GENRE: Gay Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 6,579 words
RATING:

It was just another routine flight from Hong Kong to Manchester for Flight attendant Nigel Grimond until he spied sexy bodybuilder Phil Wilson crammed in seat 12E. Upgrading Phil to business class, Nigel spent as much time as possible talking with the man as well as admiring his muscles and his eagle tattoo.

As a thank you for the upgrade, Phil asks Nigel out to dinner at a village pub. Pessimistic at his chances of scoring with such a hunk, Nigel’s hopes are lifted by his psychic friend Tracy who is convinced this is Nigel’s big chance at finding love.

Nigel waits at the pub for Phil, who is running late. Through a series of text messages, Phil assures Nigel he won’t be long. But after two hours of waiting, Nigel goes home alone.

Phil begs for a second chance, so Nigel is back at the pub the next night, but the excellent food and friendly bar staff will be little consolation if Nigel is stood up a second time.

What if Phil doesn’t show? Why is Tracy so insistent that all signs point to love? Shouldn’t Nigel just go home, get drunk, and forget all about strong muscles and tattooed eagle wings?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

“Back again?” the barman asked the next evening.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Same again is it?” The man reached for a pint glass and began scooping in ice.

“Yeah, why not. But this time add a slice of lemon if you will.”

The man smiled and within a few seconds set Nigel’s drink on the bar. “If you’re interested, the soup tonight is beef and vegetable.”

He has a kind smile, Nigel thought, unable to hold back a return smile. Today’s baggy sweater was a mixture of dowdy browns and bright reds. Maybe his wife or his mother knits them and he feels obligated to wear them?

“Sir?” the man asked.

“Oh, uh, sorry. Miles away. I’ll see what my friend wants to eat before I order.

The barman nodded, and turned away to serve another customer.

The pub was a great deal busier than the previous night. But then it was Friday. Nigel imagined people would be coming in to mark the end of the work week. His schedule was all over the place so he didn’t often get to enjoy a traditional weekend off.

Nigel took his drink over to a table near the fire. The night was somewhat warmer than the previous one, but the sight of the flames licking at the coals was still welcome.

Taking his coat off and draping it over the back of the seat, Nigel looked around. More than half the tables were occupied, and it was still relatively early. The hour had been dictated by Phil, who had begged to be given a second chance. He’d made vague references in his texts to work commitments and how they’d prevented him from meeting Nigel the previous night.

Nigel had wanted to tell the guy to forget it, once bitten twice shy and all that, but Phil had been most persuasive. And Tracy had almost demanded Nigel go back to the pub. Nigel was still miffed at her for getting him into the whole mess in the first place.

“I know, sweetie,” she’d said, trying to calm him down during their one A.M. Skype. “But I’ve never known all the signs be this ... strong.”

If Nigel understood Tracy’s gifts, and he only partially did, most of the time she just got vague feelings or visions, nothing all that concrete.

So to shut her up and to please Phil, and admittedly to satisfy his own lust, Nigel had agreed to go out with Phil again that night.