Part 5
A few hours later Paul was once again laying in bed with a lover, their legs tangled beneath the sheets. Lauren lifted her head from where it rested on Paul's naked chest and looked up at him. He was still stunned by her beauty, and his naturally insecure nature couldn't help but wonder what she wanted with him.
Lying there with his arms wrapped around her body, Paul couldn't help his mind drifting back to Tim. Just this morning it was Tim he was laying here with, confessing their love for each other. How quickly things could change. But despite his exterior denials, Paul knew deep down that he still loved Tim, and he always would, nothing could ever change that. And a big part of him was tinged with guilt over what he had just done.
But what Tim had said to him had hurt. Paul didn't know what hurt more, the actual insult or the fact that it came from Tim. Both Tim and Rich knew better than anyone about Paul's past, and they knew how sensitive he was about it. Ever since the DAAS days Paul had dealt with rumors and innuendos about his sexuality, about his life, and though people told him to shrug it off it was hard, especially when the people making those judgments didn't even know half the real story.
Lauren moving against him shook him from his thoughts. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. She smiled.
"What time is it?"
"About 3."
"Oh damn I've got an appointment at 4. I've got to go home and shower and change."
Lauren jumped out of bed quickly getting dressed. Paul just sat on the edge of the bed watching her, suddenly unsure of what to say. When she was dressed she walked back over to stand in front of him.
"Can I call you tomorrow?"
"Okay."
Lauren kissed him lightly on the lips and then rushed out of the flat. Paul sat there for a few moments watching her leave, wondering if he would in fact ever see her again, or whether he even wanted to. He let out a deep sigh as he walked into the bathroom to take a hot shower.
He stood under the hot water for what seemed like an eternity, his heart and mind a mixture of a million emotions. When he stepped out of the shower he had made up his mind what he had to do, he had to go and have a long talk with Tim.
part 6