Summer in the City

Chapter 9

“Dad, can we go take a walk or something?  I really need to talk to you.”

The Kinney-Taylor family met back at the hotel for dinner.  Bree and Joan had a bag full of books they wanted to read.  And Briana had a project to do for her library class.  Joan had signed up her precocious granddaughter for a summer reading and writing program for the time they were visiting New York.

Justin decided to do some shopping for some art supplies then take them over to his temporary studio.  He had his laptop with him and therefore access to many family photos to inspire more of the Fall portion of his Seasons paintings.

“Let’s walk toward the park,” Brian suggested.  “I can use the exercise,” he said patting his almost non-existent tummy.

The Kinney men were dressed almost alike in soft comfortable jeans that accentuated their lean lines.  And in sleeveless shirts that showed off Brian’s toned muscles as well as Gus’, albeit his were yet to be developed.  Their choice of wardrobe was by coincidence, dictated by Brian’s years of habit and Gus’ unconscious way of emulating his father and hero.  The handsome Kinney men casually strode toward Central Park.

“What is it, Sonny Boy?” Brian ventured after strolling several blocks.

“I did something today, but I’m sure if you’re going to like it.  I liked it and it didn’t go far and Uncle Simon knows and he wasn’t mad or anything and...”

“Gus, take a breath before you turn blue.” 

Gus stopped and drew in a deep breath.  “Dad, me and Ray, we, sort of...” 

Brian tensed; he knew this day was coming.  Gus was a hell of a good looking boy, correction, young man.  And Brian wasn’t deaf to the speculation on Liberty that Gus was expected to take up where Brian had left off.  Brian was hoping that it wouldn’t happen until he was too senile to know the difference.

“Spit.  It.  Out.”  Brian turned his lethal glare onto his son.

“IkissedRaymondandIlikedit,” Gus fired rapidly.

“And?” Brian asked waiting for the worst of it.

“And?” Gus asked, his eyes opening very wide.

“What else?”

“What else?”  Gus unknowingly parroted back. 

Brian sighed loudly and resisted throttling the boy.  “What else did you two do?”

“Do?”

“Oh for the love of the gods!  Sonny Boy, read my lips.  Did you fuck Raymond?”

“Fuu...,” Gus stammered, still unable to say the words.

“Did you and Raymond have sex?” Brian asked more calmly.

“Sex?  NO!  We just kissed, that’s all.” 

Brian stood in front of his son, his very exasperating and irritating son.  “Just a kiss.”  Gus nodded.  “One kiss.”  Gus nodded.  “Nothing else.”  Gus nodded again.  “That’s it?  You’re trying to give me a heart attack because you swapped spit.”

“Eiwww, Dad.  We did not swap spit.  It was a kiss, a nice kiss.  I never knew how soft a guy’s lips can be,” Gus admitted quietly.  They were huddled together on a park bench almost whispering.

Brian nodded.  There was nothing in the world like Justin’s lips.  Warm, soft full lips, so pliant, so....

“Earth to Pop!” Gus said loudly bringing Brian out of his reverie. 

Brian snaked his arm around his son’s shoulder then bussed Gus’ temple.  “It’s okay, Sonny Boy.  It’s okay to like kissing.  It’s okay to like the person you’re kissing.  Raymond is a good looking kid.”

“He’s older than me, Pop.”

“Not by much, and you’re still a kid.”  Gus rolled his eyes and Brian gently cuffed his ear then kissed away the sting.  Then he cupped his son’s chin to look in the eyes that reflected his own.  “Gus, making love with someone you love, well, there’s nothing like it.  It can hurt, but that’s a part of it.  That initial pain, the burn, the feeling of fullness.  Even if you never bottom, you have to realize that it hurts.  And it’s also the best feeling in the world.  But if you don’t know what you’re doing you can do damage.”

“Dad...”

“Do you want to know the details?”

“No, not now, but soon, Pop, real soon.  But is it okay for me and Ray to kiss and touch.”

“Gus, as a parent of a boy who legally can’t partake in sexual activity, I have to say no.”  Gus’ face fell and fell hard.  Brian smiled softly.  It sucked to be a parent sometimes.  “But as a gay man who had his first sexual encounter at the age of fourteen, if all you and Raymond want to do is kiss, then I say as long as the feeling is mutual and it goes no further than kissing and an occasional touch here and there then I’m cool with it.  But please don’t do anything to upset Kenny and Simon, especially Simon.  He’s one fucking big bear.  He’d kill us both.”

The Kinney men exchanged knowing looks.

“Do you understand, Sonny Boy?”

“Yeah, Pop, I do.  I like Raymond.”

“The same way you liked Lacy?”  Brian gave his son a sideways glance. 

Gus grimaced.  “No.  But I like talking to Ray and hanging out with him.  He and Jeff are fun to be with, and I don’t have to pretend to be something I’m not when I’m with them.” 

