DREAMERS OFTEN LIE

TWISTED BARD

SHANE K MORTON

Copyright © 2024 by Shane K Morton

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the brief quotations in a book review.

Cover art © 2024 by Samrat Archarjee

Created with Vellum

BLURB

Two houses both alike in dignity...

The Monty Boys and the Cappie Boys have been the main escort services in Los Angeles for years. Their rivalry has led to bloodshed and anger from both sides. But two men are bound to shatter the enmity that lies between them. Hint: It's not Roam and Jules.

Ty has been forced into a life of servitude ever since he came to live with his uncle. His shame makes him quick to anger.

Merc chose a life with the Monty Boys when his own home life became too much of a burden. He has thrown himself into his new role, providing pleasure to his high-end clients with an unrivaled revelry.

They may hate each other - but they can't help what they feel.

Besides, Roam and Jules suck all the air out of the room when they're present. They're too involved in being influencers and insta-whores between their clients and their own forbidden secret love.

Don't these two star-crossed lovers deserve their own HEA after all these centuries? It's a shame they have to die to get it!

A contemporary Gay retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, featuring Tybalt and Mercutio as our heroes!

Trigger Warning- It is Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Death – suicide and drama.

Twisted Bard is a multi-author series that brings the Bard to the present! It's also Super Gay and full of drama and heat. Did I mention drama? Shakespeare? I think you mean Shakes-queer!

Romeo and Juliet has been a part of my life for quite some time. Out of all the plays, it holds a special place in my heart. My husband and I met while doing a four-man production of R&J, and we instantly fell in love. This book is dedicated to my own Mercutio – my hubby and life. Jody. Thank you for making the last 23 years so amazing!

“If love be rough with you, be rough with love;

Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.”

Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet) Act I Scene IV

TWISTED BARD SERIES

Shakespeare? More like Shakes-Queer!

The Twisted Bard Series queers Shakespeare with retellings of your favorite plays! Classic meets contemporary with all the heat and drama you can handle!

Isn’t it time these characters finally got their HEA?

Romeo and Juliet- Dreamers Often Lie by Shane K Morton

The Comedy of Errors- An Abundance of Brothers by DK Sutton

Hamlet- Method in His Madness by Abigail Kade

Taming of the Shrew- Kiss Me, Kit by Lynn Van Dorn

Much Ado About Nothing- Much Ado About Everything by Drea Roman

Twelfth Night- Come As You Are by Marie Sinclair

Othello- Moor by Giovanna Reaves

Macbeth- Ambition by Elizabeth Silver

PROLOGUE

There are two houses in Los Angeles that you can call whenever you want a secretive dalliance with a handsome young man. Dignified? It depends on what kind of gentleman that you would prefer. But the houses themselves are modern and without repute, except for the kind talked about in whispers and behind fake profiles on the internet.

Neither house likes the other, and their grudges run deep. Once brothers and now the bitterest of enemies – they have ratcheted up their disdain to the point where blood has been spilled, and neither side can forget the harm perpetuated upon them.

Yet, somehow, love has been written in the stars for some of them – but not all will overcome. Will their pitiful lives make a difference to the strife and hate between Daddy Monty and Poppa Cappie, or will it ignite a blaze that will destroy them all?

You know the tale of Romeo and Juliet – two lovers unable to overcome the outrageous slings and arrows of fate, or the hate between their two houses of misfortune.

But what about the others trapped within the story whose lives were cut short with rage?

Be patient and be assured that a happy ever after can be achieved.

This is the tale of Ty and Mercy – whose lives and love never got a chance.

Be patient and be assured that this I will mend.

1

Ty

“You should have seen him!” Greg jumped off the curb and slapped Sam on his back so hard he almost fell over.

“Dude! Fuck, man.” Sam gained his balance and turned to our much larger friend. Greg was a walking slab of muscle.

“Oh, did that hurt the little baby?” He ruffled Sam’s hair. Sam was much shorter than both of us and maybe weighed a buck twenty wet.

“Yeah. Don’t bruise the merchandise, bro.”

Greg pushed his finger into Sam’s chest. “What? You gonna run and tell Poppa Cappie that mean old Greg is abusing you? Fucking baby.”

“I’m not a goddamn snitch, asshole. But I get enough bruises already without you adding to them.”

“Hey, it’s just part of the job, bro. A lot of pleasure sometimes takes a little pain.”

“Says the dom,” Sam huffed. “From the other side, I can tell you that it’s not always that pleasurable. Some of these clients, dude, are…”

“I know, man. But what are we supposed to do? Poppa Cappie doesn’t like being told no, and he’s paying for all this, so when they want it rough – I give it to them rough, and so do you.”

“Yeah. Lucky you,” Sam cracked his neck. “What the fuck are we doing with our lives? I was going to go to law school.”

Sam asked the question that most of the boys in the house had asked at one time or another. Poppa Cappie was a businessman first and my uncle second. I had been forced to move in with him when I was only twelve years old because my parents died in a car wreck. Somehow, I had walked away without a scratch on me, but they didn’t. I had wished that I’d been killed with them for most of my life. But fate had other plans for me, I guess.

The other guys at the house of Cappie had found their way there in one way or another – most of them illegally. But they were fine – I mean, they were boring, and most of them weren’t very smart, but they were my friends, and when I was in a pinch – they were family. We were probably the only family that any of us had.

“We’re influencers,” Greg laughed easily.

“We’re whores,” I groaned. “Do any of us have our own accounts to make money on? No. That account and our fame all belong to Poppa Cappie. We’re tools and nothing more. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“We get paid – and I think we get paid pretty well. I want for nothing, do you?” Greg smirked, already knowing the answer.

“Can we get back to the story, please,” I snorted, tired of their bickering. I really needed to find other people to hang around with. Someone much more interesting than the guys at Poppa Cappies.

“Oh, yeah! So, I had him bent over, and I was pounding him – he was begging me. I told him he was gonna have to pay more if he wanted me to…”

“Look!”

“He had already paid for that.”

“No, dumbass. Look who’s walking towards us.”

I sighed as I glanced up. I didn’t know their names, but I knew who they were. Poppa Cappie made sure that we knew everyone at his rival’s studio. Poppa Cappie and Daddy Monty… Talk about two people who truly hated each other so much that they acted like an old married couple.

Daddy Monty and my uncle used to be best friends, but money and power got between them. We'll never know who was actually at fault, and it really didn’t matter. Our two houses of ill-repute – our studios and social media all kept the feud active and fiery. I hated them because I had to. They hated me because I was more beautiful and more muscular than them. My going rate was the most expensive of all the boys, and their jealousy knew no boundaries. Even the guys in my own house treated me as if I were special. I was, and I hated it.

Uncle Cap didn’t treat me any differently than he did his other boys, though. I worked just as hard as they did – harder because I was so desired. Only one other in the house gave me a run for my money, and he was a total narcissist who enjoyed staring at himself more than his clients. Jules was a real asshole.

“What do you wanna do?” Sam glanced around.

“I’m really not in the mood to deal with this shit today.” I groaned, knowing that the shit was about to go down. Everyone thought I was a hothead, but Gregory could never let a sleeping dog lie. I preferred to pick my battles when they mattered, but somehow, I had developed a reputation as a class-A prick.

“Let’s remind them that they may live on the same street, but that street belongs to us,” Greg laughed loudly and slowly raised his middle finger as they approached. He couldn’t stop himself from trying to get under the competition’s skin.

“Is that finger for us?” The tallest one, I think his name was Abe Masters, which was a stupid name for someone who sucked as much dick as he did on camera, stopped and stared at Gregory and Sam.

“Well… It is a finger, and it is pointing up.” Greg smirked.

“I mean, it’s not pointing at you, but yes, it is pointing nonetheless.” Sam chuckled as he shifted his feet gently away from Greg, who was as coiled tightly as a cobra.

“Oh, I think it’s totally meant for me. Did my last video outperform yours? It must be hard to know you’re considered one of the laziest fucks on the internet.”

“Now it is definitely pointing towards you.” Greg shifted his finger and pushed it further towards him.

“Looks more erect than your penis. Perhaps you should use that finger instead.” Abe cracked his knuckles.

“It’s a big finger.” Abe’s redheaded friend laughed. I had seen him but couldn’t remember his name. Monty was trying to make him a thing – but so far, he wasn’t very memorable.

“It’s a big dick, and I have no trouble getting hard.” Greg took a step forward and moved his finger a few inches from the redhead's face.

“That’s not the rumor on LPSG. They say other actors complain when they work with a Cappie boy.” Abe cackled and got in Greg’s face – which was a stupid move. Abe was tall, but Greg was huge.

I needed to put a stop to this or it was going to get ugly. “Is that what they say?” I muttered lowly from behind Greg and Sam and stepped around them so the Monty boys could see me. “I think it’s more likely what you want to believe, but I dare you to say that to my face.”

“Stop it!” Ben, one of Monty’s most popular boys, ran down the street towards his friends. “There are people over there watching, and one of them has a camera.”

“So?” Abe seethed.

“So, this won’t help either one of our houses. It just makes us look like a bunch of rednecks or gang members.”

“Gang bang members.” Greg huffed.

Greg – did I say he was the hotheaded one? Yes, I did. Greg pushed Abe on his chest with his finger, and before I knew what was happening, Abe swung his fist, and it collided with Greg’s jaw. He barely registered the punch. He barely moved as he recovered, but when he did jump into action, it was faster than anyone could have expected. His large, muscular frame tackled Abe, and they fell to the ground – arms and legs flopping onto the hard pavement in front of Tammy Sue’s Beauty Salon.

I cracked my neck and prepared myself for the eventual outcome. Sam and the redhead ran at each other, and I grinned at Ben.

“Hey, pretty boy,” I smirked. “You’re gonna just stand there as your friends do all the dirty work.” The mess was already going down, and I could see the people down the street filming. I wasn’t going to be the only one looking like a fool while my friends did the dirty work.

“Ty. We’re not our bosses. It doesn’t have to be this way. I have nothing against you.” Ben held his hands up.

“I don’t think we have a choice unless you want to look like a coward, Benny Boy.” I stepped towards him, and he held his hands up in front of his face. “As always, cameras are rolling.”

“We should be pulling them apart… Oh, fuck it.” Ben shook his head, and his hands turned to fists. “We’re already in the fucking thick of it. Maybe Monty will give me a bonus.”

Greg and Abe were rolling on the ground, trying to get the best of each other. The sound of fists on flesh punctuated the air. Sam and the redhead were already out of my sight, but I didn’t need to worry about Sam. He was a fucking little scrapper.

“You wish.” I stepped forward, and Ben fucking ran at me. I moved slightly to the left and held my foot out. Ben tripped and tumbled to the ground. Hopefully, he didn’t hurt that pretty face. That would have been a shame, even for one of Monty’s boys. Ben was a total cutie and one of the only ones who gave me a run for my money in this business we called show.

“Fuck!” He picked himself up and came at me, throwing a punch that I artfully dodged. “Fucking cat prince!” He stepped back and wiped the trickle of blood from his forehead.

