As soon as they arrived, Justin excused himself to go the bathroom. Brian tried to follow but Justin stopped him and said he really needed to piss and there would be no fucking at the party. Brian huffed. “Where’s you sense of adventure?” Brian asked acting crushed.
“Once you’ve fucked in like fifty bathroom stalls, it kind of loses its appeal. Don’t you think?”
Brian shrugged. No, he didn’t think but he didn’t push the issue. Justin told him to go get them drinks while he was gone and turned on his heels. First he was responsible for his wardrobe and now he was to get their drinks. Justin was such a princess and playing the dutiful boyfriend was becoming exhausting. Justin would owe Brian a hundred blowjobs after this trip, Brian mused as he made his way to the bar. He was pleasantly surprised to find Rupert there… alone.
He sidled up next to him and leaned in. “Where’s your date?”
Rupert turned to face him completely unphased by Brian’s close proximity. “Mingling. Yers?”
“Pissing,” Brian answered, noticing the accent. He’d almost forgotten the guy was Irish. “You don’t mingle?”
“Nah, I like ta observe.” Rupert gave him a slight smile. Tease.
“Ah yes, I noticed.” Brian pulled his lips into his mouth, his eyes shifting down Rupert’s body. “You were observing me all evening.”
Rupert smirked. “Jus tryin’ to figure somethin’ is all.”
The bartender approached and Brian order two Chivas Regal’s then turned back to the young actor. “Trying to figure out whether you wanted my dick in your mouth or up your ass?”
Rupert laughed. “Well I can’t deny that both entered me mind for a quirk of a sec, but that wasn’t what I was tryin’ to figure out.”
“Well, that’s too bad because I’m sure both could have been arranged.” Rupert laughed again and shook his head. Brian was beginning to think his laughter was at him and not with him. “So what was it then? Maybe I could help. What were trying to figure out?” Brian wasn’t quite ready to let it go just yet. He could play games with the best of them.
Rupert leaned in right next to Brian’s ear and whispered, “What makes ya so special.” Then Rupert pulled away, self-satisfied, condescending little grin on his face. The same fucking one Justin uses some times.
Brian worked hard to be unaffected and maintain his steely glare. He was just about to say something witty when Justin walked up and reached between them to grab his drink. Brian took a step back to make room. “So, I see you found Rupert,” Justin said to Brian. “Hey,” to Rupert.
“Uh-lo, Justin,” Rupert responded as Brian picked up his drink, taking a big gulp.
Justin looked from Brian to Rupert then back to Brian, assessing the situation. All talk had ended when he walked up and he wondered if Brian had been making moves. He hoped not. He knew Rupert would turn him down flat. He tried to explain that to Brian but by the look on Brian’s face it appeared that he didn’t heed the warning. “What’d I miss?”
Brian huffed and Rupert laughed. “Yer boyfriend’s quite interestin’,” Rupert said with a smile.
Oh, and Justin knew. “Yes, he is,” he replied, grinning and giving Brian a kiss to minimize the damage.
Rupert nodded, touched Justin’s elbow and kissed him. “I’ll see ya later, Justin. Nice chattin’ with ya, Brian.”
“Same here,” Brian said as smugly as he could and Rupert walked away.
Justin put his drink down and slipped his arms around Brian’s waist. “What was that about?”
Brian looked down at him with a crooked grin. “Eh, the boy was having trouble trying to decide whether he wanted to suck my dick or let me fuck him. But alas, you thwarted my action.” Brian sighed.
Justin kissed him again. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to make it up to you then, won’t I?”
“You got that right.”
Justin pulled away, picked up his drink and they both leaned against the bar looking out over the crowd of party-goer’s. Justin spotted Conner across the room and pulled on the sleeve of Brian’s jacket. “There’s Conner, come on.”
Brian grimaced toward the back of Justin’s head as he followed. It was game time and Brian needed to see just what Conner’s intentions were where he and Justin were concerned... especially Justin. He had a pretty good idea what the intentions were for him. Same as every other gay man with decent taste. Excluding Rupert, obviously. Even though he was pretty sure he could’ve capitalized on the ‘quirk of a sec’ if he’d had more time. As they approached, Justin called out, “Con!”
