“Could be. If I wasn’t so passionate about art and bringing it out to other people, then I don’t think I would’ve had what it took to get through those first few years of doing portraits. It would’ve been easier to just go get a job flipping burgers and hope that something better came along. But I wanted to share my love of art with other people…. Wait a minute.” Aud grinned mischievously. “Are you trying to get us back to talking about me again?”
Leo grinned back. “Not on purpose. It just kinda happened. But I like hearing about you. You’re inspiring me.” You’re helping me see you as more than just a really sexy face and hot body.
“You’re supposed to be inspiring me on how to draw you.”
“But you sound a lot more interesting than I am.”
“I learned a long time ago that everyone is interesting in their own way. The catch is figuring out what that way is.”
Finding the passion in the person. Somehow I think you’re going to end up stirring my passions to a boiling point if I let you. Right now, I want to let you, Aud. I really do.
6
AUD FORCED a breath out slowly as he unlocked his small house and opened the door. It’s still clean. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be. I’m just being silly. “Come on in.” He gestured to Leo as he flipped on the lights.
After an interesting dinner where Aud’d spent way too much time talking about himself, he was enjoying Leo. He seemed really sweet and more than a little fun. So different from the men Aud’d gone out with in the past who were more obsessed with their looks than their minds. Not that he thought there was anything wrong with Leo’s looks.
“Wow. Great place you’ve got here.” Leo glanced around the living room.
“I know it’s not very large, but I don’t spend a ton of time here, and I like cozy.” Aud closed the door.
“I’ve never understood the need for a really large place.” Leo continued to look around. His eyes didn’t appear to light on anything for very long.
“Don’t mind the artgasm. Lots of stuff catches my eye.” Aud motioned toward a series of lithographs by one of his favorite artists who was very adept at capturing scenes of gay life in vivid colors. “This guy works out of California. I talked him into coming to Colorado Springs a couple of years ago. We had a one-night showing at the gallery. We managed to sell everything he brought with him. He was happy and sent me these prints as a thank-you.”
Leo looked at the signature on each one. “Wow, and he autographed them for you too. That’s cool, but I guess it’s fairly normal in your line of work.”
“Yeah. Most of the art in my personal collection is signed. One of the perks of being a gallery owner.” Aud walked over to his desk. “So would you like to look around a bit, or would you like to get started with your sitting?”
“I don’t know.” Leo turned and a soft, innocent look encompassed his features. “I don’t really know what I’m looking at, but I know I like some of it. Maybe we should start the sitting, and if your hand gets tired of drawing me or I just prove to be a boring subject, we can stop and you can explain some of the art to me.”
Aud picked up his drawing tablet and a couple of pencils. “In case you haven’t noticed already, I can spend a lot of time talking about art. If we go until I get tired and then talk about things, you might end up here all night.” And I don’t think I’d complain about that.
“With Felix and Julie wanting to have brunch tomorrow, I better not stay out all night.” Leo grinned sheepishly.
“Then let’s get started.”
“Where do you want me?”
“How about on the couch? Relax, but sit up straight.” Aud rolled his desk chair out so he had a clear view of the couch and Leo. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to turn my desk lamp in your direction.”
“Whatever makes you happy.” Leo settled onto the couch.
“If we had some daylight hours free, it would be wonderful to do this outside under natural light, but this will suffice… for now.” Aud turned on the desk lamp and pointed it toward Leo.
Leo blinked in the light. “Outside would be cool. So do you want my glasses off?”
“No, leave them on. They’re part of your charm.”
“You think I have charm?” Leo cocked his head inquisitively.
It was a perfect look.
“I think you’re very charming.” Aud flipped open to a blank page in the drawing tablet. “Can you keep your head that way? It’s great.”
“Okay.” Leo held his head at the tilt Aud knew was somewhat awkward.
Aud set to work. A fast outline of Leo’s head started off the process; then he filled in details as quickly as he could. Once he began drawing, his hands followed his brain’s signals perfectly to make easy work of memorizing the tiny lines in Leo’s face, the way there were a few freckles across the bridge of his nose, right under where his glasses rested. The little sweep of his hair that dropped down toward his eyes seemed more red than auburn in the bright light from the desk lamp. And behind his thin glasses, his brown eyes sparkled. It didn’t take Aud long to get the basics done, and he thought he would recall enough of the rest to fill things in without any trouble.
“Okay, I think I’ve the preliminary done.” Aud laid his tablet in his lap.