“Don’t talk about my pussy, little Benny,” I threatened. #CatPrince was the moniker that Cappie gave me because I had a couple of cats that I treated like children. I preferred them to almost everyone. “First blood – is that getting in your eyes? I didn’t even punch you yet.”

“Asshole.”

He threw another punch, and I sidestepped it easily. “You’re making this too easy.”

“Stand still, damn you!” He yelled in rage and ran at me. Instead of easily dodging him, I wrapped my arms around him and held his arms firmly in my grip on his side as I spun him around.

“Should I let go and see how far I can toss a bottom?” I laughed. I was enjoying this more than I should. If I had been of sound mind, I would have helped Ben de-escalate the situation, but a camera was still a camera. The audience expected something of us, and who was I to deny them what they wanted? Our feud was epic and filled the chatrooms of the people who enjoyed beating off to us as they watched our bodies writhe in the throes of fake passion.

“Don’t you dare.”

“That might be a waste of a very pretty face. If our houses didn’t hate each other, I would love to see you wiggle as I impaled you.”

“In your dreams.”

“That wasn’t very smart.”

“Don’t you dare,” he gasped, and I grinned wickedly at him.

“You did ask for it, handsome.” I spun faster and opened my arms. Ben flew into the air – his legs kicking wildly onto the pavement, where he landed without decorum on his ass before skidding across the concrete. I was careful in my release. I could have made it much worse and bruised more than his ego, but that would have been a waste. Out of all Monty’s boys, Ben was probably the nicest and most calm of them all. “I did you a solid. Now stay down.” I pointed at him, and he slowly picked himself up enough to get to his knees. I had raddled him.

The sirens let us know that our foray into madness had to come to an end. We had been warned more than once, but we never really paid for our duels. Cappie and Monty had the mayor in the palm of their hand. He was a fan, as was the police chief. Even when we didn’t get away in time, we never had real repercussions.

“Time to skedaddle assholes. The boys in blue are about to arrive.” Greg laughed as he threw one last punch that landed right in Abe’s stomach. He was gonna feel that one for a long time. Abe doubled over and fell to his knees.

“Fuck. Too late.” Sam scoffed as he ran over to me.

The sirens grew deafening as two patrol cars pulled up to the curb beside us.

“Play it cool,” I ordered, and Ben walked over and helped Abe up to his feet as he threw an arm around him. The redheaded boy wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and spat onto the street.

The doors of the cop car flew open, and one of the policemen opened the back door. We watched and waited for them to pretend to issue us citations. Like I said, our bosses had this city in the palm of their hands.

An incredibly expensive shoe swiveled out of the car and landed on the sidewalk. Out stepped the fucking mayor himself. I knew him, of course. He had paid a few visits to the house during my time there.

“Boys,” he huffed and wheezed as he exited the vehicle. “Guys, please turn those fucking lights off.”

“Yes, sir.” One of the cops went around to the driver’s side, and in a few seconds, there was peace once again. It had felt a little like a lousy rave.

“Boys. This has to come to an end. Do you know how many complaints we have had about you, ruffians? Too many. That’s how often we get complaints about you lot roughing it up in the streets for likes on your Instagram and TikTok. It has to end. I am calling Cappie and Monty today and telling them that this has gone on for too long. It ends now! The next time we catch you fighting on a city street, we will arrest you. Warn the others because I am done with your stupid bullshit.” His face grew red as his voice rose.

“Sure, I’ll deliver the message to Monty. I am sure you’ll be hearing from him.” Ben sounded stern, and I felt a little twinge in my cock. He looked really hot with the trickle of blood coming from his forehead.

“I will be happy to tell my uncle, too. I am sure that Cappie will also want to speak with you about this,” I said as casually as possible. “He truly doesn’t like being told what to do. Just ask, Monty.”

“I don’t care what either of them says!” his voice cracked. “The next time – and I’m serious as a heart attack, you go straight to jail where most of you lot belong.”

“Does this mean you won’t be visiting any longer, Mayor?” Abe grinned. “I know how much you enjoy your visits.”

“This isn’t about that, you little asshole,” he spitted as he stepped toward him. “What happens in your house is consensual and legal. But what you do to this city is not. Do we understand each other?”

Ben and I glanced at each other and smirked. “Crystal clear, Sir.”

“Let’s go.” The mayor turned back to the police car. “The smell of shit on this street is making me sick.”

We watched him crawl back into the car and stood there as they drove away.

“You think he’s serious?” Ben asked as he bit his bottom lip.

“I think we have to believe so, for now. Tell your house. I’m sure our bosses will have a lot to say.”

2

Merc

“You gotta bounce higher than that!” I screamed as I fell back down to the mattress that Ben and I were pushing to its limits. “Get your knees into it.”

“I’m already fucking flying!” Ben screamed as he almost fell off. “You’re going to hard.”

“No such thing, Benny Boy! Now, just take it and let yourself go!”

I fell back to the mattress, but he was not ready. I launched him up into the air, but he was too far forward. I jumped off the bed as fast as I could and grabbed hold of him as he fell too far off the bed. It would have sucked if he had smashed into my dresser. He landed on the floor in a pile of arms and legs.

“Oof! Fuck!” He cackled as he rolled over to his back. “You’re fucking dangerous.”

“I mean, this bed is like a goddamn trampoline, Ben. What’s the point of having it and a huge loft ceiling if you’re not gonna have fun!” I walked over and gave him my hand. He grabbed it, and I hauled him up off the floor.

“Merc, I’m sure you’ve pushed this mattress to its breaking point in many ways.”

“Well, you know I have,” I said slyly.

“Yep! I still walk funny after our last scene.” He slapped me on my cheek gently and walked over to the bed. “Sex with you is like a fucking rodeo.”

“I don’t remember you complaining.”

“Your memory is fuzzy at best. You’re too fucking wild.”

“Well, we were the highest watched video in that quarter. I bet that made Roam lose his fucking mind.” I was always happy to beat him in the ratings. Roam was the biggest star we had at Monty’s, but I was always right behind, nipping at his heels.

“Have you seen him today?” Ben lay back on the bed and rolled over to his side.

“No. How can you see someone that doesn’t want to be seen?” I walked over and pulled my curtains to the side, letting the sunlight stream in. “He’s off moping around, trying to gain sympathy. I’m sure you could check out Monty’s Instagram and figure it out. He’s been posting the most emo bullshit I’ve ever seen over the last few days. He’s gonna lose his posting privileges if he doesn’t get his shit together.”

“Are you kidding? People are loving it. They want someone sympathetic, and right now, Roam is all they're talking about.”

“Oh, I can imagine. How brave he is, right? How hard it must be for someone like him to find love and not have it returned? Am I right?” I chuckled and walked over to the bed.

“You called it, bro.” He winked.

“It will get old fast, and then they’ll turn on him.” I sat down and laid on my back, crossing my arms behind my head. “What did he expect, they will say. He’s a porn star – why would Ross ever want to get into a serious and committed relationship with someone who bangs other people for a living? Just look at how he lives in that house with all the other whores. It’s what they’ll all say when they get tired of his moping around. It’s the inevitable outcome,” I sighed heavily. “People see us for what they want to see us for. They don’t really want to know the person behind the persona. They want to watch us fuck. They want to know us because they want to fuck us. It ends there. Roam thinks he’s an actual internet celebrity, but if he weren’t doing this, no one would give a shit about him or any of the rest of us.”

“You’re fucking depressing.”

“I’m truthful because I’ve been in a bad mood. I’m tired of being told what to do all the fucking time. I want to… I don’t know… make my own decisions for once. I want to be able to walk around in my own house without running across people filming scenes, and Monty made me join them because I happened to walk by. I was one of the biggest influencers in the house… I wish I could say no, you know? I wish I could have a bed that didn’t belong to this fucking house, and I could choose who I banged in it.”

“Ok…” Ben chuckled dryly. “We have to get you out of this shit show you’re in.”

“I know, I’m… I like Roam. You know that. But he buys into the bullshit of all of this too much.”

“He buys into his own bullshit enough, that’s for sure.”

“No kidding. What did he expect? Ross is the son of a senator. Roam was great for a little fun, but it could never be serious. It’s not the world we live in. It would tarnish Ross, and if Roam isn’t careful about all these shit posts, he’s gonna wind up getting himself really fucked up. You don’t mess with powerful people when you don’t have any power.”

“I should talk to him.”

“Someone should. He doesn’t ever listen to me. I’m just the fun guy he turns to when he wants to get into trouble.” I groaned and rolled over to look at him. Ben was beautiful in every way and had become one of my best friends.

“You are really good at getting in trouble.”

“I’m also really good at getting us out of it,” I huffed. “I’m tired of being the fucking clown because that’s what Monty thinks everyone wants me to be. I am funny and fun… just not all the fucking time. I’m a whole person hiding behind a persona.”

“Aren’t we all?”

“Yeah…” I looked at Ben and grinned. “I mean, you’re just a frat boy who likes to be bossed around, aren’t you?”

“A frat boy who didn’t even graduate high school!” Ben giggled, and a blush crept up his face. “I don’t… I’m different from you, I guess. This has a shelf life, and I’m willing to ride it as long as I can. Will it lead me somewhere better than this, or will I just go to a different studio and make less money until I’m forced into dad videos? Maybe I’ll stop squandering my money and actually pay to get my GED? I mean… I know I’m just a fucking whore like everyone else, but it’s more than I ever hoped for in Kansas. I enjoy sex, and I’m really fucking good at it.” He grinned wickedly and pulled one of his legs back. He was very limber.

“That you are.”

“I mean… I don’t really mind the… escorting… but…”

“Is that what you call it?” I chuckled.

“It sounds classier that way, I guess.”

“And the truth?”

“I’m just a hole for whoever pays Monty my fee.” He whispered.

I reached over and took his hand in mine. “I’m just a pole for whoever pays Monty my fee.”

Ben groaned and rolled back over to his back as our interlaced fingers lay between us. “When was the last time you just fucked someone because you wanted to?”

I chuckled as I thought about it. “The Grabby’s last year. Monty blew a gasket when he found out. I actually thought he might fire me or have me killed.”

“Really? How did I not know this? Who was it?”

“One of the European boys. He kept asking me to spit on him. It was kind of hot.”

“I don’t even remember the last time I fucked someone for fun. I should try to be more like Roam without the narcissism and attachment issues. He sticks his dick in anything that he gets feelings for, and he gets feelings for fucking everyone he meets. Of course, Monty will let him do anything he wants.”

“I mean… We’re here, and there’s no cameras,” I growled. “I could scratch your itch. I’m bored and could use a fuck.”

“What are we gonna do, bump bussies?” He giggled, and I reached over and stroked his face.

“I may prefer to bottom, but… I am versatile. I mean, the only sex I’ve had in years has been from the top. I miss a dick in my ass, though.”

“A bottom who has yet to ever bottom on film. I guess that’s your fault for having a fucking donkey dick.” He giggled happily.

“Monty said no one wants to see a guy with a big dick take it up the ass, and he’s kept me in what he feels is my lane. But I’ve grown to like it. Besides, if someone is gonna top me, they better be a fucking filthy dom these days. I came into this shit all vanilla, and now my kinks have kinks.”