The actor immediately discarded the couple he was talking with and turned around. When his eyes locked on Justin, his face lit up and his arms went out. Brian felt a slight twinge in his stomach.
“Jus!” he responded, wrapping those outstretched arms around Justin. ‘Con? Jus?’ Brian thought and rolled his eyes. When Conner kissed Justin on the lips, Brian’s stomach tightened even more. All this Hollywood phony bullshit was making him sick. At least that’s what he wanted to be the cause of his nausea. He squared his shoulders and told himself that it was just the obligatory Hollywood hello kiss. He looked around the room and saw others doing the same thing then realized that Rupert had kissed Justin good-bye and it hadn’t even phased him. So Conner shouldn’t have either. Even though it did. He really needed to stop this if he was to go ahead with his plan. It wasn’t doing anyone any good, most of all him, to keep reacting this way. He relaxed a little and told himself he had the upper hand… had a plan. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t still have a little fun at Conner’s expense first.
Justin pulled back from the embrace with a smile and grabbed Brian’s arm. “Conner, this is Brian. Brian, Conner.”
Conner smiled and took Brian’s hand, shaking it vigorously. Smiling, “Ah, a more personal introduction this time. I’ve heard a lot about you, Brian. Brian Kinney. The man behind the inspiration and the real Rage. I’m honored.”
Brian smirked. “And I’m touched.” He looked at Justin for a quick second then turned back to Conner. “I’ve heard a lot about you as well. Conner James. The man behind the image and the cheap imitation Rage.”
“Brian,” Justin whispered disapprovingly.
Conner laughed, looking Brian right in the eye and squeezing his hand tighter. “It’s fine, Jus. I am the imitation, yes. But cheap? I think every studio in town would have to disagree with that assessment.”
“That’s true, Brian,” Justin said in Conner’s defense. Brian and Conner ended the handshake at the same time and turned to Justin. Brian was in shock. “Con’s one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood.”
Brian put his arm around Justin’s shoulders and pulled him closer. “Is that so?”
Justin looked from Brian to Conner then back to Brian again. ‘Uh-oh,’ he thought, narrowing his eyes. He was worried about what Brian was going to do but there still was that small part of him that was tingling just the same and he smiled slightly at Brian staking his claim. In all their phone conversations, he knew Brian didn’t like him working with Conner… someone he’d been with physically. And if Justin was to be honest, that’s exactly why he had continued to tell Brian all the sordid details. He had to get over it. Deal with it. So he chose not to sweep it under the rug. He had to be able to share everything with his partner. But now… he was worried at what Brian might do or say.
“So. Conner. I’m actually a little surprised to see you here. Isn’t this a function where they recognize those individuals that are out and proud thus positively helping to expunge homophobia?” Justin was horrified.
Conner laughed. He was onto Brian now. Obviously Justin had told him about the two of them and he understood where it was all coming from. “Yes it is. As well as those individuals who are straight but still support the cause.” Now it was Brian’s turn to laugh as he looked at Justin. “Besides, seeing as I’m the lead in Brett’s new movie, I managed to garnish myself an invitation.”
“Oh, that’s right. The movie. Of course. I don’t know why I keep forgetting about that thing.” Brian pushed his tongue into his cheek and Justin bit his lip. This was exactly what Justin was afraid of. Brian… being a smart ass. “And no date? You better be careful, Conner, people might start to think you’re gay.” Brian smirked and so did Conner.
“I don’t worry about those things. I’ve got a really good agent.” He winked at Justin. “But just to make his life easier, I had a date all lined up.”
“Your sister?” Brian asked and Justin nudged him.
“No, Angelica Berry, actually.”
“Oh my god!” Justin gasped. “She’s like really famous!”
Brian and Conner both laughed. It’s not like it really mattered who she was. Conner was gay. “Yeah, well even the really famous get sick. So I’m stag. Rumors be damned.”
