“What made you change your mind?”
Rémi’s hand travels down Stéphane’s still-damp spine.
“About what?”
“Don’t you remember? Three weeks ago, I asked if you wanted to become the man of my life, and you answered that you already had one.”
“So?”
“Why do you keep insisting?”
Stéphane turns towards him and imitates Rémi, caressing his chest before moving down to his cock.
“You don’t taste like the others.”
“And one day, my flavour may fade…”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Am I too disillusioned to be anything but realistic? How long will you stay?”
Stéphane rises, grips a beam in the basement and lifts his legs as close to horizontal as he can. His muscles arch, and Rémi can count their beauty. Stéphane gives up the position very quickly.
“See? Five years ago, I could’ve held that for three minutes, at least. Now I can’t even last thirty seconds.”
He tries again. Rémi counts. Twenty-seven. Stéphane lets go, laughing.
“You don’t want to answer me?”
“But I did answer you, Rémi. Five years ago, I would’ve made you promises and could’ve kept them, but now I don’t really feel like doing the exercise.”
Stéphane lies down again.
“That’s happiness, isn’t it? The adventure of a new body…”
He touches Rémi’s shoulder.
“…a new gaze.”
A caress over the eyes.
“…a new soul.”
A light touch on the chest.
“…a different energy.”
His hand cups the testicles.
“…pleasure.”
Rémi’s cock swells.
“Love makes us blind. Don’t you know that?”
Gently, Rémi uses his hand to make Stéphane look him in the eyes.
“See, I’m hard, but I can still see you as you are.”
“You mean stark naked and erect?”
“How many fuck buddies do you have around the world?”
Stéphane withdraws his hand.
“Things are going badly for you, and I can understand that. A long time ago, I could’ve decided never to see you again. Don’t confuse the habit with the monk wearing it.”
“You arrive just as I’m leaving Victor. You’re a bit like the spark that sets off the powder keg.”
Stéphane gives him a mocking smile.
“If I understand correctly, the fuse must’ve been pretty damp to need so many matches… Me, Luc, and who else? How long has this little game been going on?”
“To tell the truth, their flames are harmless?”
“You don’t know my story.”
“And you don’t know mine.”
With his hand, Stéphane traces the outline of Rémi’s chest once more.
“So we could play Fanfreluche and tell each other our stories…”
“A vida não é uma distracção, my Brazilian friend told me recently. Life is not a diversion…”
Stéphane’s smile fades, and fervour colours his eyes.
“No, but it is a game we are compelled to play; we might as well submit to it and enjoy it.”
“You say that because you have your whole cock, all your beauty and your entire future ahead of you.”
“And what if I died tomorrow?”
“I would be sad, but I would carry on.”
“Then you see,” Stéphane replies, drawing Rémi towards him, “there is no point making promises.”