Free For The Love Of Leon by J.S. Morbius Page B

our drinks, when Si finally broke the silence.
    “So tell me, Leon, what do you do around here? My guess is there’s not much in the way of employment to be had.”
    “No there isn’t, but I’m lucky enough to work from home as a graphic artist.”
    “Wish I could work from home. Mind you, I wish I had a home, but it’s too late to find something now, I guess.”
    “I wouldn’t say that. You did happen to choose the one place in town that does bed and breakfast.”
    “Ah well that’s lucky then! Would you give me a moment to get set up?”
    I watched Si walk over to the bar and begin chatting with the barman. I found myself staring intently at his muscular physique and firm ass, hoping, praying he was gay and wondering what my chances would be with him if he was.
    “Thanks for letting me know. He only had one room left,” He sat back down, draining his glass.
    “No worries.”
    “So, apart from saying you wanted to give me a warm welcome to your small town, what was the real reason for buying a stranger a drink?”
    “No other reason,” I lied. I couldn’t tell him the truth, not now that he was thinking of moving to the town. I wanted him to feel welcome, not frightened off by potential danger from local thugs.
    “Well maybe I can return the favor another day,” Si smiled. “How about tomorrow? I’ll buy you lunch.”
    “You don’t have to do that.”
    “I know I don’t, but I want to.”
    Being asked to lunch by the hottest guy I had seen for ages seemed too good to be true, and I felt my cheeks begin to flush with embarrassment.
    “Okay what time?” I mumbled under my breath before repeating myself a lot clearer.
    “Why don’t you meet me here about one? Gives me time to have a look around at property.”
    “One it is then,” I said, then drained my glass. “Anyway, I better go and let you get settled. Besides, I have a design I have to finish tonight.”
    “Oh okay, see you tomorrow then,” Si replied sullenly, and I was sure I could see a look of disappointment in his eyes at the thought of me leaving. But work was work, bills had to be paid, and anyway the date for the next day was arranged and by now I knew the thugs would have finally given up waiting, calling it a night as well. As I stood up, Si offered me his hand and I gave it a gentle shake instantly noticing how soft his skin was. I turned and headed out into the night, a slight smile on my face. If he does hang around I am definitely going to get to know him a lot better, I thought. I walked past where the group of thugs had been hanging out, the cigarette butts and discarded beer cans giving them away, and I continued toward my place.
     

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Once I arrived home, it was close to ten-thirty, and even though I was tired, I booted up my computer to do the work I should have finished earlier. As I waited for everything to load, I made myself a coffee and switched the television on, hoping to find some music to listen to while I worked. Other than my work, music was the only other love in my life. Without it, I found working alone in my flat, in total silence, almost drove me to the edge of insanity.
    A fter flipping through the stations, I left it on some techno. I’ve always found the thumping bass motivating when I’m working, and I turned it up just loud enough to keep from disturbing the neighbors. Si was still on my mind, but as I picked up the stylus and graphic tablet, I began to focus on the task at hand.
    Effortlessly, the stylus flowed across the touch screen of the tablet. The image I had been working on formed perfectly before my eyes, and what I thought was going to take a good couple of hours was completed just short of one.
    Saving the work, I flicked the screen off and decided to have a shower. Then I would return and give the piece a final check, to make sure it was perfect, as I always did before forwarding it to the client.
    Picking up my now cold coffee, I took it into the kitchen before