Brian nodded in agreement.  Brian always took advantage of the fact that he was never obvious, very masculine but also androgynous.  He saw those same qualities in Gus.  Gus was truly a chip off the old block.

“Then have fun, Sonny Boy, but remember we go home by the end of July.  No need to leave a string of broken hearts or go home with one of your own.  Your moms will kill me if I bring you back damaged,” Brian said with his tongue in his cheek.

“I’ll be careful, I promise, Pop.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s what they all say.  Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Doesn’t leave much I can’t do,” Gus muttered receiving another cuff to his ear for his trouble.  “You learn that from Grandmaw Deb?” 

Brian shrugged his shoulders then the Kinney men cracked up with laughter.

“Let’s go back before they send out a search party,” Brian suggested, standing as he spoke.  Gus stood up too.  “I love you, Sonny Boy, and I am so proud of you.”

“I love you too, Pop, and I’m proud to be your son.”  Father and son proudly sauntered back to their hotel.

*****

“Time for bed, Squirt,” Brian said.

“Not tired,” Bree stated with determination.

“It’s still time for bed.”

“No.”

“Briana Victoria, you are going to bed.”

Bree looked up from where she was coloring a picture on the coffee table of their suite at the hotel.  “Don’t want to, Dada,” she said batting her violet blue eyes at her father.

Brian looked over at Justin hoping for some help.  Justin smiled and shrugged.

“Do something,” Brian begged his spouse.

“Briana, dear, why don’t you and I go to your room and I’ll read you another story after you have your bath?” Joan asked.

Bree looked up before adding a few more strokes to her picture with her crayon.  “Done,” she said.  “Gamma, you and me love stories.”

“Yes we do,” Joan smiled.

“Daddy, this is for you.  I drew the li-berry,” Bree said holding out the picture to her father.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Justin said taking the picture and kissing his daughter on the cheek.

“Love you, Daddy.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

“What about me?” Brian asked.

“Love you, Dada,” Bree told him as she came over to where he was sitting and pressed his legs apart.  She stood between them and kissed her dada on the cheek.  “You come and tuck me in?” she asked batting the baby blues once again.

“Of course I will, Squirt.”

“Good, Dada.”

Justin tried not to laugh out loud as he watched his daughter charm her father.

“Let’s go, Gamma,” Bree said holding out her hand to Joan.

Joan took the hand and picked up the book bag with her other hand.  “Let’s see if we can find a really good story for after your bath.”

Brian winked at his mother and mouthed, “Thank you.”

“We picked good stories today,” Bree told her grandmother before the bedroom door closed behind them.

“Why the fuck don’t I have any say over what our daughter does?” Brian asked Justin.

Justin chuckled.  “Because she bats those eyes at you and you melt into a pile of goo.”

“I am not goo.”

“You are goo, big guy.  You might as well face it.”

“I’m Brian fucking Kinney.  I can’t be goo.”

Justin laughed and moved over to the sofa where Brian was sitting.  “Bree knows how to wield her powers over you.  She does it to all of us when she wants to.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Brian sulked.

“You don’t have to, but it’s going to happen from time to time,” Justin told him as he slid onto Brian’s knee.

“But I’m the father.  She should obey me.”

”She does ninety percent of the time,” Justin said gently as he kissed the throbbing spot on Brian’s temple.

“Shouldn’t it be one hundred percent?” Brian asked starting to relax a little due to Justin’s kisses down the side of his face and all around his ear.

“That only happens on TV and in … fairytales,” Justin noted before starting to work on Brian’s neck.

“We’re fairies.  She should obey,” Brian groaned, as Justin found the sensitive spot at the base of his neck, and sucked hard.

“What would be the challenge of a one hundred percent obedient Bree?  She wouldn’t be any challenge at all,” Justin cooed as he worked down onto Brian’s chest.  His lips caressed and sucked and heated up the whole area.

“You better stop that or we won’t be able to tuck Bree in.  You’ll be taking it up the ass like the slutty little twat you are,” Brian growled.

“Okay,” Justin said breezily as he stopped what he was doing.  “But remember where I left off … for later.”

“Count on it,” Brian groaned as Justin stood up and walked away.  What he wouldn’t give for total privacy for the next four hours.

*****

“So, you told them you’d do it?” Drew asked.

He and Emmett were sitting in the living room of their loft in Pittsburgh. 

“I could hardly refuse them,” Emmett replied.

“Yes, you could refuse them.  Sometimes they presume too much.”

“They gave me a place to stay when I needed it,” Emmett averred.

“And how many times have you paid them back for it already?” Drew demanded.

“They’re paying me for my services,” Emmett tried to explain.

“Emmett, you have more than enough things to keep you busy.  You don’t need this last minute party added on to complicate your life.”

“I know, but Melanie seemed so keen on having the party…”

“Then she should have planned a little farther ahead.  I hardly see you, as it is.  Now…”

“I’ll make sure I have time for you, Mr. Quarterback,” Emmett promised.

“I don’t want you making yourself sick over this.  You’ve got the new restaurant to think about and all your parties and…”

“I’ll be careful.  I won’t overdo it.”

