James is surprised when co-worker Vic disappears, but even more so when Vic shows up months later as James’s manager. As a single gay man with few responsibilities, James takes his fun wherever and whenever he can. He’d even played around with Vic a few times. But now something’s changed, something James can't quite put his finger on. In fact, almost everything about Vic is subtly different -- and maybe not so subtly, when it comes to them resuming their affair. James never used to think Vic was hot, but now Vic’s like a new man and he wants James. James should be flattered, shouldn’t he?<br><br>Unfortunately, things don’t develop quite the way James hopes. He’s just out for a good time, but Vic wants something more than mutually satisfactory sexual games. He’s obsessed with finding out James’s idea of a perfect man. And what’s more, Vic seems determined to do whatever’s necessary to become that person -- whether James is a willing participant or not.

Perfection

The woman at 621 was crying and it didn’t look like she was stopping any time soon, especially when Vince smiled at her, forgetting the impact of baring his teeth.


The couple at 623 yelled at us, accusing us of being the ones who’d made the woman at 621 cry in the first place, like she did every Wednesday and Friday night, and how the hell were they meant to watch Eastenderswith that racket going on?


The man at 629 smiled and announced he’d been waiting for us. If we could just wait a couple of minutes he’d go and fetch his suitcase, because God Almighty had told him he would rise in glory from the sordid chaos of this forsaken city, and would be carried by angels and demons to Nirvana. This very day.


The old man at 633 just spat at us and ranted about juvenile delinquency.


Chapter 4