Wedding Bell Blues
Chapter 2
Brian headed off the dance floor at the Honey Bear. He and Justin had been grinding against each other for quite a while and Brian definitely needed a drink. Brian slumped down on the seats that surrounded their little table, and he let the black thoughts swoop through him. A waiter appeared almost instantly and Brian ordered a triple Grey Goose. Justin asked for a beer.
"You're hitting it pretty hard tonight, aren't you?" Justin asked.
Brian raised an eyebrow and didn't say anything. He waited for the vodka to arrive.
"Is something wrong, Brian?" Justin said with a frown.
Brian stared off at the dance floor not looking at anything in particular.
"Have I done something?"
Brian shrugged.
"You're scaring me, Brian. Why won't you talk?"
"Maybe because I have nothing to say."
"You don't?"
"I don't."
"Then why did you order a triple?"
"I felt like it."
"Do you need to get drunk … or something?"
"Or something," Brian said enigmatically.
"Is something wrong or are you trying to piss me off?"
"Would I do that?"
"Whether you're trying to or not … you fucking are."
"Sensitive."
"You're being a bigger ass than usual," Justin said crossing his arms on his chest and glaring at Brian.
"You look so much like Mikey when you do that."
"Fuck!" Justin reacted. The last thing he wanted was to be compared to Michael Novotny. "I liked it better when you weren't talking."
Brian shrugged. Their drinks arrived and Brian downed a good portion of his. Justin watched him while Justin sipped at his beer. Sometimes, not too often thank God, Brian got into these funks. Usually there was no obvious reason. It was like a black cloud had suddenly settled around him and nothing was right for the next period of time until the cloud lifted. Usually Justin would try to fuck the funk right out of him, but they were at a New Year's Eve party, and Justin wasn't sure he wanted to work his magic in the back room.
"Will you fucking stop staring at me!" Brian said suddenly.
"Let's dance," Justin said standing up. Maybe this would get Brian's mind off whatever was bothering him.
"No," Brian said abruptly. Justin started to sit down. "Go, Justin … go dance with Emmett or Bobby or Hunter."
"I want to dance with you."
"Just go." Brian frowned and stared at the floor.
Justin moved out onto the dance floor knowing that there was no point in arguing with Brian at times like these.
Brian motioned to the waiter and ordered a double. That was his concession to not getting drunk too quickly. He stared straight ahead seeing Justin start dancing with Hunter. Justin still looked as young as Hunter even though he had a few years on the kid. Brian's eyes turned to Bobby and John who danced close to each other touching every once in a while. Brian could see the tenderness and concern that John had for his partner … his fiancé.
Brian shook his head and sipped at the glass the waiter handed him. He wasn't sure what had precipitated his foul mood, but he sure as hell was in the middle of one. He finished the drink and decided he needed to piss.
He pushed himself out of the chair and headed for the restrooms. He could feel eyes following him, but he ignored them all. In the washroom he stood at the urinal and waited. He felt someone come up to the next urinal and he glanced briefly to the side as the stream of urine poured from him. The man standing next to him was clearly interested. Brian looked away and then looked back.
In the olden days this would have been what would get him out of the black mood that he was in. Maybe it would still work, but he had promised Justin that it would be them … together. He shook his head at the guy and shrugged. He buttoned his jeans and moved over to wash his hands.
"Hey," the man from the urinal said joining Brian at the sinks.
"I'm with someone," Brian said washing his hands and looking in the mirror.
"So am I," the guy replied.
"Then fuck off."
"I think we could have a meeting in the stall over there, and nobody would be the wiser." The man gave his best leer promising anything Brian might want.
"Why would I do that when I have a perfectly good partner out on the dance floor?"
"You'd do it, because it's different. And I'm good."
Brian smiled. He liked confident men, and this one certainly wasn't lacking in that department.
The trick hooked his fingers into Brian's belt loops pulling him into the empty stall while trying to get Brian to kiss him. Brian managed to evade the marauding lips but not the hand that was groping his hardened cock or feeling up his ass. The trick was skilled and definitely Brian's type. Tall but not too tall, built but not too built and dark, just like Brian used to like them but now he no longer did.
Not getting Brian's full cooperation didn't deter the trick; he backed Brian up against the stall door and began to slowly descend to his knees. The men's room door opening and the footsteps entering gave Brian a moment to second guess his current situation.
"Brian Kinney! Get your tight ass out here! Now!" Brian scrambled out of the stall to see a pair of very angry piercing blue eyes, pale skin and flaming red hair scowling at him.
"Tommy Johnson, you too. Come out of there."
"Bobby! Uh, sorry man. Is he yours? I didn't know, I mean, I would have never..." Tommy sputtered out.
"And you won't. Now get your skinny ass outta here before I call your partner. I'm sure Cal will not be pleased."
"Aw, Bobby, please don't. I'm sorry. It won't happen again but look at him. He's beautiful and look at that cock and his eyes, that body. He's made for..."
