Naked Hero - The Journey Away

as the subtlest enquiry was made. “That wasn’t your coach, was it: the other guy who shouted out and silenced them all?”
    Closer to the man, Lewis breathed again the heady musk that caused havoc in his trousers and loosened his tongue. “No. I don’t know who he was, but I’d like to find out. I think I owe him a drink... Christ, I could kill for one myself right now!”
    “On the wagon?” asked Lee , nodding to the fruit juice.
    Lewis answered naturally without even thinking, lost as he was in the sensuality of male scent and a physical splendour that seemed too good to be real. “Yeah, I need to be. You saw me down my last drop of booze ten days ago. Does it sound like I’m counting?”
    He got another pat on the shoulder, accompanied by a waft from under Lee’s arm. “A bit - but well done,” said the smiling Englishman.
    Dizzy on the over load Lee was exuding, Lewis wondered how he realised these things about him. No one outside his immediate circle was aware of the problem that had developed over the past six months, yet Lee had somehow managed to pick it up, throwing it so casually into conversation. But there was a more pressing question which he wanted an answer to, and it was time to ask it. “Do you remember... when you came over to talk to me that night... the first thing that I asked you?”
    Lee backed off a fraction. “Humph! Yes… and you’re asking me again. Why am I here?”
    “Only this time... I’m asking for real, not because I can’t think of anything else to say. I mean, I’m glad you’re here - I really am. Let’s face it, if you weren’t, I’d be out on my ear. Jesus, between you and the other guy, Mr. Mystery American, it was like the cavalry coming over the hill. Cheers and all that, but… why? Why are you here, Lee? Why are you really here?”
    Lee held the gaze that came at him, and held his nerve as he dished up the answer. “I came here to see you play, that’s all.” Then he looked away, rubbing his brow with his knuckles before looking back to the tennis player - a master tactician putting on a brilliant performance, or a man who for a moment forgot his purpose and said what he truly felt – even Lee wasn’t totally sure about that one. “That’s bollocks!” he continued. “Sorry… I did want to see you play, but I wanted to be around as well, just in case. I thought that something would kick off today, and I wasn’t sure how you would cope with it. I wasn’t sure how you would cope after it. It sounds really arrogant now that I say it… but I thought you might need me. I didn’t plan to shout out like that: to make a scene and have you notice me. I would much rather have just watched you win, no problems, and then slipped away quietly. But it didn’t seem like that was going to happen. Maybe I was wrong to call out - you would have sorted it out anyway without me interfering.”
    Lewis shook his head where self-annoyance sat etched on his face. “No, I don’t think so.”
    Again Lee’s hand came to rest on his shoulder, staying there this time. “Well, it’s done now… But that’s why I came here today, Lewis… In case you needed me.”
    “I did. So thanks.”
    “And now?” asked the teasing scoundrel, because he had already decided not to stay.
    The question floated in the air like a piece of bait for Lewis to bite on as he gazed on Lee Porter’s handsome face and absorbed again his intoxicating scent. It was another invite – more tempting that ever. Lewis considered for a moment the ecstasy to be had in surrendering to this man like so many others had happily done and no doubt been well rewarded.
    “Now I need to lighten up,” he replied with a slight shake of his head, and pulling away so Lee’s hand was forced to drop. The argument was persuasive, but not persuasive enough.
    It was not the answer which Lee had hoped for, despite the fact that he would have had to decline a more suggestive response. Distance was being created once again, but he had time to bring Lewis back. He was relishing this challenge, enjoying the chase. It would make it all the more satisfying when the end game got played out.
    “Okay,” said Lee, “but if you need to talk through what happened here today - the crowd that is. Then call me.”
    “ I will, but I just want to put it behind me now. I’ll work through it in my own time, and when I do, I might need to talk to someone. It’s good to know that you’re there.”
    On the far side of