“I don’t mind your kinks. But I do have a long day of filming tomorrow, and I don’t think they want me to be quite as loose as I would be if I let you pound me into that mattress. Besides, I think I like you way too much to actually fuck you – for real – you know? What if you start to become Roam and follow me around like a puppy,” he teased.

“You’re fucking hilarious.”

He turned to me, and I could tell he was about to become serious. “What would I do without you?”

“Have no one to have an actual conversation with about anything other than social media likes and market share for the studio.”

He rolled his eyes. “Truth.”

“I wanna break Ty’s arm for hurting you,” I growled.

He grinned slowly. “You’re as sweet as always. But I don’t think he really wanted to hurt me.”

“He likes to play with his food. The Prince of Cats is a total dick. But if he messes with you again, I’ll fuck him up.” I warned. Ty and I had squabbled in the past, and he could throw a wicked punch. He was all muscle and bravado.

“So hot.” He giggled. “He didn’t actually hurt me. I fell over his foot, and I knew he was going to do it. He shifted, and I… I just kept going. Just let it go, Merc. No good ever comes from those fucking brawls.”

“Agreed.” I nodded and lay back on the bed.

“Should we go try to find Roam? Maybe save him from himself?” He lay back and turned towards me.

“No. Let’s just lay here a little longer.” I pulled him closer and wrapped him in my arms.

We fell asleep all curled up together. Ben was not my lover or my way out – but he was one of the only people who loved me for me, and that made him possibly my best friend.

3

Ty

“God, you’re so fucking big,” he gasped as I banged the older gentleman harder. I held his ankles in my hands and pushed them further back, careful not to hurt him. “That’s… fuck… that’s it!”

I fucked him faster and made sure to look him in the eyes while I did. He wanted some kind of connection – most did when they paid for sex. Maybe he was lonely? Maybe his lover had died? For whatever reason, he had chosen me out of all the Cappie boys and paid my uncle for my very expensive services.

“You look like one of those swimmers in the Olympics. God, you’re just so pretty.” He licked his lips and let his fingers trail down my muscular arm.

“You’re not bad yourself.” I pushed myself all the way in and left it there as I gyrated my hips.

“Oh! Yeah… fuck… That’s… Fuck, that’s good.”

“It’s a tight ass… You feel fucking good.”

“I’m… old… So, thank you.” He blushed.

“Nah! You’re not old, just… uh… well-aged,” I lied. He did look good for a man in his late sixties, though. His thin body tightened as I plunged myself in as deep as I could go. “Very handsome.”

“God, Cappie was right… Oh, damn… That’s fucking deep. He said out of all the boys, you were the best. His prize in the stable. I might have to make this a… fuck… weekly thing,” he moaned as I slowed down to prolong his pleasure. He paid for an hour of my time, and I had another fifteen minutes. I always made sure that my john’s got their full time.

“You like my cock deep in you?” I watched him shudder as I slowly slid it to the hilt and rotated my hips. “You like that?”

“Yes, please… Just like that. God, you’re so beautiful. Those green eyes – so bright and young. All that potential… Fuck me hard. Make me beg you to stop,” he begged breathily. “You’re a fucking blonde Greek god, and for this small amount of time, you are all mine.”

I kept my cock inside him and grabbed him by the hips as I pulled him a few inches closer to the edge of the bed. I slid my own leg off so I could stand in front of him. If he wanted it hard, it would be easier this way. I pulled his legs back gently and adjusted my angle.

“Hard, huh? You want it rough, or just a hard fuck before I make you nut all over your chest?” I brushed his helmet with my fingers, and he shuddered. He was close. I glanced at the clock on his bedside table. Ten minutes…

“Rough, but not… I don’t want you to hit me.”

I stroked his face as I pushed myself all the way inside again. “I would never. Are you ready to see the stars?”

“More than you will ever know. Your body is so… You could flex while you… oh, fuck…”

I drew back and unleashed holy hell on his hole – I pistoned in and out so rapidly that his body vibrated with every thrust. His moans grew louder, and I reached up and gently wrapped my fingers around his throat and carefully applied a little pressure. He was old and brittle. I was always careful to provide the customer with exactly what they wanted, but I also knew the constraints I had to follow to make sure they had the best time of their life. It had to be all about them. My entire life was all about them.

“Fuck… Bobby…” He breathed harshly, and I released my fingers for a second before reapplying the pressure again.

Who was Bobby? His old lover, perhaps? That was the thing with having clients. You only knew as much as they told you, and every one of them was a mystery you wanted to solve. If you did, you could make their dreams and desires that much stronger while they were with you. But to get there, you had to be careful. Not every person wanted to share their truth with someone like me. Not every truth was something that you wanted inside you. Knowledge was power – but it always came with a price to your soul.

I slowed down. Five minutes were left on the time, but I made sure to make each thrust like a slap against his ass. The sound reverberated throughout his carefully decorated bedroom like a gunshot with each hard thrust of my pelvis into him.

“Fuck! I’m…” He shot all over his stomach, and I reached down and gathered some on my finger before I forced it into his mouth.

“You like how you taste on me?” I growled as I sped up once again.

“Yes…”

“Yes, what?” I raised my voice.

“Yes, sir. Please… Let me taste you when you… I want it all.” He begged, and I pushed myself faster into him as if I were a drill.

I was getting closer. When sex was your business, you learned how to control the money shots.

“You wanna taste me?”

“Yes, please…”

“That’s extra.” And I was worth every fucking penny. I should bottle it and sell it online.

“I’ll pay whatever you… fuck… yes.”

I thrust into him once more as hard as I could and then slowly pulled out before crawling to sit on his chest. His hands slid up my torso, and he put my hard pecs in his hands as he worshipped my body. He opened his mouth, and I slid my cock between his lips. He clamped down, and I slid in and out a couple of times before I shot my load into him. It was a big load, and it dribbled out of his mouth. He slurped as much of it down as he could.

I patted his cheek and chuckled. “And with that, our time has come to an end.” I slid my cock between his tight lips, and it popped free and slapped him on his chin.

“God, your cock is so fucking beautiful. How big is it?”

“Eight and a half.” I used my pelvic muscles to bounce it up and down over his face as the last of my cum dribbled onto his shaved skin. “But it’s really the girth that makes you feel so fucking good. Did you like that?”

“I haven’t felt that in… It’s been quite some time.”

“Bobby?”

“Yes, ever since Bobby died.” His eyes misted. I shouldn’t have asked that. It was none of my business, and I had no idea what sadness his past contained. Most older men held their sadness like a shroud around them.

“I’m sorry.”

He sniffled. I slowly crawled off of him and sat on the bed beside him.

“It’s ok. It’s been years now. But it never really goes away. When we first met, we were so young. We spent thirty-eight years together. This was the first time I…”

“How long has it been?”

“Three years. Thank you. You made me feel seen again after feeling invisible for far too long.” He sniffled, and I stroked his thinning hair. I did have things to do and needed to get out of here and on my way. But sometimes, this was part of the job. I felt sorry for him. One day, this could be all of us. Who would I mourn? No one if I stayed in the life I led. The only person who actually cared for me was another of my kind – my sweet and narcissistic Jules.

“It’s… ok, Ty. You can leave. I’m just gonna lay here and wallow in all of the emotions, I guess. I think this helped me to… release some of them that I’ve held pent up for too long.”

“Are you sure? I can stay a little bit longer if you need me.” Please let me go. I really needed to shower and get ready for the event that Cappie was throwing tonight. I fucking hated Halloween.

“Yes. You… Thank you. Can I see you again?”

“You know who to call.”

“Do you accept tips?”

I nodded and stroked his face one last time. “You also got the money shot in your mouth. I usually charge another fifty for that. But this time, I’ll…”

He reached over and grabbed his phone from the nightstand, and I heard the ding of a tip on my own phone somewhere in my carefully folded pants. “I'm happy to pay. You taste salty and tangy. It was very masculine. You are very masculine.”

“Thank you.”

He lay there as I dressed, and I went over and stroked his face one more time before walking out of his bedroom and out of his house. The sun was bright, and I smelled of sweat and sex – it wasn’t always the most pleasant of aromas. When I had sex with someone, I gave my all, and the sweat dripped from me. There were memes and forums all about the Prince of Cats and his sweaty torso. People really needed to do something better with their time, but it did make my paychecks bigger.

I walked over to the town car that had been waiting for me, and my phone buzzed. I fished it out of my pocket and looked at the number. Fuck… Uncle Cappie was calling, and that was never a good thing. Hopefully, he didn’t whore me out again, or I was never going to be ready on time for this fucking party.

“Ty, I need you to get to the house as fast as you can,” he snapped. All he ever did was order me around.

“Hello to you, too, Uncle. What’s going on?”

“We’re having a few special guests tonight at the party, and that means you have to be on your best behavior and make sure the other hellions do too.”

“Who is it?”

“Since the mayor has made his proclamation, and he won’t budge on it – believe me, I have tried. Monty,” he sighed dramatically. “Monty and I have decided to try something new. I don’t think most of the boys will like it, but it is the only way. Without our rivalry, we won’t feel as exciting and dangerous to our viewers, and we’re afraid they’ll start going to other studios. We have to spice things up, if you get my meaning.”

“I don’t have any idea what you’re saying.”

“Get your ass back here and get ready as fast as you can.” He hung up, and I slid my phone back into my pocket.

The driver opened the door for me, and in a few minutes, we were speeding down Sunset Boulevard toward the house. Something was about to change, and my stomach swirled. I hated surprises.

4

Merc

“This is a very bad idea. I’m too heartbroken.” Roam was the most dramatic of anyone I had ever met. He was way too emo for his own good.

“Then you need to dance!” I grabbed him by the hands and swung him around in a quick circle before letting go. He stumbled backward a few steps and bumped into Abe, who caught him by the arms and kept him on his feet. “A party should be just the thing to get poor Roam out of his misery.”

Roam stayed planted, and his shoulders slumped. “You dance then. My feet are like lead. Besides, we’re walking into the camp of the enemy.”

“That heavy feeling is why you need to trip the light fantastic. Besides, you’re really starting to bring me fucking down, bro. You’re the object of lust of more people than you will ever know. Let their love for you help you get over Ross. I mean, dude, that was never going to work out, and you know it. That’s why you let yourself fall for him.”

“I am a total drama queen,” Roam chuckled sadly. “Even if it was less than a month, breakups are rough.”

“Love is rougher,” Ben cackled and ruffled his hair. Roam hated it when someone messed with his perfectly manicured hair.

“That’s right!” I was pulling out all the stops. I didn’t want to have to deal with mopey Roam all night long. This party was going to be rough enough without him making it worse. “Love is rough, so what is it that we do, boys? We get rough with love.”

Roam stopped and groaned. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Love lifts us up to crash us back down to the Earth with the force of a fucking bomb, Roam. We are who we are, and to ask more of love – which we are masters of – is fucking ridiculous.” I walked over and grabbed his crotch with my hand. “This is love, Roam.” I grasped his shaft through his very thin shorts and rubbed it gently. It quickly hardened in my grasp. “What you wanted with Ross was just a dream.”

