"But there were other men or boys certainly before me . . . and him?"

Nicholas nodded again. "I'm feeling very well. Really, Marcus. I never thought . . . I never felt . . ."

"Hush. It's OK. I know what you want to say." Marcus grinned. He put the last piece of toast into his mouth, bent over and kissed Nicholas again. "Will you spend the rest of the holiday with me?"

"May I?"

"I wouldn't ask you otherwise."

"Great."

Marcus stood up and drew the curtains back. It was snowing slightly. The light fell upon some paintings hanging on the walls which Nicholas hadn't noticed before. One of them showed a young man with brown hair and a mischievous grin. He was standing against a background of Ancient Rome, stone mosaics covered the bath, pillars and marble floor. He was naked and only held a big towel in front of him. On the fourth wall opposite the window hung another one. Nicholas screwed up his eyes in recognition. He knew the enchanting smile, the look from those grey-green eyes and the sandy locks hanging down to his naked shoulders.

"Sebastian!"

Marcus turned to face the painting. "Yes. Sebastian."

Nicholas stood in front of it. "I've never noticed it before, even though I slept here for two nights."

"You were otherwise occupied," giggled Marcus watching Nicholas' arse cheeks and the subtle muscles of his back. He went across to him, wrapped his arms around him and played with his still half erect penis. It jumped literally in his palm. "Wow, I didn't know he turned you on that much."

"Is this your work?"

Marcus pressed his cheek against Nicholas'.

"Yes," he whispered, still stroking the silky skin.

"Wonderful."

"What? The painting or the man?"

"Both."

Nicholas looked at the naked upper torso which he could just see was covered in fine, fair hairs. He gazed at the thin lines made by the paint brush and followed their trace down to where it was lost in the waistband of Sebastian's jeans. The model's eyes were focused somewhere outside the painting and it gave him a rather dreamy expression which seemed in a way foreign to the man. The light fell at a tilted angle on his face so that one half was almost in darkness and emphasised the downward tilt of his strong nose. Nicholas had a liking for strong noses; it made the face full of strength and passion.

Nicholas felt Marcus' fingers stroking his cock, gliding lightly over the head and under it. He shivered and turned to kiss Marcus' ear.

"Did you sleep together yesterday?" he whispered.

He felt Marcus shake his head. Then he placed his hands on Nicholas' shoulders and looked at him seriously.

"No. We were never lovers as you would understand it. We love each other, yes that's true. I have no other words to explain it. We have known each other since childhood. And when we were making love then it was the expression of our friendship. Sebastian is pretty exhausting. For him everything is fun. And it's fun making love to him, I can tell you." He grinned. "But only fun."

Nicholas returned his grin and dragged him to the bed where he fell with him next to the tray. Butter, marmalade and the empty jug fell over.

"Oh shit!" Marcus shouted, "what a mess!"

He picked up the opened jar of marmalade and smeared some of it around Nicholas' nipple, then he crawled up on him and licked it off. The belt of his robe opened to reveal his erect cock. His fingers found a spot of the spilled marmalade on the blanket and he dropped it on Nicholas' balls. His tongue glided beneath the shaft, licked it clean and he heard Nicholas purring like a cat. Then he lifted his head and asked himself when he had last had so much fun. He pulled off his robe, stretched himself upon Nicholas' body, pressed his penis into Nicholas' crotch and rubbed them together.

"Who is the other man?" panted Nicholas between kisses, "but I'm dirty, Marcus, I only just awoke as you came up."

"Who cares? I don't. You taste good."

Nicholas lifted his legs and wrapped them around Marcus' waist. "Who is it? One of your lovers?"

"Yes." He heard Marcus' low murmur.

"My predecessor?"

"Stop asking, baby. I'll tell you later." Nicholas wriggled in his arms and groped for the softened butter which he smeared upon Marcus' cock. "I can't see why you don't like having breakfast in bed. It's very useful." Nicholas giggled.

"Jeez, two nights in my bed and you become a complete slut," said Marcus, but he grabbed a blob of butter and worked it gently into Nicholas' anus.

A half an hour later they lay close together, half asleep. Nicholas had never felt so happy in his entire life. All his problems had disappeared in one night. He lay on his side and felt Marcus' warm body behind him. He had wrapped his arms round him and his breath touched the skin of his shoulder and neck. He opened his eyes to see the oil painting of the young man. He could barely be older than him.

"Marcus, are you sleeping?"

"Hmmm."

"Who is that young man in the painting?"

Marcus stroked his hips, along his thighs and let his hand wander inside and over his limp penis. "He's gone."

"Why?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I want to know everything about you."

"It's boring to know everything, honey."

Nicholas freed himself from the embrace and turned around. "Please."

The pain in the young man's eyes was almost gone. Marcus noticed the long black eyelashes shadowing his eyes which made them darker than they actually were.

"I think he's beautiful. Why did you lose him? Besides, do you paint all your lovers?"

"You are beautiful to me, my heart."

Nicholas blushed slightly.

"Did you think I only had two lovers?" Marcus asked. He kissed the tip of Nicholas' nose. "Do you know that your hair has a golden shimmer?"

"My hair? No."

"Yes. When the light falls on it at a certain angle, it shines like gold."

Nicholas ran his fingers through it. "It's much too long. I need to go to a barber."

"You don't have to. I could do it for you."

"Is there anything you can't do?"

"Yes," said Marcus laughing. "I can't cook."

"Well, your scrambled eggs weren't that bad."

Marcus grinned. "Now, what are your plans for today?"

"Finish the painting of you. It's still only a sketch."

Marcus gave him a slap on his buttocks. "Then, what are you waiting for?"