In the circle of friends I hung out with, invariably a hunk named, Darcy always seemed to be in the mix at parties.

When I first saw Darcy, his looks overwhelmed me. Darcy was six-foot-four-inches-tall, incredibly handsome, and had a magnificently proportioned body. There was no doubt that he was a gym bunny.

In time my estimation of him waned. He had the supercilious bearing of someone announcing, ‘just eat your fuckin’ hearts out.’

He was like one of those studs one sees ad nauseam on every computer site for hot men where one’s admiration soon turns to irritation, as you think; ‘Oh fuck, not him again!’

I always avoided him, which was not difficult, because he was always, surrounded by admiring acolytes.

One evening, at one of these gatherings, he walked up to me and commenced chatting.

“I’ve never spoken to you before,” he announced.

‘That’s hardly surprising because, between the mirror and your adoring fans, I must’ve been invisible to you,’ I thought.

“I’m, Danny,” I replied.

“It’s great to finally meet you,” Darcy answered. 

The rest of our interaction was hardly memorable because I had switched off. I did go through the motions of polite interaction, nevertheless.

Relieved as I was when someone else annexed Darcy later, I had to admit to myself, however, that up close, he was even more fuckin’ stunning than I had realized.

Two weeks later on a Saturday morning, I again saw Darcy at a mall close to where I lived. The small mall was the epicentre of chic, and all the stores offered an amazing array of products that one could not buy at the normal large malls where everyone shopped. Unsurprisingly, this establishment was a gay haven. Above all, there was a magnificent deli, which served the most fabulous breakfasts.

As I sat there with a friend sipping our coffee and deciding what breakfast to order, I observed Darcy enter. To my dismay, he then headed in our direction.

“Hi, I’ve heard so much about this place, that I finally decided to give it a try,” he announced.

“Well… You’ll love it,” I coolly responded.

“Listen, it looks fairly packed. Would you mind if I join you guys?” Darcy answered.

My friend, Trent’s eyes were literally, spinning in his head. Before I could reply, he had invited Darcy to join us.

‘Oh, fuck, this is all I need,’ I thought to myself.

After Darcy received his coffee, we all placed our orders.

During breakfast, Darcy looked at me and asked, “What are your plans this morning?”

“Oh, just a bit of shopping,” I replied.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Darcy inquired.

Not in the loop, and displaying what he believed to be respectful, Trent said, “Well, I hope you guys have a good time. Regretfully, I’m going to have to love and leave you after breakfast.”

‘Oh shit… This is, exactly what I didn’t want,’ I thought to myself.

When Trent had eaten his last morsel and sipped his last bit of coffee, he opened his wallet.

“No… No, I’m paying for breakfast.” Darcy interjected.

“That’s very kind of you,” Trent demurely replied, before leaving.

“You don’t like me…” Darcy announced once Tent had gone. Before I could answer he continued, “You think I’m an arrogant, self-centred prick.”

Stymied by his candour, I simply nodded.

“Well, it may interest you to know, that I have often thought of approaching you at gatherings, but thought you were too aloof. I have always found you very attractive, but felt you didn’t like me,” Darcy concluded.

“I didn’t,” I ruefully replied.

“Well, let’s hope that today, you give me the benefit of the doubt,” Darcy replied, and before I could respond, he asked, “Do you have any plans for tonight?”

Thoughtlessly, I honestly answered that I did not.

“Do you like paella?” he inquired.

“I’ve never had it before,” I responded.

“Cool… Today I’m not only going to show you how to make it, but you are also going to have the greatest dish of your life,” he enthusiastically announced.

Having begun to warm to him slightly, I measuredly replied, “I’m in your capable hands.”

“We’ll have to go back to my place because I have the ultimate paella pan. However, I think we’d better revisit your incredible deli for more ingredients,” Darcy proclaimed.

Once we got to his apartment, we sat in the lounge chatting and sipping on wine. The more we spoke, the more I took a liking to him. Darcy informed me that the preparation and cooking process would begin at three, with me as his assistant, if up for the challenge.

Despite all my earlier misgivings, I was beginning to relax and enjoy myself. I loved cooking and figured that learning something new could only do me good.

When our stint in the kitchen commenced, his organizational skills and efficiency astonished me.

As I diced the tricolour of peppers, he diced the onions. After placing this concoction in the paella pan to brown, the Spanish rice followed. I had to stir the mix, while Darcy commenced preparing the pork loin for the oven, as well as browning the chicken thighs. All the while, he instructed me to continually, add his chicken stock, to my mix.

Because this is not a cooking channel, I will simply mention the other ingredients that went into the dish later, after the pork slices and chicken pieces became compressed into the rice mix, with a cake lifter spatula of sorts, as he continually used the word, ‘submerge.’  

Scallops, fish pieces, spicy Spanish sausage slices, small shrimps, and larger shelled prawns followed, also after becoming ‘submerged.’ The odours were mouth-watering as the dish was constructed.

Once the dish came out of the oven, and the black mussels simmered in white wine and garlic, artistically appeared on the top of the paella, I was gobsmacked!

Not only did the dish look fuckin’ magnificent, but… I can honestly say the paella, was one of the best meals I have ever eaten.

As I went into ruptures, Darcy teasingly responded by asking, “So… Not too bad for a self-centred prick?”

Dispensing with all the bullshit, I simply answered, “I cannot remember when last I had so much fun… Thank you.”

Extending his hand across the table and placing it over my hand, Darcy suggestively replied, “Well, let’s hope the fun isn’t over.”

Shamefully, I have to admit, that my enjoyment of the moment was suspiciously tempered. Given Darcy’s looks, I was sure that for him, just another notch was about to appear on his headboard. Because of the day, and in light of the fabulous dinner, however, I smiled and simply allowed his hand to sensually envelope mine, in a show of acquiescence.

“May I assist you with the clean-up?” I inquired.

“Wow, that would be nice,” Darcy, replied.

After I did as promised, he poured us another glass of wine before settling on the sofa and tapping the seat next to him.

As I sat down, Darcy extended his arm behind me and pulled me closer. Very slowly, he now commenced kissing me. To be honest, my negative thoughts waned as I melted into his arms. As our smooching ensued, I began to worry less and less about my suspicions.

‘So what if I am unceremoniously dumped in the morning,’ I reasoned.

What followed was awesome, and I became overwhelmed by his charms.

‘Fuck, he is a real player,’ I reflected, as our bodies mystically wafted toward his bedroom as if floating on a supernatural breeze.

As his body encapsulated me on the bed like a sumptuous sensuality, my capitulation was irresistible. In a dreamlike state, garments vanished off our bodies before our skins conjoined in a carnal reverie. Darcy’s arms and hands became like tentacles of ecstasy, amalgamating with his swaying hips and exploratory lips. Everything was so languid and fluid, that when he penetrated me seamlessly, only ecstasy overwhelmed me.   

For goodness knows how long, I was transported into a Valhalla of gratification as he endlessly pleasured me, for hours on end. When I finally fell asleep, I knew that I had enjoyed the experience of a lifetime.             

When I awoke the following morning from the best sleep I could recall, I unmistakable smell of a delicious breakfast assailed my nostrils.

As I wiped the sleep from my eyes and stretched my arms in contentment, Darcy’s face appeared at the door.

“Time for breakfast, lazy bones,” he announced.

As we ate our breakfast, Darcy stunned me by saying, “I like you, Danny. I like you a lot. I would, most definitely like to see you again… If you don’t mind.”