“Are we not supposed to dream, Merc? That’s fucking sad not to want more than this, isn’t it?” He breathed heavily.

I let go of his crotch and took his face in my hands. “Ross lives the kind of life we can never have, Roam. We’re branded by who and what we are, and that’s the way it is unless you can find a way out.”

“I hoped Ross was my way out. I’m tired of being a body for someone to slide their hands over – the unnamed faces I stare at while they take what they want from me.” He let out a long sigh and reveled in his anguish. He was never happier than when he was miserable. “I knew it wouldn’t work out, but that didn’t mean I didn’t hope.”

“It’s ok to hope – but you can’t lose yourself in it, man.” Ben slapped him on the back.

“I still think this is a very shitty idea.” Yeah, Roam was definitely going to get on my fucking nerves tonight. I was gonna have to babysit him as he cried in the corner if we didn’t do something fast. “Cappie and his boys are not going to like the fact that we crashed their party.”

“The mayor’s decree will stop them from… Besides, this is a giant party, and we have costumes. Look at you in your white go-go shorts with the matching harness and mask. You look like an angel. What do we have to be scared of, man? Let’s have fun. You’re gonna have to knock people off your jock all night long. Everyone’s gonna want a piece of that.” I was trying way too hard, and it was getting old fast.

Roam crossed his arms and pouted. “Dude, that is the last thing I want right now. Just let me wallow in my shit. I’m down so bad I cried on the fucking treadmill at the gym. I was terrified that someone would take a picture.”

“God, you are just full of teenage petulance, aren’t you? I forget sometimes that you’re only nineteen.”

“It’s not like you're much older.” He whined.

“I’m twenty-two, and I’m very fucking wise.”

“You’re definitely a wise ass. Besides… I had a dream today that…” He turned around. “It’s silly.”

“Most dreams are. I had a dream today, too.”

He turned back to me. “What was yours about?”

“Dreamers often lie,” I said slowly and then burst out laughing.

“Very funny.”

“No, it’s true, Roam.”

“Well, it felt true,” he said so glumly that it almost broke my heart. He was in his feelings badly, and it would take a miracle to get him out of it. Tonight was going to be super annoying if he didn’t rebound quickly. Maybe this party was a bad idea?

“Dreams are not the future, Roam. They are just your fucking brain trying to deal with the emotions that you’re not capable of dealing with when you’re awake. They’re hopes and aspirations of nothing and everything all at once. Have you ever dreamed you could fly? Or dreamed that you were once a king of a faraway land and felt that this dream had to be a vision of the past? A life that you might have once lived? Trust me. You didn’t. This is the life we have, and only you have the power to change it. It is not a dream of love or money, nor is it what might have been if you had made different choices. The only dreams that matter to us are those that the dreamers dream about us. Their dreams line our pockets.”

“Or Monty’s!” Ben groaned loudly.

“All right. Enough, Merc. I get it. You want to cheer me up. You’re just rambling and talking of nothing!” Roam demanded. His biceps bulged as he pouted. He was probably worried about someone taking a photo. Roam always tried to look his hottest after winning his first Grabby.

“True. I’m talking of dreams that are truly nothing more than your stupid, idle brain misfiring into fantasy.” I took his handsome face in my hands and held him in place. “This is real, Roam. Tonight, all of us are going to go sleep with the enemy as we eat their food and drink their booze.”

“Maybe even fuck their men,” Abe cackled and whooped into the night so loud that someone shut their open window.

“Fine. I just feel that there’s… something hanging over me.”

“Let Ross go and embrace what the future might hold. You never know what or who you could meet there tonight. Maybe Ross was just a stepping stone to something better. A bump on the path to someone who won’t care what you are or who you were in your past.” I threw my arm around him And Ben and we took a step.

Roam sighed and then looked at me seriously. “I said fine. Let’s go get cray-cray.”

“Lusty gentleman, or should I say Monty’s whores. Let’s go fuck some shit up!”

5

Ty

The way my Uncle Cappie sees me should embarrass me. The costume he chose for me was… Well, it was not the kind of costume that you bought your nephew. He controlled the lives of every boy in this house – from what we wore to what we ate and even who we could be seen with when we were out in public. If you went against Cappie’s rules, he made you pay, or he threw you out. Cappie was a hard man.

He had lots of rules. The first one was that he was always right. The second one was that the client was also correct, which could sometimes be a problem for our boys who played the role of bottom for the paying customers. As long as they paid and didn’t damage the merchandise, anything could be yours for the right price. Have a rape fantasy that you’ve always wanted to act out? For a solid one thousand dollars, your dreams could all come true. When a client didn’t hold up his end of the bargain or didn’t follow the rules that Cappie gave him, we never saw that person again. Cappie had very bad men in his rolodex, and he wasn’t afraid to call them.

The party was packed with all sorts of Los Angeles ruffians and starlets. Cappie knew how to throw a fucking rager, and everyone who was anyone in the LA area wanted to get an invite. Not everyone did. But tonight, the mansion was packed.

I stood up at the top of the stairs in my very thin, red silk jockstrap and a cropped t-shirt that had the number sixty-nine embroidered in it with red metallic thread that matched the jock, and I looked down at all the revelers as they enjoyed themselves. A simple red mask and devil horns completed the outfit. I could barely fit my entire fucking cock inside the pouch. As it was, it protruded in front of me as if it were a divining rod leading me to my freedom. Or water? Either way, I felt like a fucking whore. A costume wasn’t supposed to make you feel the same way you felt every day. But this one let everyone know exactly who and what I was. A cock and a body made for you to worship if you had enough money.

I just wanted to go back to my room and pet my cat.

“You look as good as I thought you would.” Cappie’s hot breath tickled my neck. “Everyone here is going to want you.” I froze as his fingers brushed up against my bare ass.

“Don’t they already?” I sighed and noticed a group of hard-bodied boys walk into the throng of people gyrating to some horrible pop song. “I think this is a bad idea, Uncle.”

“When have I ever had a bad idea? Just keep your eyes on them and make sure they have a good time. It’s Halloween, after all,” he ordered.

“Those Monty boys are kind of trashy. I don’t think he’s as careful with who he hires as you are. They could cause a lot of trouble tonight. You should have warned the rest of the guys that we were having visitors. If they find out that they’re here, all hell could break loose.”

“They know the rules. If any of them start a fight tonight, I will throw them out on their asses in front of everyone. I don’t care who it is. Do you understand me?” He grabbed me by my face and squeezed.

“Yes, Uncle,” I managed.

“I knew you would. I can always count on you, Ty. That’s what family is for.” He slapped my exposed ass once again and slid his arm around my waist. Uncle Cappie was a very touchy-feely man, but he had never really crossed the line. I was merchandise.

“I’m still worried about it.” I shrugged.

“There’s nothing that can be done. The mayor has made his fucking demands, and we have to pivot if we want to stay on top. Monty understands this, too. I expect you to lead the way for the other boys, Ty. If you’re playing nicely with our new arrivals, the other boys will follow suit. Do you understand me? They look to you to be their leader.” He pulled me in tighter.

“I’ll try, Uncle.”

“I expect more than that. You show those boys a good time tonight. Make sure that they do have the time of their lives and that Cappie’s is a place for fun. Besides, like I said, it’s Halloween, and they are fine-looking boys who deserve to blow off a little steam. Maybe that steam will be blown off with one of my boys. You got it?” He let me go and leaned over the railing to see who else had arrived.

“Sure. Whore myself out to the rival studio and let them have their way with me. I got it.”

“Smartass. Get down there and have fun. I don’t think that’s asking too much. I will let you know when I need you. Understand?” He cupped my ass again and squeezed.

“Crystal.”

“Good. Now don’t fuck it up. You know how I hate to be disappointed.”

Uncle Cappie walked away, and I took a deep breath. I didn’t hate the Monty boys, not really. I did think they were, for the most part, without much class. They all looked like brawlers and frat boys. Monty had a type. So did Cappie.

I saw Roam and a couple of the other boys, Ben and Merc. What kind of a fucking name was that? At least Merc was sometimes good for a laugh. Out of all the boys at Monty’s, these three were his finest specimens. Roam and Merc were both strictly tops and had never bottomed on film before. Ben was a fucking power-bottom that could take a dick better than almost any bottom we had in our studio. I wouldn’t mind banging him in a corner at the party until he begged me to stop. He seemed to like it rough. I mean, my uncle told me to show them a good time. According to him, that would mainly refer to my cock, since that seemed to be all I was to him these days.

I meandered down the large opulent staircase that I had been filmed fucking on numerous times and into the main foyer that spilled into the incredibly large living room. I glanced around the party and grinned at a few television C-listers who seemed so high on Molly that they could barely fucking stand. I hated sloppy people. I pushed my way through them and had to stop myself from pushing one of them away as he groped me. I just grinned and removed his hand firmly from my crotch.

“Can’t let TMZ see that, can we?” I mumbled in a warning as I crossed the parquet floor into the large open sunken room where the DJ had set up. Bodies writhed on the floor, and I saw Gregory giving a blowjob in the corner. “Fucking slut,” I chuckled. He always seemed to have a great time no matter what he was doing. By the end of this party, it would dissolve into a giant orgy. Even here, in our own home, we were just bodies for other people's pleasure. It wasn’t much of a home when you lived where you worked.

“You as the devil seems appropriate.” I would recognize that voice anywhere. I had watched most of his videos and been in a few fights with him.

“Thanks for crashing our party, Merc. I’d say it’s good to see you, but I’d be lying.” I snorted.

“I think you know as well as I do that we didn’t really crash. Don’t tell the other guys, though. They think we snuck in.” He took a sip of his beer and offered me one. I took it.

“I won’t throw you out. My uncle informed me that I’m supposed to show you a good time tonight.”

“Ooh! Are we gonna fuck?” he said way too enthusiastically.

“What? No.” I huffed and looked around.

“I mean, I’ve seen that monster of a dick you have. Are you gonna whip me with your cat o’ nine tails while you bend me over?” I looked over at him and rolled my eyes. Merc was fucking beautiful. In another time and place, if we weren’t who we were, I would want to.

“Oh, God, stop. It sounds like you’ve been having fantasies,” I teased.

“Is it true that the Prince of Cats has a barbed penis? Because I don’t think I’d be into that.” Hi wiggled his dark eyebrows.

“I’m about to prick you with my barb if you don’t shut your fucking mouth,” I warned.

“God, you’re so hot when you get annoyed.” His broad smile lit up his face, and his dark curls glimmered with the lights from the dance floor. He was annoying but hot as hell. If he didn’t work for Monty and was a bottom, I’d definitely be into showing this muscle-bound man a good time tonight.

“With you around, I expect that I’ll be the hottest I’ve ever been because you are the most annoying man on the planet.” I managed not to sound as turned on as I was. My jock was straining with the girth of my cock.

“Oh, he wounds me. But I think you’re totally into me.” He ran a finger down my shoulder and onto the ridge of my jock. “Definitely into me. Love the cut-off shirt, too.”

“God… I bet you watch my videos and beat off.” I willed my dick to stop thinking for itself.

