As I drift slowly back towards consciousness, I’m initially aware of how light it is. I must have overslept. My next thoughts are of dolphins. Oh, I was dreaming that I was swimming with dolphins. It was the most calming and relaxing thing I can ever imagine; warm water, chattering and playful dolphins flashing around me, the bright sun dappling above.

“Not today!” I mutter to myself as I struggle out of bed and stagger to the bathroom, bladder near to bursting point. Please let this be the last treatment. I know I told the AI about needing to be fresh for work, but it’s workout day and now I’m wrecked. Really wrecked. I can barely stay on my feet while I pee. I manage to brush my teeth, holding on to the wash basin with my free hand, but then stagger back to my bed and collapse.

I apparently drift off back into sleep for a short while, because I feel like I’m starting all over again when I once more begin to sense my surroundings.

<Nexima, what time is it?>

<Ten forty-five.>

<Nexima, voice call Peter please.>

<Yes, Nick. Call connecting now.>

“Morning Honey. I’m just leaving now. With you in a few minutes.”

“Yeah, about that?”

“What, is there a problem?”

“I had another treatment last night. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“Peter, I’m wasted. There’s no way we can go out today. I can barely get out of bed.”

“Oh.” I can sense the sadness in his voice. “We’ve never missed a workout.”

“No, and I don’t want to miss this one, but I feel so drained. I really am sorry. All I want to do is sleep.”

“Would… Can I still come around. We can just chill out?”

“I might be pretty out of it for a few hours.”

“That’s fine. I can make you breakfast and then we can just laze around for a bit. A slow workout?”

“Hmm… Please. Love You.”

“See you in ten minutes. Love you too.”

When I’m next aware of my surroundings it is because there’s a quiet knock at my door and it’s opening softly. Peter is dressed for late-summer walking, but he removes his walking shoes and leaves them by the door and drops his outdoor jacket alongside them.

“Your Mum let me in. She guessed you’d had another treatment when you slept in so late.”

“Hmm…”

“I told her I was here to look after you. As she was going out, she asked me to make sure you ate something.”

“Hmm…”

“Do you want a quiet cuddle?”

“Hmm!”

Peter gently lowers himself onto the bed and slides one arm under my head, rolling me over towards him and into his embrace. I settle against him, head resting high on his arm and my forehead leaning on his chest. He lowers his chin on to the top of my head and sighs contentedly. I manage to drape my arm over his hip and drift back into slumber, the scent of his body wash filling my nostrils with a faint minty aroma.

When I wake again, I feel much better. I finally feel rested and relaxed. I haven’t moved from Peter’s arms and I’m now a little stiff from the unfamiliar position.

“Peter, how long have I been asleep?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe a couple of hours.”

“Oh. Are you okay, just lying here?”

“Nick, my love, I’ve never been better.”

“You’re such an old romantic!”

“I thought that was why you loved me?”

“It is, but you should have woken me earlier. Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“No. You sound more awake. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, much. All I needed was rest. Thank you for making my rest so comfortable.”

“Well, now you need to move about a bit and get something to eat.”

“No, now I need a shower.”

“Okay. I like the sound of that.”

“Well, it’s probably big enough for the two of us, but I’m too tired to fool around. You can wash my back though.”

I really am starting to come out of my stupor and manage to make it onto my feet without wobbling. I pull my t-shirt over my head and let my boxers fall to the floor and step out of them.        

“Are you joining me?” I ask as I turn slightly back towards the bed and hold out a hand towards him.

“That’s an invitation I don’t think I could refuse. There should be a law that stops you twisting your hip around like that.”

Peter sheds his clothes as we take the few steps to my bathroom and is apparently more than a little excited by even such a short walk. As we step under the hot water, I realize that my shower isn’t as big as I thought, mostly because there’s a hard cock pressing against my hip.

“Peter?” I whisper as he soaps my back gently.

“Hmm…”

“Maybe just a little fooling around?”

“Hmm…”

We walk back out of the bathroom, still naked and clutching towels. As we dry ourselves off, we both continually sneak looks at the other. Peter’s body is truly amazing, tight and athletic. I don’t feel that I’m at the same level as him, but he seems very appreciative even so.

“Nick?”

“Yes, my love.” Well, if he can call me honey then I can call him my love. Anyway, he is.

“Can I draw you?”

“Draw me. I didn’t know you were an artist?”

“Well, I did study it. I haven’t done much since I left school, but I want to draw you. Now. Naked.”

“I don’t know. I feel a bit embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. It’s just a drawing and just for us. Unless you want others to see, then nobody ever will.”

“Okay, what do I need to do.”

“Well, do you have a pencil and some paper in your desk. I don’t have anything with me, but a normal pencil will be fine.”

“Actually, I may have a couple of different normal pencils. I sometimes like to make notes with a softer lead. Will ordinary paper work? Shouldn’t it be rougher or something?”

“Ideally, yes, but we’re just going with what we have.”

“Okay. I trust your judgement. Where do you want me.”

Throw your towel over the couch. Lean back against the arm and stretch your legs out. Lift your knee – the other knee – and just rest your hand on it.”

“Like this? I feel a bit exposed. Well, actually a lot exposed.”

“Relax Nick. There’s only you and me here. Now, if you want, you can use the other towel to protect your modesty? You could drape it across your hip.”

I think about this. If I cover myself, I can let people see the drawing without embarrassment. But actually, if I don’t cover my genitals, then I can still show people, without embarrassment on my part. I don’t think I have anything to hide and I’m not Jack.

“No. Draw me as I am. It’s just my body. I’m the whole of it, not just the modest parts.”

