Page 5 of Simply Perfection
Matt slid past Niall into the main living area and stopped dead. When Matt didn’t say a word and remained cemented to the floor, Niall got a little nervous. He tried to see his place from an outsider’s perspective. All the exterior walls were red brick and his photographs, both large and small, floated over the masonry by specialized filament suspended from tracks at the top edge of the wall where it met the ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling curtains dressed the large double-hung windows circling the space, offering privacy while still revealing the downtown lights across the harbor. Niall’s u-shaped sectional sat on a soft jute rug, filling a large area on the far side of the room. Opposite the sofa, a sleek contemporary wall unit held his television and stereo equipment.
Matt turned and stared at the area that housed Niall’s kitchen with a confused looked on his face. Niall supposed his kitchen did look rather abstract, with its three pieces, then the traditional multi-cabinet and countertop combination. The design method maximized space and provided a modern art piece. Niall loved it and couldn’t wait to show all the cool features to Matt. Matt leaned forward and peered down the hallway, which led to the three bedrooms and baths, then turned to face Niall.
“Wow. Just … wow. So I take it you’re not a starving artist?” he said, smiling.
Niall shrugged, then closed the front door behind him. “Not exactly. My studio's success has been a great blessing, and my grandparents also left me a substantial inheritance."
Niall was always uncomfortable when people started talking about incomes and trappings of wealth. Although he enjoyed living in a nice condo and paid for quality furnishings, he preferred to keep the atmosphere laid back and well lived in. He had no desire to live in a showroom.
“Please make yourself comfortable. The sofa is a dream to sit on. I frequently end up falling asleep there instead of in my bed,” he said with a grin. He didn’t mention that the bed felt too empty with no one to share it. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“I’d love a glass of wine if you have one.”
“Red or white?”
“Red, please.” Matt walked over and rested against the concrete topped island.
Niall stepped up in front of Matt. Placing his hands on either side of Matt’s body, he leaned forward, tilted his head up and gently touched his lips to Matt’s cheek. Matt’s breath fluttered against Niall’s cheekbone. “It’s nice to see you again. Thank you for coming.”
“I’m glad I called. There’s something about you, Niall, that I can’t explain. I feel something more than basic attraction to a hot guy.” Matt placed his hands on Niall’s hips and flexed his fingers. “I don’t want to freak you out, but I have the burning desire to learn everything about you. Now.”
Niall inched his body closer to Matt’s large frame. Matt’s grip on Niall’s hips was sure but didn’t demand, even if part of Niall wanted to jump Matt’s bones and grind against the beautiful man’s glorious muscles.
“How about I pour that wine, then we can get right on that?” Because he couldn’t stop himself, Niall ran his hands up Matt’s arms. The thick biceps were hard under Niall’s fingers,and the heat from Matt’s skin beneath the long-sleeved dress shirt warmed Niall’s palms. Niall closed his eyes and tucked his nose right under Matt’s chin, inhaling the combined scents of aftershave and Matt’s unique flavor. Niall tried to stop the soft moan before it escaped, but the second Matt’s lips touched his temple, he released the earthy sound.
Niall stepped away from Matt’s body. The break allowed his brain to reboot. “Wine,” he whispered. “I’m getting wine.”’
Matt nodded. “Wine and talking.”
“Right, talking.”
Niall forced himself to go around the other side of the island. He opened the left side of the large carved wood cabinet and removed two wineglasses from the interior recess of the door which held all his glassware.
“That’s awesome,” Matt exclaimed.
“Isn’t it cool?” Niall opened the other side and suddenly a full kitchen was at his fingertips. The center portion of the cabinet held all his dishes and small appliances, the right door recess held his cooking tools, and a swinging insert contained his eating utensils, spices, and other kitchen paraphernalia. When he exposed the full unit, it stretched eight feet across, but only took up half that space when closed. Niall then went over to the coordinating cabinet that housed his wine cooler, refrigerator, and freezer. “I put this bottle of pinot noir in the cooler about thirty minutes ago. It should be perfect by now.”
Niall lifted out the dark red bottle of La Crema and placed it on the island. He removed the cork and held it out to Matt to sniff. “What do you think?”
“I can smell plums and cherries, but it has an undertone of oak. We should let it breathe for a few minutes. Can we take it over to the sofa?”
“Of course. I hadn’t intended for us to talk standing here at the counter. Also, I have an excellent aerator, so the wine will beready in no time.” Niall carried the wineglasses in one hand and the bottle in the other. Niall smiled as Matt’s hand landed on the small of his back. They each found a comfortable spot on the sofa and relaxed back into the cushions. Niall scooted toward Matt until their knees touched as they faced each other. The rightness of that simple contact made Niall’s inner self sigh with pleasure.
“So tell me more about this job for Sotheby’s,” Matt invited, then took a sip of the wine Niall had poured for them.
“They’re auctioning off a collection of sculptures. A single artist created all the sculptures, which are scattered throughout the United Kingdom. Some are massive, measuring fifty feet wide and twenty feet tall. Others are only a fraction of that. The commission will go to a single photographer and he or she gets to shoot the catalogue for the auction.”
Matt smiled. “I can hear how eager you are. You must want the job pretty bad.”
“Are you kidding? This is a once in lifetime opportunity. Aside from the prestige, to be given the chance to challenge my skills with a subject like this is incredible. Shot composition, lighting, and filters all affect a sculpture's mood. My fingers are itching and my brain is already spinning a thousand cycles a second with ideas and possibilities.”
Matt glanced around the walls of the condo. “So all these are yours?”
“Most. I have a handful that I picked up from a gallery here and there because I loved them so much.”
Niall watched as Matt’s eyes landed on the most personal photograph displayed. Niall knew the black-and-white image was dramatic. A man’s torso from the neck down stood out in stark relief from a black background. A pair of sculpted arms rested on the back of his neck. Sinuous muscles expanded and tautened his chest. Two raised white scars curved from just above and just below the left nipple across the chest to stop inthe center. The lighting hid nothing of the puckered skin. In fact, when you looked closely, the slash of light actually highlighted the evidence of violence.
Matt turned his head toward Niall. “I thought you said…”
