...His life was a solitary one. Aside from the travelers and the Tube official who examined his records and tested his psychological and physical state once a year, he was alone. He had the ’Net and his monthly trips to the mainland for supplies and that was the extent of his contact with humanity. He didn’t mind…much. He had his duties and his linguistic studies to keep him occupied. Though there were times when he would have liked some…companionship. Or rather the company of one person in particular.

He shook his head. No use thinking of that.

The insects and birds that had gone quiet at the Tube’s opening came back in full chorus. Their quiet cacophony cut off in mid-note at a loud, “Sumpain!”

Leon stumbled in surprise, the flashlight dropping from his hand and bumping over the rough ground. His heart jumped in his chest at the familiar gravelly tone.

Stooping to pick up the light, he froze. Captured in the flashlight’s beam stood a naked man.

Leon’s mouth went dry and the chill that touched his skin had little to do with the fact that the wind had switched to the north and was lightly buffeting him with cold air.

Every visitor came out of the Tube naked. It was a necessary condition of the Tubing process. Leon had seen thousands of nude alien bodies. But none of them affected him the way this one did.

The man was half dressed now, caught in the act of pulling up a pair of pants. The fabric clung to his calves and taut thighs. They rode low on his hips and were unfastened.

Leon dragged in a harsh breath and forced himself to raise his eyes from the full erection on display. Arousal was one of the side effects of Tube travel. It meant nothing, he reminded himself, even as he felt his cock stir. It meant nothing.

He pulled his gaze upward, following the path of a thick, dark line that traced up and over the flat belly to curl around a tight, protruding nipple. Leon licked dry lips, wondering what it would be like to follow the dark path with his tongue, to take the tight nub between his teeth. Would the flesh be cool and satiny before taking fire under his caress? Or would it be hot and salty and pulsing with life? His own nipples tightened at the thought.

“Hullo, Leon.”

The husky words jerked Leon from his trance. His gaze drifted past the narrow chin to meet an eye of a peculiar green-yellow shade. The other was hidden beneath a long swatch of heavy red hair. The face was too fox-like to be considered handsome, but the man possessed a raw animal sensuality that was impossible to deny or resist. Leon was moving toward him before he realized it.