“I bet you do mine, too. I mean, I’ll admit to it, if you will. We’re two grown men, and we’re both hot.”

“I only watch Monty’s videos to see how not to make one.” I turned to him and smirked.

“Oh no! Another thrust of his saber. Ow!” He turned to me, and we stood there nose to nose. I could smell his breath. “Be careful, pretty boy, or I might start thrusting back.” He pushed his hefty cock into mine, and we stood there for what felt like forever, staring into each other’s eyes as if we were daring the other to look away first.

I couldn’t stop myself and chuckled. Merc had a pretty fucking significant cock, and the thought of us having a sword fight was… Well, it made me smile despite myself. I mean, I could feel it as it pushed against mine. I didn’t even hate it. But damn, he was fucking annoying. We had scuffled in the past and given each other black eyes more than once. The fucker packed as big a punch as I did. But tonight, he was a guest.

“He does have a sense of humor.” He fucking bopped me on the nose. “I always assumed so.”

“How can we not?” I shrugged and turned away to look around the room again. “Look at what we are.”

“True. We’re only worth what someone will pay for our company. I bet you're worth a fortune.”

“Now you’re just getting maudlin.” I noticed my sweet Jules talking to a boy that I knew as Roam. “It looks like we’re not the only two rival boys having a… conversation tonight.” I pointed over at Jules and Roam.

“I don’t know Jules, but I do know Roam. Do you think either one of them realizes that they’re wearing the same costume in different colors?” I glanced back over. Jules was wearing black, and Roam was wearing all white. But they were in the same exact costumes. “I’m sure Roam hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“I doubt Jules has looked past his own reflection tonight?” I grinned. Merc was too easy to talk to, which wouldn’t make going back to being enemies any easier. I couldn’t help myself. I was actually enjoying this.

“Oh, he is a little priss?” Merc chuckled happily.

I chuckled. “Sweet as punch but totally into himself. I love him, though. Roam?”

“Jesus, you can’t wipe the fucking emo off him. It stinks of melancholy and narcissism. But he’s a good friend who annoys the shit out of me sometimes.”

“A match made in heaven, it seems. Jules truly loves looking at himself. His walls and ceiling are mirrored.”

“That tells me everything, though that could be hot. Jules is your number one for a reason. That face and body are pretty damn perfect.”

“So is Roam. But if you tell him that, I really will slit your throat. He’s very annoying and super whiny. At least that’s how he appears on your socials.” It wasn’t like I stalked the Monty boys or anything, but sex had become my business, and follows and likes were a large part of that. I prided myself in being one of the best.

“No, he is. He’s also very sweet and will do anything for you if you’re his friend. Most of the time, anyway.” He looked away and took a sip of his beer.

“God, watch them fucking fall in love.” I groaned. “I wouldn’t put it past Jules.”

“Roam, too. Oh, I’ve seen that episode before. It ends horribly.” Merc was witty, and I was here for it. What would he say if I invited him up to my bedroom?

“Yet, I still watch the show, probably. Fucking twinks.”

“You can say that again. But hey, we’re still at the top of the porn pyramid. Not everyone is into twinks. Some people prefer muscles.” He reached over and squeezed my biceps. “I know I do.”

“Me too. You’re very touchy.” I smirked and took a sip of the beer he had handed me.

“I’m very muscular,” Merc chuckled. “Just seeing if I could get a rise out of you.”

“If you were a bottom and not a Monty boy, maybe you could. Shame that we’ll never know, I guess.”

“Oh, I think you’ve already risen for me more than once. You know… You’re nowhere near as stuck up as I thought you were. Past comments aside.”

“No, I am. I was just told to play nice, remember?” I turned to him again.

“If this is nice, I think I’ll have bruises if you start being yourself.” He did the same and took a small step forward.

“Promises, promises…” I stepped forward – our crotches brushed.

“As much as I really like this… uh… I think that Poppa Cappie is waving at you.”

I stepped back. “I guess it’s almost time.”

“For what?”

“The hell if I know. This… well, it wasn’t horrible, Merc.” I turned and walked off, leaving him behind me. I saw Roam and Jules playing tonsil hockey on the corner of the couch. My uncle said to play nice, but he didn’t like to share his star with anyone. Jules was his most important prized possession. If he saw that, he might lose his shit and throw everyone out. Or maybe this was his plan all along. My uncle was a fucking mystery.

But Merc…

I could take that big, muscular Merc on the floor of this party, and my uncle would laugh as he watched. I knew where I stood – behind his precious Jules. Why did people always have a thing for twinky, bottom boys? I glanced behind me, and sure enough, Merc was watching as I made my way back to the staircase. It was a shame that he wasn’t a bottom. It would be nice to have someone who could stay with me toe to toe.

6

Merc

“Fuck,” I groaned as I watched his perfect ass walk away. His body was a goddamn work of art, and so was that fucking beautiful face. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to punch it or kiss it. The only other boy that I knew who was that pretty was Roam, as much as I hated to admit it. There was a reason he was number one and I was number two at the studio, and I knew it. I was handsome, but Roam, like Ty, were fucking Botticelli’s. Ty’s green eyes and tight blonde hair were just fucking gorgeous. I would enjoy feeling every inch of his muscular frame as he pile-drives me into his bed. Shame he was a Cappie, and I was a Monty.

“Well, it looks like Roam has moved on. How fast until this becomes an epic disaster?” Ben slapped me on the back as he walked up.

“Tragedy is so underrated and rarely achieved,” I responded happily. “Here’s to the show.”

Ben chuckled. He had been drinking, and his face was flushed. “I saw you talking to that asshat, Ty. How did that go? Was he annoyed that we were here?”

I turned and grabbed him by the shoulders. “Not really. He knows as much as I do about what’s actually happening, though. Listen, we really have to keep an eye on everyone tonight and make sure they behave. Got it? Monty made me promise.”

“Monty made you? Ok, That’s strange. But sure. It shouldn’t be that hard. Abe is already laying pipe on the dining room table with a Cappie boy. As long as we keep our masks on, I think we’re fine.”

I glanced over and pointed at Roam and Jules making out on the couch. “They really are too pretty for each other, don’t you think?”

Ben chuckled. “Or maybe they’re the kind of pretty that is only good for each other?”

“Whatever? I’m tired of watching Roam suck all the air out of the room while he eats Jule’s face. God, they’re not even trying to kiss politely.” Jules and Roam had hard-ons that were already poking out of their very short shorts. People were pointing. “I’m gonna walk around.”

Ben grabbed my arm. “Don’t make me watch this train wreck alone.”

“Do you want me to make you some popcorn and bring a box of tissues? The ending always makes me cry.”

“Maybe. But I’m not watching this either.” Ben turned and kissed me quickly on the lips. “Be careful, ok?”

I turned to walk away. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about, babe.”

“Uh… What the fuck is Monty doing here?” Ben grabbed my arm again. “That is him, right? I’d recognize that big belly anywhere.”

“Yeah, probably.” I shrugged. “I better go over there and…”

“What the fuck is going on, Merc?” He sounded scared.

“Damned if I know. Have fun and let go a little, Ben. You deserve it, bro. Go find a Cappie boy to bend you over and treat you the way you want.” I grazed his cheek and walked away.

I pushed through the crowd and shimmied around a very drunk girl who looked like she was about to lose her cookies all over the floor. Why Monty and Cappie invited all of these half-rate celebrities still confused me. They didn’t share on their socials that they were here most of the time, so it couldn’t have been marketing. But those types could never really hang with the likes of us. We were a special breed of human who could take a punch and stay on our feet.

“Merc,” Monty breathed heavily. If he walked more than twenty steps, he breathed heavily. “I was afraid I was going to have to send someone to find you.”

“What’s wrong? Do I need to get everyone out of here?”

“No, let them enjoy themselves.” He glanced around, and I stepped in front of his view to where Roam was sitting. No use raising Monty’s ire in public. He wouldn’t be happy with the way Roam was acting right now. “I would like you to join me. I need someone with a level head, and I suppose you will have to do. Besides, most people like you. They can’t help themselves once they start talking to you. You have a way with people.”

I stared at him, completely lost. “What’s… Go where, Monty?”

“Upstairs to the office that I used to share with Poppa Cappie back when things were less chaotic. We’re meeting tonight to discuss a new normal for our studios and to try to put an end to the violence. We have both been told that if we don’t, there will be hell to pay. The city has gotten too many complaints, and neither one of us wants to deal with the legal hassles, if you catch my drift.”

“I don’t.” But it now made sense when Monty handed me the invitation and told me take some of the boys to the party. At first, I had been incredibly confused, but he said it was fine and we were expected.

Monty sighed and pressed his finger into my forehead. “You’re as thick as the rest. I expect more from you, Merc. The boys look to you as if you were their leader. They could do much worse. Of course, they don’t know the real you, do they?” he asked pointedly.

“No, they don’t.” I swallowed. I had hidden the truth about my past from everyone and didn’t want them to know that part of me.

Monty leaned in and pulled me toward him by my arm. “I wonder how they would feel if they knew you were just slumming, for now.”

“It wasn’t like I had much of a choice, was it?”

“I took you in and have treated you as one of my own. Now, I am afraid I need you by my side. Cappie didn’t give me much time to get the team together, so it’s just me and Walter.” He nodded to the small man with round glasses that I knew to be his lawyer. It wasn’t just money that he paid Walter with. He also used our services. Walter was a dirty pig bottom who liked it rough and cruel. His issues had issues.

“Whatever you need.” I shrugged. I couldn’t tell Monty no, even if I had wanted to. But I was curious about what was going on, and now I was given a front-row seat. Who was I to say no?

“Who knows who Cappie has in there with him? Probably his whole team. I don’t want to look like a fool and be coerced into something that I don’t want to agree to. Do you understand?” He asked so seriously that I could only nod at him dumbly.

“No. But I will go with you and give you whatever help you need. You know that.”

“Good. I believe the fucking mayor and police chief will be there too. They want this sorted out tonight.” He looked back at Walter and shook his head with disgust. Walter was busy ogling a boy that was twerking a few feet away from him.

“Have you and Cappie already spoken?” I was trying to get the lay of the land. I had no idea what I would be walking into with him. Was this whole thing a setup?

“Just stay with me and don’t say anything unless I ask you to.” He hissed, and I followed him up the large stairs that belonged in a movie studio’s opening musical number, not a house of whores and instamodels. He knew where he was going, and I followed close behind while Walter brought up the rear. He was already huffing as hard as Monty as we reached the landing and turned to the right.

At the end of the hallway was a large oak door with Cappie’s name on it. Monty didn’t knock. He pushed the door open and strode inside.

There had been rumors about how he and Cappie used to be an item when they started their first studio, which they called Daddy’s. This was well before any of our time. Back in the day, they used to film themselves with the models as if they were doing an audition. Every video was mainly the same. One of them received head while the other fucked the poor boy who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there with them. Thank God, that wasn’t the way it was now.

“Monty,” Cappie stood up and nodded to the others in the room. Ty stood directly behind him, and I winked as I walked in. His smirk could have made me blush if he weren’t so goddamn smug, and I wasn’t so nervous about being here.

