The boy smiles at Jacob and gestures for him to follow. They go through the hall, deeper into the building, which is much bigger than it appeared to be from the street.

In the dressing room, Jacob puts his towels and soap on a bench and stares questioningly at the boy who is standing in the door, looking at him invitingly.

‘Massage?’ he says in shaky English. ‘I make you feel good. Only fifty dollars.’

He winks in an almost comical way, and Jacob feels suddenly very uncomfortable in this situation. It’s obvious the boy is offering more than just a massage.

He’s been in a state of constant agitation since that night in the garden with Yassim. But this feels wrong, the boy is far too young.

‘No thanks,’ he says. ‘I’m good.’

The boy shrugs in disappointment and disappears through the door, leaving Jacob alone in the room.

*

Jacob settles in inside a steam room that he has to himself. Slowly he closes his eyes and leans back on the hot mosaic tiles while the steam hisses around him. A slight and pleasant intoxication makes him feel lighter and freer than usual.

He hears the glass door opening and when he peers through the steam swirling in the draught, he can just make out the outlines of a fit young man. Jacob pretends to shut his eyes so the young man won’t see Jacob checking him out as he walks by. But he takes a peek at those shoulders, the sculpted chest and arms. How old is he? A bit younger than himself? Twenty? Now he sits down next to him, and Jacob glances furtively at his straight, large nose, at his full lips and then down at his skin, down to his waist where his towel sits.

Suddenly the man looks up and glances at him. Or not really a glance: he looks straight at him, and Jacob tries to turn away, but doesn’t quite manage, so their eyes meet for a moment.

There’s something absolutely shameless about the look the young man gives him. Something that requires no interpretation or explanation. Jacob closes his eyes again and can feel his body start to tingle with excitement and anxiety.

Cautiously, he takes another peek and has to suppress a gasp when he sees that the man has opened his towel and is sitting naked next to him. His penis is completely smooth and hard and is standing straight up. He slowly turns towards Jacob.

‘It’s hot in here,’ he says in English.

Jacob nods weakly. ‘Definitely,’ he says.

Now the young man scoots a little closer. ‘Do you want to cool off with me?’ he says. ‘There’s a room where we can relax a little.’