Drew sighed.  “Okay, I’ve said my piece.”

“Then let’s go to bed so I can get some quality time with my man,” Emmett suggested with a toothy grin.

Drew chuckled.  “You sure know how to end an argument.”

“Just one of my many talents,” Emmett replied as he took Drew’s hand and pulled him towards the bedroom.

*****

“I think we’ll have a fantastic party,” Melanie said as she stripped off her clothes.

“Are you sure we can afford it?” Lindsay asked with a frown.

“I’m sure,” Melanie responded abruptly.  She didn’t like to be questioned about their finances.  “Besides, Emmett will give us a break on the cost.”

“Mel. You can’t expect Emmett to help finance this party.  You really put him on the spot with this last minute decision.”

“It’s not a last minute decision.  We’ve been talking about this ever since Bree’s extravaganza in May.”

“I know, but I didn’t think you were serious … and not inviting any of the family.  I just don’t know,” Lindsay said shaking her head.

“Well, I do know.  This is the way I want it.  It will be business associates and friends from the GLC.”

“Whoopee!” Lindsay said sarcastically.

Melanie glared at her.  “I think it’s time we cultivated some other friends than the Edna’s Treasures group.  This will be good for us.”

Lindsay bit her tongue.  She wanted to tell Melanie that throwing this party to spite Brian wasn’t going to make her happy, but she knew that would lead to a fight.  She swallowed hard and said, “Let’s go to bed.”

“I’m ready when you are,” Melanie grinned throwing back the covers and opening her arms to her mate.

*****

“Good night, Squirt,” Brian said as he kissed his daughter’s forehead.

“Night, Dada.”

“Night, sweetheart,” Justin told his daughter as he adjusted the covers around her.  “Did you like the story Gamma Joan read to you?”

“Yep, but I want you to read to me tomorrow night.”

“That’s a deal,” Justin said with a smile.  “Sleep tight.”

 

“Are you going to bed too, mother?” Brian asked Joan who was sitting on the side of her bed in her dressing gown.

“I think I will.  I’m a little tired tonight.  It seems strange not being in my own bed.”

“I appreciate you coming with us,” Brian told her.

“You’re very welcome.  I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Brian smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek.  He and Justin left the room.

“Hey, Pop,” Gus called as he came into the suite.

Brian gave him a look.  “Everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine,” Gus said with a smile.  “I took a cab from Ray’s.  I hope that was all right.”

“That’s fine,” Brian replied deciding that it was much better to pay for a cab than have Gus using public transport when he didn’t know the city.

“See you in the morning, Pop,” Gus said as he headed for his room.

“Isn’t it a little early for Gus to be hitting the hay?” Justin asked.

Brian shrugged.  “Want to watch some TV?”

“What’s going on?” Justin asked, sensing there was more to Gus’ arrival and hasty retreat to his bedroom than met the eye.

“Um…”

“Come in here, and tell me about it,” Justin ordered pulling Brian towards their bedroom.

“It’s kind of private,” Brian tried to hedge.

“Is Gus having sex?”

“Shit!  I hope not,” Brian reacted.

“Then what is it?  Tell me.”

“Gus told me that he and Raymond had shared a kiss.”

“A kiss?  Holy shit!  Gus and Ray?”

“Yeah.”

“Is … is that all they’re doing?”

“That’s what Gus says.”

“Then I guess we should believe him.  Do you think it will go any farther?”

Brian frowned.  “I don’t think so.”

“But they could get carried away.”

“I don’t really want to think about that,” Brian replied.

“I understand that, but it’s a possibility that we have to face.”

“Gus said they were just experimenting, just kissing.”

“Okay,” Justin sighed as he started removing his clothing.  “I guess we have to trust him.”

“He’s never made me think that I can’t trust him.”

“I know.  He’s a good kid, but he is growing up.  He wants to learn to drive, you know.”

“Drive?  Did he tell you that?  Why didn’t he tell me?”

“He thought you’d freak out.”

“So he goes to you about driving and comes to me for talks about sex.”

“Seems right to me,” Justin grinned.

“Asshole,” Brian said with his own grin.

“Do you remember where we were earlier?” Justin asked as he shed the last of his clothes.

“Right here,” Brian said pointing to the spot on his collarbone where Justin had stopped his magic on the sofa.

Justin smiled at him.  “I’m ready to pick up where we left off.  Why do you have so many clothes on?”

“It’s only nine o’clock.”

“The longer to fuck you, my dear.”

“Oh, of course, how stupid of me,” Brian replied smacking his forehead with the palm of his hand.  “What was I thinking?”

“I don’t know,” Justin chuckled, “but you need to focus.”  He helped to pull Brian’s shirt off and unbutton his jeans.

“Focused, very focused,” Brian mumbled as Justin started in on that spot on his neck.

Justin smiled to himself as he wielded his own Taylor power over Brian fucking Kinney.

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