“Well, it’s more than just a body…” Peter mutters. “Okay, just rest your left hand on your hip. Yes, just like that.”

“Do I need to stay perfectly still?”

“Oh, no. I might need to get you to hold for a moment here and there, but I’ll tell you. Feel free to zone out, doze or whatever you like.”

I pick a spot on the far wall, one of my antique band posters and lock my gaze from below my slightly lowered brow.

“Perfect.” Peter mutters as his hand moves smoothly across the piece of paper that he’s holding on the back of a textbook.

I glance in his direction occasionally. He’s still naked as well, relaxed in my office chair and sat on his damp towel. His brow furrows occasionally as he concentrates hard on the paper and the pencil tip, his glance darting from me to the paper and back repeatedly.

I drift into an almost zen-like state, a vague meditative blankness and contentedness that once more makes me drowsy. Time seems to stop as I drift in and out of awareness, only conscious of Peter’s calming presence and the faint sound of the pencil on the paper.

“Nick!”

“What?”

“Sorry. I called your name three times. You were totally zoned out. I’m finished.”

“Yeah, I really was a bit out of it for a moment there. Can I see it?” I stand slowly and stretch, suddenly aware of just how long I’ve held the same position. I twist one leg and lift my arms high above my head, almost touching the ceiling as I tense then relax.

“Fuck…” Peter mutters.

“Sorry.” I tell him as I walk over to take a look at the drawing.

“You really are oblivious sometimes Nick.” He tells me as he drops the paper flat for me to see better. “You have such innocence. You really have no idea what you do to me.”

“Well, not entirely oblivious. Not that I’m doing it on purpose, well not consciously. I just forget because I’m not used to an audience.”

I stare at the drawing, taking in the subtleties of the likeness. Somehow Peter has captured me. Not just the way I look, but something deeper inside that is more completely the summation of me. The physical representation is detailed, flattering and perfect. I can see where he has concentrated his attention. The curve of my neck, the hint of a six-pack across my abdomen, the slight fullness of my post-orgasm penis and the firmness of my calf. He’s also captured my expression, looking out into the emptiness from under my brow.

But there is so much more that isn’t seen. He really has captured me the way he sees me and it’s almost overwhelming.

“Now I know that you really do love me,” I tell him as I lean over the paper between us to kiss him tenderly.

“Wasn’t that obvious?” He asks as he lifts a hand to my cheek to prolong the kiss. As our kisses start to deepen my stomach growls in complaint and the mood is broken.

“Clothes and food?” Peter asks.

“Yes, and probably in that order.”

Peter has made us something and we are sitting in the kitchen eating quietly when Mum comes home. “Good afternoon boys. Are you feeling better now Nick?”

“Yes Mum. I just needed more rest. I’ve been asleep most of the day.”

“Good. That’s probably the best thing you could do. Have you been looking after him Peter?”

“Yes Maureen, as much as he will let me.”

“Good. Have you just been slumbering or have you managed anything productive?”

“Well…” I begin. “Hold that thought.”

I dash out of the room and rush upstairs to my room to grab the drawing. Mum looks a little confused when I return clutching the paper to my chest.

“You don’t mind, Peter?” I ask him as I approach the counter once more.

“No, it’s yours. Do with it what you wish.”

“What is it, Nick?” Mum’s still obviously a bit confused. I do have a very strange look on my face, a mixture of embarrassment and pride, so it is understandable that she can’t read me properly.

“Well,” I begin. “It’s a little embarrassing. Peter asked if he could draw me and I agreed. I was embarrassed about the whole thing at first, but I don’t really see why I should be. I want the picture to be on my wall, so you’re going to see it anyway.”

Gently I place the drawing on the counter and let Mum see it. Her eyes widen in momentary shock, but then her features soften and a smile grows on her lips.

“Oh Nick!” She starts to tear up a little and reaches for a tissue. “This is you. It’s so completely you that it hurts.”

“Yeah. That was my reaction too.”

“Peter, you really do love my son, don’t you?”

“Yes, more than anything.” He answers with a simple smile.

“And you?” She now turns to me with a glint in her eye. “What were you doing naked with this boy?”

“Mum! I needed a shower.”

“A likely story. Come here!” She hauls me into a tight hug and kisses me on the cheek. “We probably need to frame it ourselves. I don’t think I can take it down to the shop for them to do.”

“No, probably not. You don’t mind that it’s a life drawing? Honestly.”

“No, it is you. I was surprised, not shocked. And I haven’t seen you naked since you were about ten years old. You’re a lot like your dad, or at least like he was when he was your age.”

“Possibly too much information, Mum.”

“Sorry. What are you two doing for the rest of the day.”

“Actually,” Peter begins. “I really have to get going soon. I’m going to see my mother. We haven’t had a catch-up for a couple of weeks and today was only supposed to be workout day.”

“Yes,” I agree. “I’m sorry I kept you for so long. I would ask if I could come and meet your mum, but I still feel a bit too tired. Your shoes and jacket are still in my room.”

I carry the drawing with us as we go back up to my room and place it carefully in the drawer of my desk.

“So,” Peter says after putting his shoes on and grabbing his jacket from the floor. “You start work at school on Monday?”

“Yes. Just Monday and Friday this week.”

“Are you looking forward to it?”

“Yes, actually I really am.”

“Good. When you finish on Friday, do you want to come round to my place? I thought we might erm… I thought we might go on a date?”

“What, an actual boyfriends date, not a workout?”

“Yes, a real date at a real restaurant.”

“Oh, yes please. Erm… Can I stay over?”

“That was kind-of my plan.”

“Oh, good. I’ll be really busy, but I’ll talk to you during the week and I will see you on Friday.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, but get out and go and see your mother.”