Strangers in the Night

Chapter 4

"Excuse me, are you Justin Taylor, the artist?"

"I'm Justin Taylor, an artist, currently a waiter. Do I know you?"

"No, we've never met but I've been privileged to have seen some of your work. I liked to know if you're available for a commission. A portrait, a full portrait not just the head. The schedule can be very flexible, whenever you're available. My hotel suite is rather spacious with very large windows, nothing to obstruct the natural light. If you take this commission all you will have to do is show up ready to paint. I will provide the materials you will need. And I will also feed you. I'm sure a growing lad needs more than his love of art to sustain him."

Justin, overwhelmed that someone not only knew his work and wanted to commission a portrait but that someone was very beautiful. His artist's eyes looked passed the well tailored suit and began to imagine the man underneath. Then a flicker of doubt crept into his mind.

"Uh, you are the subject of the portrait, aren't you?" Justin asked with only a hint of desperation in his voice. Lex let out a chuckle and answered in the affirmative.

"Yes, Justin, I am the subject of the portrait. It will be a gift to someone I admire and haven't seen in a very long time."

Justin let out the breath he didn't realize that he was holding and flashed his trademark smile. It took all of Lex's training and resolve not to immediately take hold of the beautiful smiling face and smother it with kisses.

"This my card, my cell phone number is on it and the hotel, name, address and phone number is on the back. Please call when you're ready to set up the first sitting. As I said, I'm very flexible."

The double entendre was not lost on Justin. Justin toned down his smile but only just a bit. This tall man with dark flowing hair and jade green eyes intrigued Justin and he hadn't yet asked about his fee.

Looking down at the card in his hand Justin ventured the question.

"Mr. Spender, um, my fee?"

"Ah, I was wondering when you were going to ask about that. I'd say five thousand sounds reasonable."

"Dollars?"

"No, rubles. Of course dollars. You'll be exercising all your artistic skills making this tired body look good. I will be encouraging artistic license, wherever appropriate."

Justin's eyes couldn't help but do a quick once over and landed, by habit, on Lex's crotch. With a hint of blush in his cheeks, Justin recovered and made an appointment with Lex for the following morning.

"Thank you Mr. Spender. I really appreciate this opportunity. I wont let you down." Justin extended his hand.

Taking the offered hand into his own and holding it a tad longer than he should, Lex replied, "I'm sure you wont Justin." Lex watched as the blushed deepened on Justin's face and then added in his deepest bedroom voice, "I know you wont disappoint me." Justin remained transfixed until the bell over the diner's door signaled Lex's departure.

Later that night, Justin was nearly jumping out of his skin to tell Brian about his good fortune. But when he arrived at the loft, the blinking of the answering machine indicated he may have a long wait. Justin hit the play button.

"Hey. I have to go out of town for a few days. Liberty Air is having some sort of meltdown and they want me there to work on an emergency campaign at their corporate headquarters. I'm sorry this is such short notice. I'll try to call you later tonight. Behave yourself and don't wreck my loft. Change the sheets if you're going to have an orgy. And keep that inhaler in your pocket. Later."

Justin hit replay and concentrated on Brian's last three statements. "Behave yourself and don't wreck my loft." Kinney-speak translation: I'm going to miss you. "Change the sheets if you're going to have an orgy." Please don't have sex in our bed without me. And, "And keep that inhaler in your pocket." I love you.

Justin sighed and rummaged through the half empty refrigerator for anything remotely edible. Finding some leftover Thai, Justin made himself comfortable on the sofa, fiddled with the TV remote control and proceeded to have a very quiet, Brian-free night. He fell asleep dreaming about his hazel-eyed man with soft brunet hair and a green-eyed man with hair the color of coal.