“Ah,” Brian responded. And he wanted to kick himself again. Conner wasn’t stag because of anything Justin had said. Or so it seems. Brian wasn’t sure what to believe anymore and he felt his gut instinct was letting him down. He really needed to quit thinking so damn much and just go with the flow. And the flow was telling him to stick with the plan.
Conner cleared his throat and locked eyes with Brian again. “Jus here has been working with me on Rage’s mannerisms.” Conner gestured with his head in Justin’s direction. “How he moves. How he touches. Facial expressions.” Then Conner pushed his tongue into his cheek just like Brian had done.
Brian knew Conner was trying to egg him on. Or was he? Interesting change of subject on Conner’s behalf. “I’ve heard,” Brian replied. “Jus-tin told me.” He made sure to place special emphasis on using Justin’s full name. He didn’t want Conner to think that Justin himself hadn’t been telling him everything because that would imply there was something going on and that Justin had something to hide. Which he didn’t. At least he hoped he didn’t. Nah, he didn’t. And just to let Conner know he was privy to the Hollywood bullshit and he wasn’t going to play. At least not in that way. His name was Justin, not Jus. He was worth the extra millisecond of time it took to say the second syllable.
“And Con’s been doing great,” Justin added with a smirk. Brian made a mental note to get Justin back later.
“Yes, you’ve told me that, too. More than once. And I can see.” Brian gestured to Conner’s face and Conner pulled his tongue out of his cheek with a grin. Brian looked pointedly at Justin so he decided not to push the issue.
“Right.”
“But now I have the opportunity to see the man in action and learn for myself,” Conner interjected. And there it was. Brian thought he was leading up to something. He wanted to laugh. He thought this might actually take some coaxing. But Conner laid the bait. All Brian had to do now was shove all his mixed feelings aside and take it. And make sure that Justin was game.
“Well, I always say, one should never piss on an opportunity. Isn’t that right, Justin?”
“Yeah, that’s what you always say.” Justin looked up at Brian and saw that he was giving Conner that look. Here he was so worried that Brian might make a scene that it never occurred to him that that wasn’t what he should be worried about. Things had suddenly turned around. So fast that Justin had to look between them to catch up. Conner was giving Brian that same look right back. This had never occurred to him. Well, it had, but he never thought in a million years Brian would be willing to participate, considering how he felt about Conner, so he never would’ve been the one to bring it up. Brian would’ve read way too much into it if he had.
He swallowed the mixture of emotions that were churning in his stomach and erupting from his throat. Worry about what Brian was getting them into. Curiosity about what Conner was up to. Arousal. Yeah, mostly arousal. Definitely, arousal. He shifted his stance, which didn’t go unnoticed by Brian. He draped his arm lower around Justin’s neck, his hand dangling in front of Justin’s chest.
“Great,” Conner said with a slight grin. “We’ll have to get together before you leave then.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged.”
Brian lightly raked his nails over Justin’s right nipple and made him shiver. He looked up at Brian and saw that he had his lips curled into his mouth. He knew the light scratching was to get his attention and he knew Brian was trying to tell him something. As if he hadn’t already figured out what was going on. Brian was cruising Conner now. He shifted his eyes to Conner to see if it was working, even though he knew it was. Conner had the same look in his eyes that he’d had the night they’d hooked up at the Emerald club. ‘Oh shit,’ Justin thought.
Conner shifted his gaze to Justin. “With Justin, of course,” he added, winking at him again.
Justin grinned which Brian saw. “Of course,” he agreed, tightening his hold around Justin’s neck. Justin swallowed again.
“Unless that’s against the rules,” Conner smirked.
Brian leaned back and looked at Justin with that now infamous arched eyebrow. Justin had told Conner about their one fuck only policy. So Conner had tried for seconds. He knew it. All those times that Justin had told him that Conner had been behaving himself. Justin gave a tiny shrug of his shoulders and Brian bit his lip to keep from saying anything. There had been something Justin was hiding. He didn’t like that. Not one bit.