Monty was right. Cappie brought everyone he knew to this meeting. We were totally outgunned. Walter wasn’t an idiot, but he wasn’t the smartest either.

“Cappie,” Monty walked over to the oversized chair in front of the desk and sat down as if he could care less. “Mayor Princeton and Police Chief Jenkins. I’m glad you could join us so quickly. It seems you even beat me here.”

“Listen here, Larry,” Mayor Princeton started and pointed his finger at both of them. I had to stop myself from laughing. Larry? Who knew? “I need you and Milton to take this shit seriously.”

Larry and Milton? This was fucking classic. Ty covered his mouth with his hand. He couldn’t believe it either.

“We’re here,” Cappie sighed.

“Our hands are tied, and I hope you understand the severity of the city's desire to see you and your gang of hooligans put behind bars if you don’t cease this minute.” The mayor slapped the arm of his chair.

“Hooligans?” Cappie guffawed loudly. “Honestly, James, you have been watching way too many gangster movies.” Cappie, or Milton, as I would now call him, made fun of the mayor.

“He always has had a flair for the dramatics. Maybe you should have enjoyed a career on the stage instead of in politics.” Monty agreed and rested his cane on the side of the chair. “You’re looking healthy, Milton.”

“You seem as boisterous as ever, Larry.” Cappie leaned back in his chair. “Do you like what I did with the office?”

“It’s a little whorey.”

They both stopped and broke into a cackle. This wasn’t the act of two men who hated each other. This was the laughter of people who knew each other incredibly well.

“That it is. Fitting, don’t you think?” Cappie grinned widely.

Monty glanced around the room as if he were observing the weather. “I might not have used this exact shade of purple, but it does suit you.”

“Gentlemen, please.” The mayor sighed heavily. “How do you two plan to end the rivalry between your two houses?”

“One simple word, James – collaboration,” Monty said forcefully. “And we will get to that when we are ready,” he barked loudly. “There is no need for your bullish tactics. This is not your house.”

“Well phrased.” Cappie chuckled. “I love to see you get your feathers all ruffled. Same old Larry.”

“Collaboration? What does that mean?” The police chief, whom I knew as intimately as most of the guys in both of these houses, asked and leaned forward. He liked to be spanked, and I loved leaving handprints. Besides that, he was a boring old fuck that I dreaded whenever he asked Monty for me. He smelled of bologna and cheese sandwiches.

“One person from each studio. A collaborative scene that will rotate with our roster of models on a weekly basis. If the boys get to know each other – they will not care to continue the brawling on the street, as you say.” Cappie grinned. “Our rivalry with each other will still exist, of course. It’s good for business. But that, as they say in Hollywood, is just smoke and mirrors. Our boys will film scenes together in a new project that Larry and I will co-own.”

“Fifty-fifty.” Monty nodded, and Cappie shook his head.

“Yes, Larry. The contracts are all drawn up for your lawyer to peruse. I know how you hate to rush into anything, so take your time.”

“When will this begin?” Mayor Princeton looked like he was about to nut all over himself at the mere thought of the idea.

I glanced up from the hole in the floor I had just created with my – I can’t believe what I’m hearing stare – to see Ty looking over at me. He seemed to be as surprised as I was. It made sense, though. After you fuck someone, you either like them or hate them in this business. We could at least all get along. Maybe have a beer and bitch about the studio we’re filming with at the neighborhood bar instead of getting into a fight at the dartboard.

“I’ll have Walter and his team look it over tomorrow, and if it’s, as you say – I will sign.”

“Who will be the first models to shoot?” Mayor Princeton definitely had a hard-on. He was bouncing in his chair at the mere idea of it of our two studios fucking each other. He probably wanted a ticket to the big show. I’m sure he would get one.

“We haven’t gotten that far.” Monty sighed. “We haven’t had much time. You’re lucky we’ve gotten this far, aren’t you?”

“Before I leave here tonight, I want concrete plans,” he barked. I think it was just so he could go home and spank his monkey at the thought of whichever models were chosen.

“It can’t be Jules.” Cappie leaned forward from behind his desk and placed his hands on top. “I have other plans for him that will keep him too busy for filming, and he is the top model here at Poppa Cappies.”

Monty picked up his cane and held it in front of him with his hands on top. “It can’t be Roam, either. He’s our top model, and I don’t want to start anything that’s not yet perfect with him in case it goes sideways.”

“Neither one of us wants to put up our biggest stars. That’s just a sound business decision. If it happens, that should be saved for later. But it can’t be just any old model either, can it?” Cappie nodded.

“No. It needs to be someone that the fans will froth all over to see together. It can’t be any of our lower-shelf models. We need a collab that will make people stop and need to see it. It should be someone that they’ll wank off to as soon as they find out what they’re going to do. Right? Perhaps models that you wouldn’t expect to be together. Merc is our second biggest star. I’m prepared to go out of the gate with one of my top earners.” He glanced up at me, and I nodded. Why not? I didn’t have anything to lose. I could fuck a Cappie boy to help us find some peace.

“What about my Ty, the Prince of Cats? He’s our second most popular model and our most requested.” Cappie glanced back at TY, who looked at me and then back to Cappie and nodded.

Monty laughed. “Ty is a top. So is Merc. It won’t be a very exciting scene.”

“That is something that no one will believe is about to happen. A surprise that will titillate and excite. Think of the press and the attention we will get on all our socials, Larry.” Cappie was practically frothing at the mouth.

“They’re both tops. Which one will bottom?”

“I will.” The words escaped before I could stop them. Ty looked at me and smirked.

“I’d be good with that.” He said lowly.

Monty stood up and turned to me. “I don’t remember giving you permission to speak.” Monty slapped me across the face and slowly sat back down. “It could hurt his reputation. I think they should both bottom for each other if this is what we decide to do.”

“Agreed.” Cappie spat in his hand, as did Monty, and the two of them shook.

Ty had turned white. Wow… Maybe he really was just a top?

“This is the most exciting scene any of you have ever done.” The mayor exclaimed happily.

Like I said, he would want a front-row seat. Fucking pervert.

7

Ty

“Ithink that this is a very exciting thing for our studios to do,” Jules announced happily as if I weren’t the only person in the room and he was at some board meeting giving a speech. It makes sense from a financial business decision. Think about how many people are going to be excited about the cross-studio collaborations that we can do.”

“It’s what it is. I think we’ll be back at each other’s throats in a few months as all of this dies down. Cappie and Monty were happy to keep us at odds ever since they split and started their own businesses. Our largest tag following on socials are the fights and scuffs we get into since we can’t post nudes. Do you know how much money they make on all of that? It has to be an obscene number.” I groaned and put my feet up on Jule’s loveseat.

“Feet,” he hissed. “Do you know how dirty the soles of your shows are, Ty? It’s disgusting. You walk around and collect germs on them.” He scrunched his beautifully delicate face in disgust.

I removed my feet and sat up straight. His loveseat was baby blue, like almost everything in the room. He had a favorite color, and Cappie was happy to keep him happy. It was not comfortable, though. “See? Feet on the floor.”

“I have to remind you of this every fucking time,” Jules huffed. “I should make you remove your shoes.”

“Sorry, boo. I’m a neanderthal. You know that.” I chuckled. Being with Jules was one of the only times I ever truly let my guard down. He may be annoying sometimes, but he was the only real friend I had.

“You are the furthest thing from it.” He flitted around the room, straightening his things. “There’s a reason that Cappie chose you to be in that meeting, you know. You have his trust.”

“Oh, I don’t know all about all of that. Are you a little jealous he didn’t ask you?”

He looked up at me, aghast. “No.” He grinned happily. Jules was a cacophony of emotion. “I was quite busy.”

“Oh, I heard.” I kicked my shoes off, knowing that it would make him happy. “You were sucking face with a boy for most of the party. Then it seemed you went to bed much earlier than normal.”

“I was, wasn’t I? But I will keep that to myself, thank you.” He turned and spun around with his arms open as if his joy needed to escape.

I burst into cackles. “Oh, I think everyone saw you, boo. That cat is out of the bag. Who was it?”

He turned towards me and got very serious. “Just someone in a mask that I found very attractive. It was a Halloween masquerade, boo. Who knows?”

“Are you sure he’s not Frankenstein underneath the mask?” I wiggled my eyebrows lasciviously.

“Yes, I am sure.” He walked over and sat down beside me.

“So… we are keeping this from Cappie, I assume.” I sat back, and Jules gently raised his legs and put his bare feet in my lap.

“Under penalty of death! Cappie is not to know,” he whispered. “He would not be very pleased, I don’t think.”

“All right.” I shrugged. “I can keep a secret.” I reached down and grabbed his perfectly manicured feet in my hands and started rubbing the soles. He groaned happily.

“That is exactly what the doctor ordered. Thank you,” Jules purred.

“You have a lot of tension. You wince every time I touch this spot right here.” I pressed my thumb into the ball of his left foot.

“Yes, ouch! My card reader said that the pentacle was a sign of a major change for me, and it stressed me out. My whole body is tight. I need a real spa day, but who has time?” He bit his bottom lip as I continued to massage his feet.

“Oh, is that it?” I winked. Jules was a hard person to ever get to the truth of. He liked his secrets, and I knew he trusted me more than anyone else in his life, but there were things he kept even from me.

“Oh, I just need to tell someone. I’m not happy about it at all. Cappie… He… uh… He invited someone for me to meet at the party,” he whispered as if saying the words aloud would cause him some pain. “He didn’t arrive until much later. He was really boring, and instead of wearing a costume, he wore a suit. Can you believe it? How pedantic of him.”

“Who was he?” I asked carefully. I knew my Uncle, and he was into some pretty shady things. I did not want Jules mixed up in any of it.

“Paris Fitzsimmons. He’s the CEO of Los Angeles International Bank of California and a major stakeholder in Cappie’s business. He really wants me to…” he paused and smiled sadly as if he were working out what he actually felt right now in front of me. “I don’t really want to do what Cappie wants. It feels like I’m being bought at a very unfair price. I like my life and what I do. I really do, Ty. Much more than you do. I don’t want to be someone’s kept person until I’m too old and he finds a new model to rent out like we’re cattle. This only ends one way, and I’m not ok with that. I may be a whore, but I am not someone’s sex slave for the right price.”

“If this is what Cappie wants…” I gently stroked his leg.

“I know. I have a lot to think about. He’s not unhandsome. In fact, he’s a very good-looking man in his mid-forties. He’s richer than rich, and I wouldn’t have to do anything except live with him and take him to bed whenever he wanted – however he wanted. I know I’m being a little fool about the whole thing, but… That isn’t the life I want.” He took his feet out of my lap and adjusted his position, laying his head in my lap.

I stroked his blonde hair. “You know my uncle doesn’t like being told no, Jules. I’ve seen him kick people out for less.”

