Back in his own immaculate and comfortable flat overlooking the Thames, Max took a leisurely shower, dressed in a loose pair of sweatpants and a teeshirt and tried to focus on the briefs he needed to study … and failed. He felt like a teenager again -- on an hormonal rollercoaster, aroused, but afraid of what he'd unleashed in himself. His mind kept wandering to the incredible feeling of wearing the amazing leather suit, of the wonderful sensation of Leo enjoying his penis, and of enjoying Leo’s.
“Damn.” He said aloud as he made himself a coffee. “Just as well these cases are not due in court until next week! I’m never going to have gone through them by tomorrow!”
Remembering the camera, he retrieved it and downloaded the images, then created a separate folder into which he moved all the ‘special’ images. Opening the first he felt his member harden and had to adjust his position. There was no doubt at all in his mind that Leo was an incredible photographer.
The pictures of him in the leather suit had Max holding and gently massaging his erection. They were erotic, they were artistic, they were pornographic, yet the camera angles, the points of focus, the poses Leo had captured spoke of something more intense. The photographer wasn’t simply photographing a ‘model’ posing in a leather bondage suit, he was photographing someone he loved, and it showed. Then he came to the first of the pictures with both of them …
Biting his lip, Max felt his chest tighten. In these Leo was clearly ‘making love’ to him. The poses were, if anything, even more erotic, yet conveyed a tenderness, a real feeling happiness and love. Choosing one in which Leo’s expression — such as could be seen beneath the hood he wore, and the manner in which he held Max’s leather clad body in an embrace from just behind him, he found his photographic paper, loaded the printer and set it to print two copies. Then he returned to the solo pictures, chose one that had him in a pose he liked, and printed a single copy.
Sitting at his desk he found the note paper he used for personal letters, and wrote a ‘thank you’ letter. After several attempts he was satisfied that he’d managed to express both his thanks and his hopes that their liaison could develop into a full and lasting relationship. Drawing the two photos closer, he wrote across the bottom corner of the solo image, ‘To Leo, the greatest teacher I’ve ever had with all my love. Max.’ On the second he wrote, ‘A memory of the best day and night. Love, Max’.
Sealing the note and the photos into a reinforced envelop, he addressed it. Thought for a moment, the stamps ready, then grinned, and instead wrote across the corner, ‘delivered by hand’.
Putting the envelop aside, he composed himself, made a tea, and picked up his legal notepad and the first case file. Then he set to work. To his own surprise, his long imposed self-discipline kicked into gear. By the evening he’d gone through both briefs and filled several pages with notes for further study on each. Then he dressed casually, called a cab, collected the envelop and delivered it while the cab waited. He could see the light on the the windows he judged to be the living room, but knew, if he knocked, he’d not be able to control his desires.
“Thanks, Guv,” the Cabby grinned as he accepted the fare and the generous tip. “Enjoy your evening. Hope your letter gets the response you want.”
“So do I!” Max laughed.
Two days later there was a large stiffened envelop in his postbox when he got home. Ignoring all the other mail, he carefully opened it and extracted the watercolour of two naked men locked in a passionate embrace on a sofa. On the floor beside them were representative leather items … For a long moment Max stared at it, drinking in the details recognising himself and Leo as the subjects, then he read the accompanying note.
‘My darling Max, I hope you will forgive me indulging myself in recreating in watercolour this moment of the most wonderful night, with the most fantastic lover anyone could be lucky enough to find. I have waited years to meet a person I truly love and I hope you feel as I do. I knew when I first saw you in the gallery, that you were that person. Thank you too for the photos you delivered, I love you. All my love, Leo.’
Max hesitated, then he pulled out his mobile, found Leo’s number, and dialled it.
“Leo?” He began when it was answered. “I just had to hear your voice, and to say, I love you … It terrifies me, just saying it, but I love you …” Laughing as a feeling like relief flooded through him as Leo responded, he added, “And I love this watercolour!”
“I’m glad,” Leo responded, a catch in his voice. “I wanted to capture …” a sound like a deep sob interrupted, “the most beautiful moment of our evening …”
“You did that alright. Oh Leo, I really don’t know how to say thank you in words … They’re so inadequate.” Pausing, Max took a deep breath. “Look, are you free tonight?”
