So with Scott Taylor making an appearance in the book, a man very different from Lee Porter, it's time to consider what exactly the Naked Hero of the story, Lewis Macleod, is actually looking for in a man.
Great looks for one thing, and brilliant in the sack - he's a typical gay boy in that respect. But because of his public profile, and even more so his nature, Lewis is looking for something else - something much harder to find in the gay world... He's looking for fidelity.
Wow!
Now I spent my early gay days in London, then did a stint in Brighton where I still return to regularly. It's a very promiscuous scene in both places, and I think that's pretty typical of the UK in general. With Gaydar and Grindr, sex is only a few clicks away. Anonymous shags are very much the norm and easy to find. Being in a relationship isn't the norm - being in a monogamous one was pretty much unheard of - my partner and I being a rare exception.
Lee Porter is the stereotypical promiscuous gay man - he boasts of over 1000 partners. A brilliant one night stand is Lewis's early opinion, but a nightmare for a boyfriend. It's that promiscuity that comes back to haunt him, and remains a major theme throughout the books. Lee and Lewis are two players of consequence from different worlds - can they somehow find a common ground, or will it be Scott Taylor who has what it takes. He's the opposite where men are concerned - totally in the closet with his unexplored bi-sexuality, but is that too extreme in the other direction? We'll come back to Scott, as he's only in the background at present, but here's an example of Lee Porter at work and the problems he faces if he is to win Lewis over...
But that lay in the future, and he had plenty of time to prepare for the meeting. It was the present that was now of more interest to Lee. He became conscious of the gazes from several of the men in the gym as he towelled himself down having completed his workout. It was more by instinct than anything else that he surveyed the admiring throng. So easy to just look in one direction, then with a nod, head off to the changing rooms where sex would inevitably be on offer. So often he had done that. It was a habit, but like so many habits after years of habituation it no longer delivered quite the same hit. He would still persist, however. He looked around at the men, most of whom would be available, and caught the eye of one in particular – a youth in his early twenties, which was how Lee liked them.
‘Typically Australian,’ he thought as he checked the lad out. Golden tanned with sun bleached hair. Melanomas in ten years time no doubt, but that was his problem, not Lee’s. Lee was only interested in the present, and this guy would most certainly do for the present. A raised eyebrow as Lee walked past was all that was needed. The typical Australian followed him into the changing rooms, and shortly thereafter into one of the cubicles.
Great looks for one thing, and brilliant in the sack - he's a typical gay boy in that respect. But because of his public profile, and even more so his nature, Lewis is looking for something else - something much harder to find in the gay world... He's looking for fidelity.
Wow!
Now I spent my early gay days in London, then did a stint in Brighton where I still return to regularly. It's a very promiscuous scene in both places, and I think that's pretty typical of the UK in general. With Gaydar and Grindr, sex is only a few clicks away. Anonymous shags are very much the norm and easy to find. Being in a relationship isn't the norm - being in a monogamous one was pretty much unheard of - my partner and I being a rare exception.
Lee Porter is the stereotypical promiscuous gay man - he boasts of over 1000 partners. A brilliant one night stand is Lewis's early opinion, but a nightmare for a boyfriend. It's that promiscuity that comes back to haunt him, and remains a major theme throughout the books. Lee and Lewis are two players of consequence from different worlds - can they somehow find a common ground, or will it be Scott Taylor who has what it takes. He's the opposite where men are concerned - totally in the closet with his unexplored bi-sexuality, but is that too extreme in the other direction? We'll come back to Scott, as he's only in the background at present, but here's an example of Lee Porter at work and the problems he faces if he is to win Lewis over...
But that lay in the future, and he had plenty of time to prepare for the meeting. It was the present that was now of more interest to Lee. He became conscious of the gazes from several of the men in the gym as he towelled himself down having completed his workout. It was more by instinct than anything else that he surveyed the admiring throng. So easy to just look in one direction, then with a nod, head off to the changing rooms where sex would inevitably be on offer. So often he had done that. It was a habit, but like so many habits after years of habituation it no longer delivered quite the same hit. He would still persist, however. He looked around at the men, most of whom would be available, and caught the eye of one in particular – a youth in his early twenties, which was how Lee liked them.
‘Typically Australian,’ he thought as he checked the lad out. Golden tanned with sun bleached hair. Melanomas in ten years time no doubt, but that was his problem, not Lee’s. Lee was only interested in the present, and this guy would most certainly do for the present. A raised eyebrow as Lee walked past was all that was needed. The typical Australian followed him into the changing rooms, and shortly thereafter into one of the cubicles.