“Would that be so bad, though? I’ve been here for three years, and in those three years, I’ve become a celebrity of sorts. I like it. But I’m also starting to dislike being told what to do all the time. I’ve barely made a decision for myself in all of that time. I’m grateful for what Cappie gave me, you know? But maybe it’s time I start to stand on my own?” He sighed. “If I even remember how. I know that when I leave here if that’s what I decide, I’ll be burning all the bridges I have ever made. Shit, this is the only home that I’ve had in a long time. But I don’t want to be a prize. Not anymore. A couple of years ago, after being thrown out by my family and living on the street, I would have said yes in a second. But now, I think I want more.”

“He won’t let you go easily.” I twirled one of his strands between my fingers.

“But would you?” He batted his eyes at me.

“I believe that everyone should have their own choices. So, of course, I would, Jules. I’d miss you badly.” I stroked his forehead and tried to calm his anxiety.

“I think that when Cappie does retire and leave this shitshow to you. They will all be very lucky models. You know what it is that we do, what we have to do to survive. You’ve had to do it too.”

“I may be his nephew, boo – but I’ll believe I’m his heir when I see the will.” I huffed.

“I think he loves you more than you know, Ty. It was you that he chose to be there with him, wasn’t it? Cappie and all his dirty money men. That fucking police chief and mayor… I still cry when Cappie tells me that they are insisting on me. I do it, though. If I didn’t, what might have happened to all of us? I’m tired of having to… You know what I mean?” He sighed and curled up into a ball as he snuggled closer.

“I do.”

“I really like him, you know. My mystery boy.” He said the words slowly as if he were savoring them.

“He better treat you right, or I’ll fucking kill him – whoever he is.” I pretended. Let Jules have his secret, for now. But the things he told me had embedded themselves deep within. The thought of Jules being practically sold to one of my uncle’s investors was something new. How deep was he in with these people – the bad people that he seemed to surround himself with these days?

“I think he will… maybe? Perhaps I’m just infatuated with him, and he has already forgotten all about me? But I don’t think he has. When he sees you…” He turned back over and looked up at me with wide eyes. “I think he really sees me, Ty.”

“And you’re not gonna tell me who he is, are you? You have always been full of secrets, and you love having them even if you’re shit at keeping them. They’ll be on Insta in a week as you confess to all your fans.” I chuckled. I had a lot to think about, but now wasn’t the time.

“Enough about me. Let’s talk about you and that incredibly handsome Monty boy. Merc is one of the hottest out of all of them.” He pushed himself up from my lap and nudged me with his bony shoulder.

“He’s ok,” I replied carefully. I had enjoyed our little conversation much more than I had ever thought I would.

“He’s totally your type, or he should be if you allowed yourself ever to like someone for more than a tumble. Those muscular shoulders and swimmer's build match you perfectly. You’ll look so hot together. You know he kisses a lot during his videos.” He widened his eyes in horror. This was an issue for me. It was a place I never allowed myself to go to very often with another person like me or even a client.

“Yes, I’ve seen.” I rolled my eyes.

“I love the way he fucks the bottom from behind and pulls their head back and licks their lips before kissing them. It’s very fucking hot.”

“I’ve seen.”

“You don’t kiss in any of your videos. It’s like a thing with you. Do you not like to kiss, Ty?” He asked, and I took a moment to decide to answer. Jules had his secrets, and I had mine.

“I kissed you in a video once.” I bopped him on the nose playfully.

“I know. It was teased for weeks, and it was just one sloppy kiss in a thirty-minute scene. One kiss. We’ve never talked about why?” He was fishing for information, and I knew that I was going to give in to him. It would be nice to share with a friend, and Jules was the only person who fit that description.

“It’s none of your business, is why,” I chuckled.

“Bitch.” He sat up straight and turned to me. “Come on. Tell me. Everyone knows when they have a scene with you, it’s a down-and-dirty fuck. No kissing, no matter what. No intimacy.”

“Hey, I suck dick and eat ass. That’s fucking intimate.” I dropped my shoulders and took a deep breath. If I couldn’t tell Jules, who could I tell? It would be nice, to be honest about something so serious. I held my truths closely like a shield. “Ok. I can be intimate when I need to be, but kissing is where I… I need to save something for myself, I guess. If I gave that away too, there would be nothing left for me.”

He frowned and nodded. “That makes sense, I guess. Not even when Cappie makes you escort?”

I chuckled. “Not even the fucking mayor. When they hire me, they know what it is that they’re getting.”

He reached over and patted my cheek lightly with his manicured fingers. “Hmm… There is something hot about that. You are totally a caveman fuck. So, Merc? Are you gonna… you know, with him? It’s a big scene for both of the studios.”

“No!” I answered a little too forcefully. “That is off the table. But… I… uh… I have to bottom.”

Jules laughed loudly. “That’s rich. Now I want to be invited to watch so I can see you squirm. So, it’s true, huh?” He leaped up and clapped his hands gleefully. “Unbelievable! The great top Ty is going to get plowed by a very large dick.”

I groaned, feeling as if I had made a very bad choice. “Never in my life have I… I mean, I’ve had fingers up there, but… Have you watched any of Merc’s videos?” I sounded as scared as I felt.

“He’s about as big as you and just as thick. You two could totally be family. You’re just much prettier, and he’s more rugged in some way. Handsome as shit, but not as pretty as you.” He placated me.

“We’re both tops and…”

He jumped excitedly again. “People are going to go mad! I can’t wait. You two are probably going to break the internet.”

“He’s probably going to break my ass if I don’t break his first.” I sighed.

“I’ll help you prepare, boo. There are things you need to do if you’re going to bottom. It’s better to stretch yourself out before he does. Wow! Lucky Merc and lucky you!” He gasped excitedly.

“He’s super annoying, though. A total know-it-all and smartass.”

“So… He is you?” He cocked a perfectly groomed eyebrow at me.

“I am not a know-it-all.” I crossed my arms and put my feet back up on the couch.

“Well… You do not like to be wrong.”

“Who does?”

“He always looks like he’s having a blast in his videos.” He walked over and picked up his hair brush. He gently started running it through his blonde strands. “He has so much energy, and the way he laughs while he’s having sex is… hot. Like, it’s really hot.”

“How many of his videos have you watched?” I teased.

“As many as you have, I bet.” He turned and grinned. “It’s absolutely hilarious the way this rivalry and hate between our studios only makes us more intrigued by the other. And it’s all because two old men can’t stand each other. I bet the Monty boys watch as many of our videos as we do of theirs.”

I knew that it was true. I watched all of Roam’s and Merc’s videos, as well as a few of their bottoms. Ben was a favorite of mine. “Who’s your favorite Monty boy?”

“Sir? That is a question that I refuse to answer.” He pouted.

I stood up and walked over to him as he stared at himself in the mirror. “You do know that I know, right?” I placed my hand on his shoulder and pinched. “I’m not an idiot.”

“I didn’t…” He looked at me in our shared reflection and grinned. “But let me have my mystery, anyway.” He turned and grabbed me by my hand, and led me back over to the loveseat. He sat down in my lap, curled up against me. “Isn’t he just wonderful? He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. I think he’s as bored of his life as I am of mine.”

“What? You’re going to run away together?” I scoffed.

“Maybe?” he answered slowly. “I mean, he hasn’t asked. But I think I would.”

“You just met him, Jules. Roam acts like a pompous poser most of the time.” I felt like I had to warn Jules. When he fell in love, he fell with everything he had, and I picked up his broken pieces more than a few times in the past.

“It’s an act, Ty. He’s… He might be everything. I don’t know,” he admitted and kissed me on the cheek.

“If he hurts you… I’m going to have to go to prison. So be careful,” I growled.

“My protector and… You’re the only one who… I love that you’ve never been jealous of me. All of the other boys they… Well, they treat me differently. I annoy you, and I’m so grateful that you let me know.” He cuddled onto my shoulder, and his hair tickled my chin.

“You’re obsessed with yourself, Jules. But you have never been anything but honest and kind to me.”

“I feel the same way. In a different world, Ty, maybe we could have been the two who were running away together. But neither of us ever felt that way, did we?”

I kissed the top of his head. “Maybe we love each other more like cousins.”

“Close cousins who… Well, we have done some very nasty things together on camera.” He giggled. “Very… very… nasty.”

“That we have.” I chuckled happily.

“It was fun. Who knows? Maybe I’ve filmed my last scene, and tomorrow, when you wake up, I will have disappeared forever.”

“You wouldn’t say goodbye?” I was afraid of the answer.

“If I did, I'm afraid I wouldn’t leave.” He cuddled even closer as if he were trying to melt into me.

“Don’t do that. At least let me know.” I kissed his head once again.

“I’ll leave you a sign. If it’s meant to be, our paths will cross again.”

“This is depressing.”

“Yes.” He suddenly stood up and walked back over to his mirror. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll never leave. I really hate decisions.”

I stayed while he brushed his hair and went back to my room to cuddle with my cat. The thought of Jules leaving had depressed me.

8

Merc

“Iwasn’t sure that you’d actually meet me?” I grinned. I was way too happy that he’d come. There was just something about him, about our last interaction, that had really floored me.

“Well… What did I have to lose?” He slid into the booth. I noticed that he kept himself on the far side of the booth. “If you annoy me, I can fucking leave. Besides, my cock is gonna be up your ass in a few days.” His fucking smirk made my heart beat faster. It was not fair that someone this fucking hot existed in the world.

“I know.” I narrowed my eyes. “Contracts have been signed, and it’s official. My cock will also be up yours if I remember correctly.”

“Yeah…” He glanced down at the table. “That was a surprise.”

“Let me get you a drink.” I raised my hand to call over the bartender.

“What is this a date? I can get my own,” he scoffed and raised his hand.

“It’s a nicety. I… didn’t hate our conversation the other night. Actually, I thought it was fun.” I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it.

“Well, we weren’t trying to…” The bartender came over, and Ty glanced at my beer. “Is that an IPA? I’ll just have that.” The bartender nodded, and TY looked back at me. “What was I saying? Oh! We weren’t trying to beat each other up.”

I roared with laughter. He just kept surprising me over and over. “True. You’re a fucking duelist, Prince of Cats.”

He frowned. “I hate that.”

I leaned back in the booth and took a sip of my beer. “You’re not as big of a dick as I thought you’d be. I mean, now that we’re not trying to kill each other, as you say.”

The frown flipped, and once again, that easy smile splayed across and brightened his face. “Oh, the jury is still out. I plan on sticking you with my sword.” He winked, and I almost spit out the beer I had just swallowed.

“You are the captain of compliments. The very butcher of a bottom.” I winked back. Flirting with him was coming too easily, and I enjoyed it too much. He might not be the enemy right now, but he was still dangerous.

“When I need to be. Did you think I’d be like Roam or Jules? Do I come off that pompous?” The waiter brought over his beer and set it down. He picked it up, and I held my glass aloft, too. “Thank you.”

“Actually, yeah… I guess so... Sometimes. I mean, we don’t really know each other. All I know of you is street fights and videos.” He did have an aloofness to him. That’s probably one of the reasons he was so popular. He was a mystery or an enigma that fucked like a Wildman but kept his secrets from the public.

“We won’t know each other after we fuck either.” He looked back up at me. “It’s just a scene.”

