'So, would you be interested?'
Jack eyes the young man in front of him. The flush on his cheeks, as though he's amazed at his own daring, brown eyes almost black in the subdued light of the bar. He looks young, early twenties maybe, with a cloud of careless dark curls. Fine-boned and visibly nervous in a thin white t-shirt and black jeans. Jack looks over his shoulder at the man he's with, sitting in a booth nursing a tumbler of what looks like whiskey, which he tips towards Jack in a friendly greeting. Older, handsome in a slightly battered way, like the rugged cowboy in an old film. His neck above his black shirt is tattooed with a design Jack can't make out from this distance. Close-cropped beard left to go naturally greyer than the ash-brown on top that falls to his shoulders, he looks relaxed and comfortable in himself.
'Sure, I'd be interested.'
It's not the first time a couple have pulled a 'we saw you across the bar and really liked your vibe' on him. It's usually a good time, and these two are extremely easy on the eye. He's not bad himself; nothing showy, just trim, lightly muscled in slightly ripped jeans, black hair buzzed close and one piratical silver hoop winking in his ear. Hazel-eyed with an easy smile. He allows himself to be led from the bar as the youth asks him if he'd like a drink, and the older guy - late forties if Jack's any judge - stands and reaches out.
'Philip,' the handshake is easy but firm, the man's blue eyes crinkling in a mix of amiability and assessment. Jack gets the message:
Friendly, but tough as shit.
'Jack,' he says, slipping into the booth. 'You two visiting?'
He gratefully accepts a scotch from the youth's hand as he returns, and Philip makes room on the bench as he slides in beside him. 'Yeah, I'm on a work trip so we thought we'd stay on a couple days, try and see some of the city.'
'What is it you do? If you don't mind me asking.'
'Gallery curator,' Philip says, and Jack sees he's telling the truth. No need to hide who he is. '3D mostly, installations and sculpture. We're scouting for new artists.'
'Well, you're in the right city,' Jack says, with a smile. He turns to the younger man, who's nestled in close to Philip's broad shoulder. 'And you?'
'Eli, I'm an artist, it's how we met.' he says, in his soft, low voice. His stare is open and frank, and Jack tries not to stare back. There's hardly had a shortage of pretty young men in this town, shit, you could find someone who looks like this on most street corners probably, but something about him tugs hard on his dick.
'What kind of stuff do you...art?' He asks, clumsily, laughing at himself. 'I had an ex who did watercolours.'
'Abstract sculpture,' Eli says, with a heartbreaker of a smile, full-lipped and a little shy.
'Cool, there's a place showing something like that around here at the moment, at the Iris?'
'It was our first stop when we landed,' Philip says, and they both laugh easily together. 'Trust Kowalski to bag the whole first floor.' He turns to Jack, including him. 'Jakub Kowalski makes these huge pieces, ceiling-scapers.'
'He's doing something really interesting at the moment, he says he's been inspired by those seeds that don't sprout unless there's a bad wildfire,' Eli's eyes light up as he talks. 'Like...only the pressure of complete destruction makes them live.'
Philip smiles indulgently, one hand on the back of his boyfriend's neck. Jack realises what it is about Eli that draws him; his glowing, slightly innocent, enthusiasm. He imagines those soft, pinkish lips bitten and moaning and feels his cock harden in his jeans.
'Well, it's a real pleasure to meet you both,' he leans back comfortably, as though he's known them for years. 'Are you...ah, looking for anything in particular?'
'We're just...open to a new experience.' Philip says, stroking the inside of Eli's wrist. 'We haven't done this before.'
Jack is impressed. 'You come across on ice for a man who hasn't.'
Philip shrugs those broad shoulders. 'I like to take life in my stride.'
'Best way,' Jack agrees, sipping his drink, feeling the pleasant burn of it in his chest. He looks at Eli, who returns his gaze with that half-smile. 'Well, it's all about trust, parameters, communication.' He flicks his gaze between them. 'How about we head back to yours, have a drink, see how we go...you want to try something out, we can, and if you decide it's not for you, no drama.'
'Sounds good,' Eli says, looking to Philip for confirmation. He nods, the tattooed skin of his neck moving as he swallows hard.
'I...well, I
think
I'd like to watch.' He says, grazing Eli's curls with the back of his hand.
Yeah, I can understand that
, Jack thinks, as the image makes his brain mist. As they wander back towards their hotel, Philip reaches over and places Jack's arm around Eli's slim waist as he lays his own across his shoulders. Jack relaxes a little more as they fall into step. So, he isn't going to be made to feel like a spare prick at a wedding, good sign. When the younger man looks into his face, then down at the sidewalk, blushing, Jack feels every nerve in his body sing.
The hotel's nothing special, mid-range business trip local, but he does know from previous assignations that it has modern soundproofing. He grins as they bundle into the elevator, pressing Eli between their bodies. He shares a glance with Philip over his shoulder.
'Can I kiss him?' He asks, brushing the hair from the back of Eli's neck, pressing his mouth to it when he nods, licking the tender skin. Eli makes a stifled sound that goes straight to his cock, and he can tell by Philip's sharp intake of breath that it has the same effect on him.
In the room, he shrugs off his jacket and takes off his shoes, walking around, stretching, assessing the furniture for fuckability. Apart from the basic double bed, there's a full length mirror on one wall and a soft, low, armless chair by a coffee table which definitely has potential. Philip pours some more whiskey from a bottle on the table into two water glasses, handing one to Jack and sharing the other with Eli, who looks increasingly nervous. Jack takes a sip of his drink.
'You don't have to do anything you're not cool with,' he says. 'As if your man's gonna let anything happen to you.'
'It's not that,' he says, taking a gulp, wincing as it fires down his throat. 'I just...I've never done anything like this, I don't want to be disappointing.'
As if you could be, you beautiful young idiot
, Jack thinks almost affectionately as Philip rubs Eli's back, clearly thinking the same thing.
'Hey, I'm the third wheel here, worrying about being a disappointment's my job.' Jack grins. 'Don't go making me redundant in
this
economy.'