“Sure. I’m just working on a photo set for a client.” Leo chuckled. “It can wait. Why?”
“Would you like to come to my flat? I can whip up something for supper, and open some wine.” Max hesitated. “I need to talk to you … no, I need your company … and I don’t know how to …”
“I’ll be there in about three quarters of an hour.” Leo sounded happy. “Shall I bring something?”
“Yourself is enough, my love, but you could bring your toothbrush if you like …”
Max opened the door and embraced Leo in the hall, their kiss lingering. Leading him into the flat, he shut the door, and turned to embrace his lover again.
“I brought my toothbrush.” Leo laughed as they parted and he moved into the flat. “Wow, this is nice,” he added as he took in the tastefully decorated living room. “And what a view!”
“I was lucky. I got an option on it when it was still building, and was able to sell another property to fund it.” Max smiled. “As you can see, it’s a lot more than I really need, but it’s comfortable, and my ‘safe place’. My haven from the world …”
“I love it,” Leo turned to face Max. “You need a … safe place against the world? Why’s that?”
Max paused, his cheeks burning. “Yes. Let’s just say it was no fun being a Gay teenager at St Chrimm’s … Fagging for the Prefects involved, shall we say, a lot of rather intimate ‘favours’ most of them definitely NOT enjoyable, and there was a ‘Master’ who — well he was a sadist.” He shrugged. “And then there was my father — ultra-conservative. Believed all ‘Sodomists’ should be hung and I’m afraid my mother was always doing her ‘charity’ work — so … well I just built a wall around myself and then … I met you.”
“I understand, Max. I really do.” Leo hugged his friend. “And we’ll play this entirely your way, at your pace. I’ll help you with anything and everything I can. We’ll deal with this together.” Kissing Max, he added, “I love you. I can’t explain it. It wasn’t easy at my school either, but at least my parents accept me as I am. Damn, but it sounds as if you’ve had it rough … did you say your head of chambers is also a bit of a … dick?”
“Mr Popham? Did I?” Max laughed. “A Dick? Yes, good description. Belongs to the same Club my father used to be a member — full of establishment people trying to pretend they aren’t Gay or Bi, and most of them ‘enjoying’ the younger staff …” Scowling, Max stopped. “I’ve probably said too much now.”
“No, you haven’t.” Kissing him again, Leo said, “Poor Max. Look, I mean it. I love you as you are. So, anything you want from me, with me … just ask. As for the whens, how’s, and all the rest … we’ll take it as it comes, when it comes. I have my flat, you have yours.” He laughed. “We can commute between them when you want to …”
“Thank you, Leo.” Max held him close. “For understanding … and I love you too — even though I’m a screwed up Dickhead myself.”
“Good.” Leo lingered. “Makes two of us then. Welcome to being a Gay fetishist. We’ll work it out together.”
“Do I qualify for giving you a commission yet?” Grinning, he held Leo as they held each other. Stood in the large open living area, it’s balcony wall all glazed and now, with the sliding glass doors open, filled with the sounds of the river below. Max smiled, reluctant to let his lover go, feeling his own and Leo’s need.
Hugging Max, Leo laughed. “You qualified the moment we met, my love. What do you want to commission?”
“A painting!” Max replied. “Let me see, about five feet by three. Oil on canvas of course … of a pair naked of Gay lovers on a sofa … just like this watercolour!”
“It’ll be a pleasure, my love.” Leo paused. “The price will be high, I must warn you.” Kissing the surprised Max, he laughed. “Let me see, five by three? Oil on canvas? I should think a lifetime of sharing a bed should cover it …”
Max laughed. “I should think that’s affordable, my love. We’ll have to negotiate the payments. Shall we have the supper I’ve whipped up? It’s all ready, and the wine should have ‘breathed’ by now. Then I’ll show you where this commission will be hung.” Hesitating he added, “And we can talk through how we take this further … and get past my absolute terror at having to ‘come out’ …”
“Lead me to it, love.” Leo hesitated. “About ‘coming out’ … I’ve never made a big thing about it. You don’t have to make a formal statement, just be yourself. Those who can’t accept us don’t matter. Fuck them.”
