that red-headed spitfire of a partner of yours already?”

“I could never be tired of him. Is it that late?”

“Close to ten. You’ve been sequestered up there for most of the day. Can’t whatever you’re working on wait till the morning?”

Brian cocked his head toward the Anderson-Morrison door. Bobby was standing in the doorway. His chest was bare and his sleep pants were riding low on his hips. His fiery red hair, unruly and very sexy. He gave John a sultry come hither look.

“Um, yeah,” John mumbled as he shoved the album back into Brian’s hands. “Do me a favor, turn off my office light for me,” John said as he made a beeline for his spouse.

Brian snickered as he brought the album up to John’s office, carefully placing it on John’s desk. He bookmarked the website before shutting down John’s computer then Brian turned off the light. As Brian came down the stairs he spied Justin standing at the doorway to their bedroom. His chest was bare and his sleep pants were riding low on his hips. Justin gave Brian a coy smile. Brian made a beeline for his spouse.

 

*****
 

“I was beginning to think I was married to a phantom,” Bobby commented as he helped John off with his clothes then slipped between their sheets.

“I’m sorry, Babe, I got caught up in my work.”

“I know and I’m not complaining. It’s just I have an early day tomorrow and I was hoping for some cuddle time with my hunky man.”

“You think I’m hunky?”

“As ever,” Bobby purred as he ran his fingers over John’s hard biceps and washboard abs. “You get better with age,” Bobby whispered into John’s ear. His hot breath made John’s cock twitch.

“Bobby,” John begged as he spread his thighs.

“Want me?”

“Always,” John moaned as Bobby swiftly entered him. “Oh god!” John cried out as Bobby hit a home run.

Bobby’s lubed cock slid in and out of John again and again and again pounding him hard just like he wanted it.

“Gonna come,” John groaned as he fisted his cock. “Bobby!” John cried out his lover’s name as he shot thick hot ropes of cum all over his chest. Bobby’s orgasm quickly followed as he pulled out of John to add his cum into the mix. Bobby collapsed next to his lover.

“I think we need a shower,” John said when his brain regained its focus.

“Mmmph,” was Bobby’s only reply. “Don’t think I can move,” he said after a while. When his arms cooperated, Bobby reached into his bedside table to retrieve an old towel. He gave himself and John a cursory wipedown then snuggled close. Within minutes Bobby was fast asleep.

John gazed down at the younger man sleeping soundly in his arms. His heart was full of such love, admiration and respect for the younger man, even as his ass ached with the aftereffects of their lovemaking.

John looked up at the ceiling and smiled. He contemplated all the changes his life had gone through since Bobby first came into it. Good changes, for the most part, with a few bumps along the way. But that was to be expected. He thought about all the changes their room had gone through, and this very cottage. John finally fell asleep wondering what JAB Kinney had thought about this part of his house. Had he ever deemed to go into the kitchen or did he leave that all to the servants he must have had? And now all that was left of that great house was their cottage.

 

*****
 

“Auughh!” Justin growled as he came. He was riding Brian’s dick, bouncing hard up and down. Brian had his fingers wrapped around Justin’s dick jacking him off as Justin bounced. Brian’s orgasm wasn’t far behind as Justin clenched his ass around Brian’s cock. Justin collapsed onto Brian’s chest.

“I love you,” Justin whispered.

“Me too.” Brian buried his fingers into Justin’s blond mane, holding the younger man to his chest. “We’re going to be glued together.”

“Don’t care. Don’t want to move.” Justin settled in even more astride Brian’s chest and torso. They both moaned softly at the loss when Brian’s softened dick slipped from Justin’s ass.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you when we lose a few layers of skin in the morning.”

“‘Kay,” Justin replied as he fell asleep.

Brian chuckled to himself, careful not to dislodge his lover, reveling in the solid weight of Justin. He ran his fingers through Justin’s hair then down over his shoulders and back. This was one of Brian’s best times of the day or night. After they fucked themselves to exhaustion and Justin was out cold.

It was quiet in their cottage. Bree had fallen asleep hours ago. The household would be up early for school and work. Justin had some paintings he was finishing up. They were still waiting word from Sidney regarding London. Brian and John would drive the kids to school and then go over to the munchers’ new cottage.

“Fuck,” Brian whispered then quickly petted Justin’s back as he murmured in his sleep. Brian willed down his concerns. It wasn’t like the girls were going to be next door, like Molly or Emmett. The cottage would most likely be a weekend and vacation place. The girls’ lives revolved around Pittsburgh. But it would be good for them to get out of the city every once in a while. Good for JR too.

“Ow,” Brian grumbled. The sticky mess on his chest had dried and was pulling on his skin. But what was the loss of a few skin cells compared to the solid warmth of his lover in his arms? Brian held Justin closer then let the soft sounds of Justin’s even breathing lull him to sleep.
 

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