Ch. 3:

Matthew stared at the rose Francis had given him; it was now in a slim vase he had found and sitting on the coffee table. As Matthew stared at the scarlet flower he couldn't help the smile on his face, the fluttering in his stomach, as he recalled his conversation with Francis:

Matthew couldn't breathe as Francis pressed against him, his body warm and flush against him. Francis gave Matthew a sexy smile, "And let's just say… you have completely caught my interest."

Then before Matthew could fully register what he was doing Francis trailed his lips across Matthew's cheek in what was possibly the hottest peck on the cheek in history. Then with a wink and smile he had walked off, leaving Matthew a pile of cinders on the sidewalk.

Matthew couldn't help a small squeal escaping at the memory, he might have been acting like a little junior high school girl but he didn't care! The sexiest person in all of existence was interested in him! Matthew hadn't realized how much he had wanted something like that to happen until now. He hugged his stuffed bear, Kumajirou, to him. This vacation was looking promising after all.

"Well, someone looks less bitchy," Gilbert remarked as he and a giggling Antonio entered the apartment.

Gilbert's face was flushed but next to the swaying Antonio he either a) didn't drink that much or the more likely, b) could hold his liquor better. If you considered the British version of liquor alcohol, which Francis did not and never would.

But he smiled at his friends, in too good of a mood to be bothered by such things, "I am in a much better mood, thank you for asking."

"Really? Oh, Francis I'm so happy for you," Antonio gushed and rushed over to hug Francis, but halfway there he tripped on his own feet and face-planted onto the floor.

"Just stay down there, Toni," Gilbert advised before walking over the Spaniard and sitting on the arm of Francis's chair. "So, what has got you all a twitter?"

Francis grinned up at his friend, "After you bastards heartlessly abandoned me I found the cutest thing one could ever find in London."

Gilbert cocked a silver eyebrow, "Oh? Caught another Brit, apparently you didn't learn your lesson the first time."

"Don't sleep with another one, Francis," Antonio warned from where he lay sprawled on the floor, "That last one nearly clawed your eyes out."

"Thank you for that reminder," Francis said sarcastically, "But no, it's not a Brit." He smiled brightly, "It's a Canadian."

"Well, that is different," Gilbert agreed, "You never bagged one of those before."

Francis chuckled and crossed his legs, "Well I shall do just that very soon. You should see this little dove, he's absolutely adorable."

"What type is he," Gilbert asked, resting his head in his hand, "I need details, and go slowly."

"He's the naïve, innocent type," Francis began, "Sweet and shy, believing whatever you say if you put a smile to it."

"Hmm, that doesn't sound like a challenge to me," Gilbert said, "I thought you enjoyed the thrill of the hunt?"

"I do," Francis agreed, "But not nearly as much as the thrill of the bed."

Francis smiled at his friend, "Trust me, that's where the fun will be. The little thing is so obviously a virgin. It'll be fun to teach him a few things."

"And what's the best part about this little Canadian," Gilbert asked in a tone that said he already knew the answer and Francis better as well.

With a helpless sigh and a roll of his eyes Francis recited Gilbert's mantra, "It's just fun. I'm going to show that little Canadian the best time of his life and then we three will run off to the next adventure."

Gilbert grinned, "Quite right."

Antonio tried sitting up, "Fantastico!"

Gilbert pushed Antonio back on the floor while Francis laughed; yes this was how his friends lived and how they would continue living. No attachments to anything but themselves and their families, there would be no committed relationships, no falling in love. Just the thrill of the hunt and the bed, and that's how Francis liked it.