David undressed in the dark.
He was glad to escape the studio where he always felt small and feel larger in the loft.
Murphy asked him to housesit for the weekend and he was thrilled to do it.
The wall was all windows. The loft had no walls, only beams. The living room was a group of couches; the bedroom was on the other side, the kitchen a buffet like arrangement near the elevator.
You could walk around it, actually run, skate or even bike. It was that large.
And it was quiet. The loft was on the top floor, far above the cab horns, occasional sirens and screams nobody responded to.
Murphy trusted him. They remained friends after that first night. There was no sex now, only phone calls, jokes and occasional dinners when the older man wanted company with no conditions.
David liked the man wishing he could crawl next to him in bed some nights. But that didn't happen after the first few times.
They wandered museums, he learning about sculptures, paintings and people, Murphy enjoying playing the mentor..again without conditions.
The air was slightly cool across his bare body. His erection led him here and there. David wished he could mark the place like some wild animal. But it wasn't his.
The job was part time, the studio rent manageable as long as the shelves were stocked with Ramon Noodles, he ate enough.
Why he had taken the bus to this city, David wasn't really sure. It seemed like the right idea to leave the small town with equally small minded residents. His Uncle just nodded probably relieved he was leaving. His Aunt didn't say anything either, daring not to disagree with her husband's unspoken wishes.
David did jumping jacks, sit-ups, and pushups. He thought of going to the bar blocks away where he had met Murphy that night. He could lie, bring some fascinated faced kid back and fuck him.
But he knew Murphy would be pissed. He didn't have to say "don't bring anyone here". David knew the man rarely did it himself. He thought the man was lying to him. But in time he realized he was special enough to be brought there and to be invited back.
The light flashed across the street and he looked. It illuminated a wall of a loft like space similar to where he was. There were very large paintings, or even murals. They seemed to be lit by spotlights.
The space itself wasn't lit.
He saw the figure that had turned on the switch. A male, wearing a suit. He was probably coming home from work, a meeting or dinner. Maybe he had gone to some bar to meet a stranger, but had come home alone, perhaps disappointed.
David watched him as the guy took his suit coat off and tossed it across furniture. The lit paintings surrounded his silhouette.
He lifted something from a table, probably a glass of wine. David did the same as if they were going to toast each other. He swallowed the cooled white wine Murphy had said was for him.
The man knew he liked white wine. He had taught David how to dress better then his small town sports shirt and khaki habits. He suggested how he could get a job. He conducted practice interviews in the loft.
It all worked. David was employed. It was only a part time job, but he felt like it was the beginning. They celebrated at a nice restaurant that faced the park. Everyone there was dressed very nice. The Maitre seemed to know Murphy and winked at David.
He ignored the knowing wink and look at his body, trying not to feel like the older man's trick.
The silhouette removed his shirt and slacks tossing them as he had the coat. He lifted the glass again.
David put his own glass down. He was excited. The silhouette had a large chest, furry and an equally impressive cock. His thick biceps bulged when David kissed them. And his large hand rested on David's bare buttock urging him closer.
David opened his eyes fearing the lights would be off and the target of his imagination and desire would be invisible.
He smiled in the darkness. The lit murals were still there. The silhouette was still there. He turned sideways and David's gut knotted to see the obvious endowment. It was either large itself or enlarged enough to be part of the silhouetted image.
David wondered if he could go downstairs and across the street. Would the silhouetted man let him come up to the loft there and get naked again? Would he become the man's trick or even lover?
The silhouette moved closer to the window. David watched.
Another glass lifting then it as put down as if placed on a table nearby.
David played with his testicles and his erection. He finger wiped the tip brining the moisture to his lips and savoring the familiar taste. Did the silhouetted figure like it as much as he did?
The profile excited him more. He could see the man moving his hand to the outline of his own maleness. It moved.
David knew what the silhouette was doing. He did the same.
It wouldn't last. His time with Murphy didn't either.
He didn't care. In his head he felt the hands and arms. The thick thighed muscles, the lips begging his and the sighs and moans that signaled David was giving back pleasure as well as getting it.
David watched as the silhouette seemed to gyrate, bend backwards turn and enjoy himself. David turned to reveal his own profile and activity. He wanted to give what he was getting.
Would he be asked for more? Could he be what the man wanted? When lights changed shadows to defined faces and bodies, would it be even better or at least acceptable?
He screamed as he came. David didn't usually do that, but he was alone in the darkness, his own silhouette visible thru the walls of windows.
He gasped as a second explosion surprised him. It left him nearly breathless. David regained his awareness and turned back to the window.
The hand held the large wine glass aside as if he wanted David to see it. It moved as if a toast to him.
David reacted. He was indeed seen. Should he cover his nudity? It was a silly thought as he knew the body was seen as a shadow by another shadow.
He found his own empty glass but lifted it as if full and mimicked the form across the street.
The form moved to a wall and the paintings went dark taking their colors and the outlined body into the darkness of anonymity.
And David was alone again. He wondered how many nights ahead he would be alone.