Seekers

Chapter 3 - The Perfect Place

"Right," the waiter joined Jeff on the pavement. "Let's go and see a mate of mine. He's a Letting Agent and can usually come up with much more reasonable terms for guys like us." 

"Thanks." Jeff smiled, his pulse a little fast as he took in the man's obvious 'package' and dancer's physique. "I know you're Paul from your badge. I'm Jeff - just landed from the planet Small Town." Without the waiter's apron, Paul's jeans were even more revealing. Almost moulded to his anatomy. "I really appreciate your helping me like this."

Paul laughed. "No problem." He flicked a glance at Jeff. "Besides, I've enjoyed our conversations when you've been in the Black Cat, and figured maybe we could get to know each other a bit better as friends perhaps?"

Jeff was surprised. For some reason he felt a thrill run through him at the suggestion. He hesitated a moment, then smiled. "I'd like that." He offered his hand and Paul gripped it. "Friends then. OK, let's see what your friend can offer."

"It's my step-father actually. He runs a specialised estate agency." He waved his mobile phone. "I told him we were coming and gave him some idea of what you were looking at earlier. Hope you don't mind." He grinned. "And he's much more likely to cut a deal than any of the agents you've been talking to."

Jeff blinked. "Oh. No, that makes sense. OK, where are we going?"

"Jeff, this is my step-father, Dan." Paul smiled as the smartly dressed man took Jeff's proffered hand.

"Good to meet you, Jeff. New in town?" His eyes swept Jeff from head to foot, taking in every detail of his appearance.

"Yes, got here a week ago. I start work for Magna Software in two weeks time and I'm flat hunting." He glanced at Paul. "As I told Paul, what I like I have a problem putting up the key deposit and what I can do it for, is pretty awful."

"Work for Magna? We do some business with them from time to time. What will you be doing? Writing programs?"

"No." Paul smiled. "I can, of course, but my specialty is hardware specification. I'm a network architect."

"Ah." Dan waved them to seats. "Sounds like we could use your services to sort out ours then. We've probably exceeded the capacity of the present system." He grinned. "Now, what sort of place are you looking for?"

"Something where I don't end up opening the curtains to stare at someone else's plumbing would be nice." Jeff grinned. "And affordable of course."

The older man laughed. "Of course." He glanced at Paul. "How much has Paul told you about my agency?"

"Just that you specialise."

"That about sums it up. Actually I manage a small number of rather upmarket properties for some very wealthy clients. It so happens I'm looking for the right person for a rather nice place at the moment." He pulled out a flyer. "It belongs to a client who is going abroad for a couple of years on a contract. Of course, all his personal stuff will be removed, but the appliances, curtains and carpets remain. You'd be responsible for all the community charges, the rent, of course and the maintenance of the interior in a good condition." He smiled. "Interested?"

Jeff swallowed and nodded. "It sounds way to good to be true. What sort of money would I be looking at with the rent, the charges and so on?" He smiled. "My salary will be OK, once I've recovered the cost of changing cities, but it isn't mega."

Dan laughed. "OK, it sounds as if you've got your head on right." He pushed the flyer across the desk. "Is that going to be manageable?"

Jeff glanced at the flyer and his pulse quickened, the photos showed the place of his dreams! It was a small Penthouse, with wide views from almost every room and a terrace across the entire front. His eye travelled down to the figures at the bottom of the sheet. He blinked. "Is this right? It seems very low. The facilities charge and the community tax won't be a problem either - but what is the deposit?"

"OK. Normally it's four months rent in advance." Dan watched as Jeff's face fell. "But, if you can put down two months, we can work out a way for you to pay a higher rent for the first six months and build up the full amount that way."

Jeff did some sums in his head. He frowned, it was going to be very tight. "I think I could do that. It'll be tight, but worth it." He held Dan's eye. "These pictures make it look fabulous, but I'd like to see it before I commit myself."

"Of course." Dan smiled. "Paul can take you there and I'll make the arrangements in the meantime. Meet me there at four." He handed over a slip with the address. "Now, before you go, fill out this form for me. You'll appreciate I have to run some background checks on you before I hand over a valuable property." He smiled. "I trust Paul's judgement - but I have to do things properly."

The street had once been lined by warehouses and tenements, but the industrial and commercial activity, and the denizens of the tenements, were now long gone. Paul led the way to the remodelled entrance of what had once been a small warehouse and used a swipe card to open the door.

"We'll wait here. Dan is always punctual - and I give him about four minutes and he'll be at the door if he's true to form."

Jeff looked round at the beautifully appointed vestibule they were in and shook his head. "I'm dreaming I think. There's no way I could afford this."

Paul laughed. "Dan liked you, or he wouldn't have suggested this place. Don't worry, he knows what he's doing and it suits the client to let the place at below market rent. You're right though, normally the rents on these places is way too high for guys like us."

Jeff regarded him for a moment, a question forming in his head. "Why don't you take advantage then? I mean, he's your step-father, surely he could set you up in a nice place? Didn't you say you had a grotty place?" He waved a hand. "Why don't you take something like this?"

Paul grinned. "I do from time to time. I house sit a lot, but I'm also working to get my degree finished and to build up some capital.” He laughed. "The Black Cat is just one of my jobs, I model for the art school, house sit for Dan's clients and dance in a cabaret most Saturday nights."

"When do you study?" Jeff was aghast.

"It's not as bad as it sounds." Paul grinned. "The Cat is three mornings a week, the modeling is two nights and I fit in my studies, classes and class work round them." He turned as the door opened to admit Dan. "Right on the button."   

Jeff returned to his B and B late. He couldn't believe his luck. The apartment had been absolutely perfect. He still couldn't believe he'd signed an agreement, paid his deposits and would be able to move in as soon as he could find enough furniture. Dan had insisted he set up standing orders for the rent and facilities fees and he'd done the same for the community tax, all things he'd have done anyway since he preferred not to have to remember to rush around paying by cheque or cash.

He'd parted from Paul at the art school and then found a place for a leisurely drink and some supper. Now he lay back, a part of his mind idly wishing he could sneak into the art school and try to catch a glimpse of his new friend modelling in the 'life drawing' class. He wondered what the cabaret dancing was like. He'd have to ask and perhaps go to see it. His member stiffened as he thought of that lithe body gyrating in ballet tights, and unconsciously his hand reached down and gently stroked.

Somehow the thought of sharing his bed with Paul was very attractive. Perhaps ... He pushed the thought aside angrily. He had to stop this nonsense. But a part of his brain refused to let go of the wondering. How would it feel to kiss Paul's lips? Or to have Paul wrap his lips around his now rigid organ? Or to wrap his own round Paul's? Would it be better than the furtive sessions he'd submitted himself to with his gymnastics coach?

Anything would be better than those stolen and rather desperate encounters in the gym, the coaches office or the locker room when everyone else had left and coach was just 'showing him how to correct some of his errors.' He grinned. Coach had had some interesting ideas for enjoying him, like spreading him on the horizontal bars, or suspending him by the ankles from the rings. Those had been fun times, but there was always the risk of someone coming in unexpectedly, so the sex had always been rushed and a little unsavoury.

He had to shake this interest in guys. Trouble was, girls simply didn't excite him in the same way. In the meantime, he'd join a gym again.