"I know exactly what and whom he's made for. Now scram. And don't let me catch you again."
"Never, man. I'm gone. See, a cloud of dust, never here." Tommy Johnson left the men's room.
Bobby continued to scowl, looking up at a very contrite brunet who was currently finding it difficult to talk.
"You really didn't want to do him, did you?" Bobby asked. Brian shook his head. "Old habits die hard?" Brian nodded. "What am I going to do with you?" Brian shrugged. "What's wrong Brian? All this wedding talk getting to you?" Brian raised an eyebrow and nodded again.
"How can you tell?" Brian asked almost dreading the answer.
Bobby took a deep breathe and tried to explain. "One of the reasons it took me so long to get my degree, aside from having to work my way through college is that I minored in psychology. Criminal psychology, abnormal psychology, business psychology, just plain old psychology. I figured it would come in handy. I knew I wanted business law and knowing how the criminal mind worked might not have anything to do with business, then again look at what happened to Martha Stewart. I did learn a thing or two about the mind, how it works. It helps me to see what my clients need, how I can help them and what they're really trying to tell me. And you've got to admit, gay men, well we've got a lot of shit to deal with, right?"
Brian nodded again in affirmation.
"Brian, I can see what all this talk about weddings and commitment is doing to you. On one hand, you're Brian Kinney, for fuck's sake, as Michael loves to remind us all. And on the other hand you're Brian, a loving partner to a certain young man who worships you. You'd never hurt him unless you think it's for his own good. You protect him even from the very worst of you. You claim to be in an unconventional relationship but when given the opportunity, at least when the four of us were together, you never strayed. You never betrayed his trust. And even if you did, Justin chooses not to see it. He may be aware of it but he won't say a word. He loves you, all of you, flaws and all."
Brian pondered Bobby's words and let them sink into his stubborn head and heart.
"Brian, John is a very traditional man. I sometimes think he was born in the wrong era. Look how he proposed. We've been talking about marriage from almost the moment we met. Yet, he waited, he courted and he went to my father for permission. If it wasn't for the fact that we were snuggled in a sleeping bag at the time I'm sure he would have knelt down on one knee. Now he is going to ask for your advice. You're not just his brother but his best friend and his best gay friend. Are you going to be able to put aside your mixed feelings about monogamy and gay marriage long enough to help him? He's already anxious and it's only January. I'd hate to see what he's going to be like in the next few months."
Brian snorted out a laugh. John was cute.
"Brian, I need a verbal answer on that one, not a nod."
"Yes, I'll be the supportive brother and friend that John needs."
"Good. Now are we cool?"
"Very cool and thanks for getting me out of that."
"My pleasure. Now, let's get out of here before they send in a search party. The kitchen's right next door, we'll get a tray of snacks and some bottles of water to bring back. That will be our excuse for taking so long and then I want to see some more of the infamous Brian and Justin show, make the Bridgeton fags cream their jeans. Then later you will take your blond back to the cottage and show him just how much you really love him. Brian, you know Justin doesn't need to hear the words but he does need to feel them."
"I know. And I promise to make sure he does. Is my lecture over now?" Brian asked with his tongue in his cheek.
"For now. Let's go. I want to see your show. Tommy is right; you're one beautiful man. If I wasn't hopelessly in love with your brother, well, who knows," Bobby said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Would have been interesting, wrestling for the top."
"I could take you, old man."
"In your dreams, Red. And watch it with the old shit." Bobby and Brian left the restroom laughing.
Bobby and Brian made it back to their table laden with hors d'oeuvres and bottles of water. Brian sat next to Justin who raised an eyebrow, not quite believing his eyes. Brian shrugged with his explanation, "There was a line and then Red needed a hand."
"Mmm hmm," Justin grumbled back.
After enjoying their snacks and rehydrating themselves, Brian grabbed Justin's wrist and pulled the willing young man to the dance floor. Brian's black mood was temporarily pushed away. The music was loud and thumping, Brian's arms found their way around Justin's hips. Justin's arms twined around Brian's shoulders, Justin's face nestled under Brian's chin. Theirs was a sensual dance, grinding against each other, their bodies only a hair's breadth apart. No one who watched was left unaffected. By the end of the night, many went home with sticky pants.
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"Brian?"
"Mmm."
"I had a good time tonight."
"So did I, Sunshine." Justin snuggled close to Brian under the soft warm comforter that covered their bed in the cottage.
"Brian, do you..."
"Shh, no talking, let me show you." Brian captured the only lips he ever wanted to kiss, ever needed to kiss so thoroughly, so deeply. With his body, Brian showed Justin just how much he was loved. Brian kissed, suckled every inch of the blond's soft pliant skin inching his way to Justin's cock. Pausing briefly to inhale his lover's scent, Brian pounced, sucking in Justin's cock to the hilt. Brian made love to Justin until the sun of the first day of the new year dawned.
