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

“Number 666,” Chris said, hesitantly, tugging at the creased edges of his loincloth. He watched a lot of horror movies. “I really don’t think…”


But Bren had already rapped on the door, although none of us followed it up with a cry of “Trick-or-treat!” In the silence following the sharp knocking, we heard an uneven step in the hallway inside the flat. Step, drag. Step, drag. The latch clicked, a loud sound in the quiet corridor. The door started to open slowly, with a soft, crawling creak.


A creaking door? In this magnificently maintained place? I frowned, puzzled.


Bren cleared his throat, and there was a soft exhalation of breath from Chris behind him. The light beyond the doorway was dim, and the person appearing in front of it was momentarily silhouetted. Then the head thrust forward to face us.


Chapter 6