Conner laughed. “Well, I’ll let you two enjoy the rest of the party. There’s some faces here that I need to schmooze with. Gotta keep up appearances, and that image, you know.”
“Of course,” Brian agreed never taking his eyes off Justin.
“Work out the when and where, Jus, and I’ll be there.” Conner put his hand on Justin’s shoulder, gave it a squeeze while looking at Brian then walked away.
Once he was gone, Brian removed his arm. “So, he has been trying to get in your pants again. Not that I blame him.”
“Brian. I just didn’t want you to keep worrying about it. I told you it doesn’t matter what he wants. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can. And I wasn’t worried.”
“Oh please,” Justin grinned. “You were so consumed with jealousy, it was making you pout.”
“I don’t pout! And I don’t do jealous!” Brian defended himself even though he knew damn well Justin was right. He was almost crazy with jealousy and any knowledge of knowing, not just thinking, but knowing that Conner was on the make, and he probably would have pouted. More than he already had. Or at the very least gotten on an airplane and flown three thousand miles across the country to make sure Conner knew who Justin belonged to. And here he stood. Shit. Ready to do that very thing.
“Right. I forgot.” Justin rolled his eyes and turned around so they were side by side. Brian looked down at Justin out of the corner of his eye and saw him with that condescending smirk on his face. Christ! He was marking his territory. And Justin knew it. And Justin loved it. The little shit.
They made their way back to the bar and got another drink. Leaning against the padded edge of the bar, they stood in silence. After a few moments, Justin finally asked the question that had been bugging him ever since Conner had walked away. “You gonna fuck him?”
“No,” Brian answered matter of factly and Justin let out the breath he’d been holding. “We are,” Brian added which caused a stir in Justin’s pants.
Justin looked at Brian. “But I’ve…”
“Already had his dick up your ass?” Brian finished for him, shifting his eyes to him and raising his eyebrows. When Justin didn’t answer, he looked back out at the crowd. “Eh, semantics. Besides, he hasn’t had yours up his, and probably no one else’s either by my guess or it’s been a very long time if he has, and how else are we to properly show him how Rage fucks JT if we don’t actually show him?”
“True,” Justin agreed smiling. “He wasn’t all that great really.”
Brian laughed. “Well, you gotta know how to take it before you can learn how to give it with outstanding success. So it’s up to us to make sure that Mr. James learns how to fuck like Rage.”
Justin grinned really big and kissed Brian which made him frown. “Try to control your enthusiasm, Sunshine, no one’s fucking you but me while I’m here.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Then why the beaming smile?”
“We’ll have an audience.”
Brian laughed. “Perverted little twat.”
“I prefer exhibitionist.”
“That too. Too bad ole Rupert was a real killjoy.” Brian said looking across the room in Rupert’s direction. The Justin look-a-like was still ‘observing’ him. Fucker. “We could’ve had an even bigger audience.” Justin giggled. “Watching you fuck yourself would’ve been really hot.”
“Now who’s the pervert?” Justin wrapped his arms around Brian’s waist and looked up at him.
“I prefer sexually creative,” Brian said just before slinking his arms around Justin and leaning down for a kiss. A kiss that started off light but grew quickly as Brian pulled Justin’s body against his own, opened his mouth and snaked his tongue between lips and past teeth to twirl and tangle with Justin’s. Justin kissed him back with a quiet gurgle from his throat, both forgetting where they were until a boisterous “Jus! Bri!” came from across the room.
Brian broke the kiss with a growl and Justin smirked, burying his blushed cheeks into Brian’s chest to gather himself together. He posed his face with a practiced plastic smile, pushed away from the security of Brian’s arms and turned around just as the interrupter reached them. “Brett! Hi!” he said enthusiastically as he and Brett hugged and lip-pecked in Hollywood style and Brian wondered when Justin had gotten so good at this shit. At pretending.
“Brian, great to see you,” Brett said shaking Brian’s hand with both of his own.