“Must I? I’d really rather not have to do that to Mr Popham …” Laughing they sat down to eat the supper.
With supper eaten and the dishes removed, they settled with their wine to talk.
“Leo, you’re going to have to be patient with me.” Max began. “I know I love you, and I want you in my life, but it absolutely terrifies me to have to reveal it to Chambers, my colleagues …” Staring out onto the balcony, he added, “I’ve got a hell of a lot of baggage to get rid of …”
“Haven’t we all?” Leo moved with Max to the sofa. “Max, I’ll say this now. However long it takes, I’ll be there. I mean it. I love you and we’ll play it at your pace. I have my art, my flat and you have your career, your position, this place … the only thing we both need is each other, so let’s not rush things. One step at a time.”
Leo was a good listener, and he let Max talk. It was midnight before either of them realised it.
“Hell, look at the time!” Max exclaimed. “And I’ve bored you to death … but, now you know why I’m such a mess and so deep in the closet.”
“You haven’t bored me, my love, far from it.” Leo changed position on the sofa and put an arm round Max. “Thanks for sharing all of that with me. Now we just need to find a way that works for you to allow you to be who you are …”
Max kissed him, cutting off the rest of his speech.
“You brought your toothbrush?” He whispered.
“Of course, you said I should …” Leo returned the kiss. “I took it as an invitation …”
“Then there’s no need for you to dash off home …” Max’s hands were busy unbuttoning Leo’s shirt. Speech was unnecessary as they slowly undressed each other leaving a trail of abandoned clothes as they made their way to the bedroom.
Neither needed to talk as they made love slowly, and having reached a satisfactory climax, lay in a happy embrace.
“Will you accept my commission, my love?” Max murmured.
“With pleasure …” Kissing Max on the cheek, he whispered in his ear, “I will start work on it as soon as I have a canvas ready for it.” Laughing softly, he added, “But I may need a model to pose for at least one of the figures …”
“A model? I’m sure it can be arranged …” Max laughed. “It will hang there at the foot of the bed, where we can both enjoy it,” Max told him, his mouth meeting Leo’s in a kiss that saw them exchanging the taste of each other’s cum …
Max felt a thrill as his mobile rang and he saw Leo’s caller ID flash up on screen. Somehow the flat had seemed empty after the night spent with Leo in his bed.
“Evening, my love,” Leo sounded cheerful, but there was a hint of mischief in his voice. “Have you got anything planned for the weekend?”
“Not really — some briefs to go through, but that’s just to have something to distract me …” Max paused, aware his libido was rising and hoping it meant at least an evening with his lover. “Why?”
“Remember you said a ‘model’ could be arranged for your painting?” Leo hesitated. “Would he be available from this evening until Sunday?” His chuckle was pure mischief as he added, “He won’t need to bring much — just his toothbrush.”
Max’s heart skipped a beat and he felt his throat tighten with the surge of excitement. He recognised his response as a mixture of fear of anyone finding out about his affair with Leo, and the anticipation of once again enjoying the incredible intimacy of raw sexual contact with his lover.
“Give me an hour, and your model will be there.” The funny aspect of their relationship and just how easily he’d surrendered to the pure pleasure of sex with Leo — so unlike what he’d endured at school or encountered at university — surfaced and he laughed. “With toothbrush.”
Changing into a pair of tailored slacks, with a tight leather thong as underwear, he matched the slacks with a pale blue open-necked shirt and silk cravat, put his feet into his brogues and selected his dark blazer jacket. With a grin at his reflection in the mirror, he added a toothbrush to the handkerchief in the breast pocket, checked he had his keys, wallet and iPhone, and made for the door aware the taxi was minutes away. On the way to the door he collected the bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild he’d wrapped and tucked it into his camera bag.
Feeling Like a teenager, he descended to the street and walked to meet the approaching cab.
“Evening, Guv,” the cabby greeted him cheerfully, running his eye over Max’s outfit. “Big date tonight?”
“Yes.” Max laughed. “A special one I hope.”