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Emmett heard the noises coming from Justin and Brian's room. He rolled over with a groan. His dick was hard from imagining what they were doing. He had danced with several guys at the Honey Bear, but none had really been available for him. Everyone was there with someone else, and he was technically with Hunter since they made up the other couple with Brian and Justin and John and Bobby.
He had really liked that guy named Sam. They had danced three dances before his date had sidled up, pushed Emmett away and claimed what he seemed to think was rightfully his. Emmett had caught Sam glancing his way several times after that, but he made no move towards Emmett, so Emmett had kept his distance.
He heard what had to be Justin cumming once more and he dragged his pillow over his head to drown out the sounds. Those two were worse than rabbits. They had been going at it since they got back from the Honey Bear, and the sun was starting to come up. Emmett had jerked off a couple of times listening to them. Why couldn't he get lucky like everybody else around him, and find someone?
Finally all was silence in the other bedroom and Emmett dozed off. He didn't know how long he slept but he woke to the scent of coffee and bacon. That was enough to get him out of bed.
He hit the bathroom before making his way to the kitchen wearing his fluffy robe and fluffier slippers.
"Morning," he said as he entered the room full of the wonderful smells of breakfast.
"Hey, Emmett," Justin said as he buttered toast.
"Got enough for me?" Emmett asked as he watched Brian turning strips of bacon and shifting scrambled eggs around in another pan.
"I guess we could stretch it," Brian said with a smirk.
"And he cooks too," Emmett grinned.
"What the fuck does that mean?" Brian asked he continued his cooking.
"I've never seen you cook anything."
"Well, I do. Some things I prepare are excellent. Right, Sunshine?"
"His bacon and eggs are culinary masterpieces," Justin verified.
Brian started dishing things up making three plates. Emmett accepted one of them and dug in.
"This is … damn good," he said after tasting the first bite.
"I told you," Justin verified again.
"Who knew? The great god Kinney has many talents."
"Many, many talents," Justin said staring into Brian's eyes.
The wink he received in return was not lost on Emmett. He nibbled on a strip of bacon watching Justin and Brian eye each other.
Finally Justin cleared his throat. "Did you sleep well, Emm?" he asked.
"Not a wink."
"What? Why?"
"Seems there was all this noise coming and coming from somewhere else in the house."
"Fuck!" Justin replied knowing Emmett had been listening.
"Exactly! Lots of fucking," Emmett laughed. "You two certainly have stamina."
"And you would expect anything else?" Brian asked.
"No, no, of course not." Emmett laughed as he thought about how hard he had been listening to them go at it.
"Hope you found it entertaining," Brian said.
"Had to jerk off a couple of times, but other than that…"
"What about that guy you were dancing with last night?" Justin asked. "Did you get his number?"
"What guy?"
"He was about your height with blond hair and a very nice ass."
Emmett giggled. "You must mean Sam," he said with a wistful look in his eye. "I could really go for him."
"Then why didn't you?" Brian asked. "I saw some asshole come and take him away from you. Sam didn't seem too happy about it either."
"He didn't?" Emmett asked suddenly very interested.
"I watched the guy drag him away and start dancing with him," Justin said. "He kept looking back at you, Emm, like that's where he would rather be."
"I noticed that too, but he never tried to come back to me."
"Maybe he was waiting for you to make the first move, asshole," Brian said gathering up the plates and pouring some more coffee.
"You think so?"
"I thought he wanted you," Justin said.
"That guy he came with was pretty possessive. I didn't want to make any trouble."
"Maybe you should ask Bobby about him," Justin suggested.
"Maybe," Emmett said thoughtfully.
"Go for it, Honeycutt!" Brian ordered.
"I've told you not to call me Honeycutt," Emmett said making a face.
"You know you love it when I do," Brian smirked.
"Do not!"
Brian shook his head. "Go get dressed, Honeycutt," he said pointedly. "Justin and I will take care of the dishes."
"Let me do the dishes," Emmett volunteered. "Since you guys made breakfast, it's the least I can do."
Emmett caught the look that passed between Justin and Brian.
"Go, fuck, enjoy!" he ordered as he rolled up the sleeves of his robe and started on the dishes.
Brian and Justin went back to bed to work off their breakfast leaving Emmett with the dishes and a silly grin on his face. He had to admit, he was envious of the passion those two shared between them but then what mere mortal wouldn't be. Emmett loved that pair and he knew they loved him too. Oh, well, he sighed to himself.
Emmett finished up the dishes and took the opportunity to shower knowing that the lovers were momentarily occupied in their room. If they had gotten to the bathroom before him, Emmett knew there wouldn't be a drop of hot water left. Not being stupid, Emmett quickly showered then dressed. Afterwards, he'd go to the Andersons to finish up the preliminary wedding plans and to question Bobby about Sam. It was a new year and a fresh start for all of them.