“Brett,” Brian responded seemingly uninterested, pulling his hand away and looking around the room. Brian could pretend too.
“You enjoying the California sun so far?”
Brian looked at Justin with a grin then to Brett. “Yes, definitely enjoying the sunshine.” Brian turned back to Justin. “Haven’t seen much of the sun though,” he added then pushed his tongue into this cheek.
“Brian,” Justin said blushing once again.
Brett laughed. “Jus, I know you were missing your boyfriend, but you should really try to show him around.”
Brian raised his eyebrows. “Yeah, ‘Jus’, you should at least attempt to keep your mind off your dick long enough to take me on a tour.”
Justin furrowed his brows and backhanded Brian’s stomach. Brian knew damn well, while they had stayed in quite a bit at Brian’s insistence, not Justin’s, they had managed to go to Rage and to Spago’s.
Brian and Brett both laughed. “Well, I’m glad he let you out of the house long enough to escort him to the banquet and come to the party. I really appreciate you both being here. Has Justin been filling you in on all the movie progress, Brian?”
“Mmm, yes. All the sorted details.”
“Justin’s a great asset to the team.”
“I’m sure he is.”
“He’s very talented.”
“That he is.”
“We’re damn lucky that he decided to come out here.”
“Yes. You are.”
Justin’s eyes had been shifting between Brett and Brian like he was watching a tennis tournament. “Hello, I’m right here,” he said, feeling uncomfortable that they were talking about him like that. When it came to Justin’s talent and career, Brian and Brett were exactly alike.
Brett turned to Justin. “Make sure you bring him by the studio so you can show off your work.”
“I will. I definitely will.” Justin stepped closer to Brian and slipped an arm around his waist.
“And give him a better introduction to Conner, Rupert and Harry.” Justin coughed and Brian laughed. Brett seemed to understand their reaction. “Well, I’m not even going to touch that one. But don’t you worry, Brian. They are all really good choices. You’ll see.” Brian nodded. Brett squeezed Justin’s shoulder and stuck out his hand to Brian. “Glad you made it out here, Brian.” They shook hands. “Enjoy the rest of the party. I’m gonna go remind Colin what a loser he is for passing on the role of a lifetime.”
Justin giggled. “See ya, Brett.”
As soon as he was gone, Brian pulled Justin closer to him. “Where were we?” He leaned down for a kiss but Justin dodged his lips.
“Why don’t we get out of here?” Now, Justin was talking. Rupert’s curiosity figured out and business with Conner set up for later, Brian was more than willing to get out of there.
“Just can’t keep you mind off your dick, can you?” Brian smirked.
“No,” Justin smirked back.
“Fiiiiinnne,” Brian said rolling his eyes. “I guess I can give up my only chance to mingle at a Hollywood party. The sacrifices I make to keep you happy.”
“Ohhhh, poor baby,” Justin said in baby talk. He placed a quick kiss on Brian’s lips. “I’ll go get Con.”
Brian grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving. “No need, Jus,” Brian mocked.
“But I thought…” Justin said confused.
“You thought right but Conner’s been watching us all evening. He’ll know we’re leaving.”
“What?” Justin asked looking around for Conner to see if Brian was telling the truth.
“Come on,” Brian said, pulling Justin toward the door.
Once outside, they summoned for Shane and waited. Justin was skeptical. “Are you sure he knows what you meant and that you meant tonight?”
Brian laughed. “He wants you again. And I intrigue him. He won’t pass this up. Never piss on an opportunity. And I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Brian, he doesn’t want…”
“He’ll be here,” Brian insisted.
“Brian.”
“Justin.”
The front door to the house opened and without even turning around to see who it was, Brian arched his eyebrow and smirked. Justin lifted up on his toes to look over Brian’s shoulder then grinned. Shane pulled up, jumped out and opened their door. Brian smiled, put his arm around Justin’s neck and pulled him with him toward the car. He pushed Justin inside then called out to Conner over his shoulder as he got in himself, “You coming?”