“I know that. But I had… fun?” Is that what I would call it? He made my stomach tumble in a way I wasn’t used to. It was stupid, and it was going to cause me pain. This guy could mortally wound me if I let him in. I shouldn’t. “Would it be horrible if we actually became friendly?”

He shrugged and tilted his head to look at me. His movement was fluid, like that of a dancer or a fencer in the middle of a joust. “The studios will be back at each other’s throats soon enough. You know that those two will never be able to get along.”

I took a deep breath and moved my glass to the right. “Doesn’t mean we can’t.”

“No, I guess it doesn’t.” He chuckled and nodded before pushing his glass to the left. “I didn’t hate our conversation either. You’re funny.”

It was like I was playing a game of beer chess with him. In truth, I just wanted a clear view of the way his t-shirt hugged his chest. It was inspiring and made my crotch jump at the thought of running my hands over it. “Yeah, I’m a fucking clown. At least, that’s what Monty says people want to see. That dichotomy of the stupid straight boy who fucks like a madman when he finally lets himself go. That’s what Monty says is my lane, and I should stay in it.”

“He didn’t like the idea of you bottoming, did he?” Ty looked at me perplexed. “My uncle had no trouble offering my ass up to you.”

“Yeah, I noticed. You turned white when he agreed. But… No. I’ve been trying to get him to let me be vers for a while to switch it up. He wouldn’t hear of it,” I admitted. It was easy to admit that I wanted to bottom to the one man I really wanted to top me.

“You… uh… want to?” He cocked an eyebrow and stared at me.

I grinned widely. “Oh, yeah. I prefer it, actually.”

His eyes widened as he stared at me as if he were seeing me for the first time. “Wow… ok… A big dicked bottom… You don’t see that too often.”

“There’s been a few, but none of them are the stars of their studios, are they? Audiences like that twink boy look. It’s not realistic at all. We’re gay men, and that shit isn’t so cut and dry.”

“Realistic?” He scoffed. “Realism isn’t what they pay to see.” He looked down at his beer and spun it slowly around with his fingers.

“Isn’t it? It would be nice to actually have sex with someone without having to… I haven’t fucked someone who didn’t expect a porn star fuck from me in a long time.” I smirked.

“It’s this business. I wouldn’t hate it so much if I didn’t have to escort, too.” He glanced back at me, and his mask had fallen. Here was a piece of truth that he was offering to me like an olive branch. “I hate that shit most of the time.”

“The life of a whore.” I picked up my glass and held it aloft.

“I hate that word.” He picked his up but didn’t hold it up. This was a challenge of some sort.

“Isn’t that what we are when you get to the core of what we do?” I shrugged.

“It cheapens it… me.”

“Oh, sex worker… I get it,” I chuckled. He hefted his glass up, and we met in the middle with a dull clink. “I just like to cut to the chase, and it is the world's oldest profession.”

“Did you see who’s directing?” He changed the subject deftly. Another small clue about himself that he didn’t mean to reveal. He was ashamed of what he did for a living.

“Yeah… Both of them. That should be… Let’s try not to get involved in their squabbling. Let’s focus on each other.” I offered and took a sip of my beer but kept eye contact with his beautiful emerald eyes. I could drown in them.

He smirked. “So… you want me to focus on you, huh?”

I felt the blush creep into my already flushed cheeks. The way he looked at me as if he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to fuck or kill me was already making me twisted up inside. “That’s… uh… not quite what I meant. For the cameras, you know… Let’s stay in the scene and not... Supposedly, we’re doing a live stream. So, there won’t be all those setups if that’s true. We can just keep getting down to… uh… business.”

He chuckled. “Top-tier porn, huh? I haven’t paid too much attention. It’s happening, and I know it’s with you, so… That’s all the power I have. The rest will be their decisions.”

“Isn’t it always?” I shrugged and waved at the bartender to bring us another round.

“I heard they used to be together. That was before I came to live there. He never really talks about it.” Ty got this faraway look in his eyes. It made me want to reach out and touch him. But we weren’t to that point yet. Maybe we never would be. But I hoped – maybe. He excited me and scared the fuck out of me.

“Is he really your uncle?” I asked slowly, wondering if this would be a sore spot for him.

“I’d rather not talk about that,” he replied flatly, and just in time, we were saved by the bartender dropping off our drinks. “Thanks.”

“All right. No problem. Yeah, they were together. That’s the story I heard, anyway. You’ve seen the videos where they share a twink pretending like it’s an audition, right? You can still find them on some of the torrent sites. They’re… I think they’re hard to watch. Not my kink, I guess.”

“I don’t want to see them, but… It’s hard to imagine that they ever liked each other, much less loved each other. I never knew Monty when I was younger. Cappie always hid me away with a nanny until I was old enough to join him. Sometimes, I miss that little house and her tamales. I almost never saw him until… Well, here we are.”

“That’s… damn. Sorry, Ty.” I exhaled slowly. “That’s a lot.”

“I didn’t ask for your sympathy.” The steel in his voice told me that I should move on quickly.

“I know, but… Anyway… It’s still shitty. The business got between them. That’s what I’ve always heard. When they dissolved everything, it took them both a few years to pivot, and within a few months of Monty starting his studio, Cappie did too. Now here we are living in their shit.”

“What’s your story? Turnaround is fair play.” He glanced around the bar and then looked back at me, waiting for an answer.

“I don’t really have a story.” I shrugged. “Not a good one anyway.”

“Everyone has a story who does this, Merc. I mean, if you’re too scared to…”

“It’s not that.” I laughed. “I just… I woke up a few days after my eighteenth birthday and decided that what I wanted to do more than anything in the world was to have sex. It was all I thought about. The family and I were… Well, we weren’t in the best of places. They didn’t like that I was gay. So, I hopped on a… a Greyhound and came to Los Angeles. The first place I stopped was Monty’s, and here I am.”

“You chose this?” he asked incredulously. “No one chooses this. Not what we do.”

“Yeah, I never said I made good choices.” I stuck my tongue out stupidly, trying to veer the conversation away from this topic. That was a secret that I didn’t want to share and hadn’t with anyone. Only Monty knew because he made it his mission to learn more about me after a time. When he called me into his office and told me that he knew everything, it scared the hell out of me.

“Apparently.” He took a sip and then set his glass down quickly. “Only a fucking moron chooses to give away pieces of their soul.”

“What soul?” I chuckled. “Hey, I invited you here. Was that a good choice?”

“The jury’s still out. You do appear to be, however, a nut.” He laughed easily, and I took a deep breath. The crisis was hopefully averted.

“Am I a hard nut to crack? Because you sure are.”

“A swift kick to the nuts will usually suffice.” He leaned forward and dropped his voice to a very sexy growl. “Maybe I’ll grab and pull them while I’m pounding you so hard you have to beg for mercy on our livestream.”

“Maybe I’ll enjoy it?” I winked. “The life of a whore.”

“Sex worker,” he demanded, keeping his voice low.

“Listen, pretty boy.”

“Aw, you noticed.”

I pointed my finger at him. “You’re not Richard Gere, and I’m not Julia Roberts, and this ain't the fucking Beverly Hilton, so we can drop all of the...”

“It was the Regent Beverly Wilshire, you fucking idiot.”

“Who cares about which hotel it… I think we’re both idiots. We fuck for a living.”

He smiled sadly. “I can’t really argue with that.” He picked his beer back up and took a large swig.

“I didn’t think you could. Because even if we are both idiots, we’re not dumb.”

“That appears to be true.” He narrowed his eyes. God, this man was a fucking predator, and I wanted to be his prey too badly.

“Do you hate it as much as I do? I mean, not always, but mostly. I used to love it, and now…” I shrugged.

“Mostly – Yes, me too.” He nodded, and we stared at each other for a minute without speaking. The connection between us was stronger than ever.

“Fuck…” I finally broke our silence. “I wish I was Julia Roberts.”

He shook his head slowly. “Sugar daddies are never the answer. We all age.”

“Maybe he’ll die before he can find someone younger?” I winked.

“Well, with a cock as big as yours, maybe it won’t matter.” He huffed, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“The same could be said for you. I’m big, but yours is… I mean… I’m eight, but you're bigger than that, and Jesus, your girth is… it both scares and excites me.” I admitted, and my cock throbbed in my pants as I thought about it.

“God,” he looked at me as if he couldn’t understand what he was thinking. “I wish you were really a bottom and in our studio.”

“I think we should have another round, don’t you.”

“Why not.”

We talked until we were too drunk to continue. I thought that he was going to hug me, but he turned away at the last moment, and I watched him walk down the street until he was out of view.

9

Ty

“What are you doing right now?” Jules opened my door without knocking, and I threw a shoe sitting on my bed towards him, which slammed against the wall a couple of feet from his pretty face. “Asshole.”

“You could knock,” I answered flatly. I let go of Mister Wiggles, and he jumped off the bed and onto his cat house, where he disappeared inside. He liked company less than I did.

“I should’ve,” he sulked.

“Then do it.” I looked at him seriously. It always annoyed me when one of the other guys did this shit. We all deserved whatever privacy we could get. I instantly felt bad about my bad behavior, though. I hadn’t felt right since hanging out with Merc. He had twisted me up in a way I couldn’t fathom.

Jules turned around and shut the door. A few seconds later, a soft knock sounded on the other side.

“Come the fuck in,” I mumbled. I wasn’t in the mood for people. I had a lot going on in my mind right now, and it was shrouded in a fog of thoughts that I kept trying to ignore. I hadn’t felt right since hanging out with Merc. He had twisted me up in a way I couldn’t fathom.

“Hi, Ty. Can we talk?” He sounded so sad.

I sighed. “Sure. Plop onto the bed.” I patted the spot beside me.

Jules crawled up onto my bed and sat with his legs crossed and his arms wound tightly around himself.

“Fuck. What’s wrong now?” I was going to fucking kill Roam if he had done anything to Jules.

“I’m having a major issue.” He didn’t look me in the eyes and glanced down at the bed.

“That’s about all you have, babe.” I patted his knee. “Tell me.”

“I know.” He choked up and took a deep breath to steady himself. “I am a fucking magnet for drama. But I really wish I wasn’t.”

“What did Roam do?” I growled. “I warned you about him.”

“It’s not Roam, Ty. It’s…” He looked up at me and stared deeply into my eyes. “Will you go with me someplace? Please?”

“Tell me why.”

“I’ll tell you everything when we get there. Please, Ty? I really need you.” He reached over and took my hand in his. “Please?”

“I’m not gonna regret this later, am I?” I knew that I was going to give in. It was impossible to disappoint Jules. He was the only person that I had in my life that I truly cared about. The only person who cared about me.

“I can’t promise that. We’re gonna meet some friends, and then I’ll tell you everything.” He sniffed. His eyes were red-rimmed, and now that I really looked at him, he had been crying.

“Yeah, totally gonna regret this. You have shitty friends.”

“You’re about my only friend, Ty.”

“Who do you think I’m talking about?”

He squeezed my hand tighter. “You are more than you know, my love. You just hide behind that macho bullshit. But underneath, you care, and you love, and you know it. You’re just scared of it. I get it. You’ve not known real love since your… I’m sorry. I know you don’t like talking about that.” He let go of my hand, and I leaned forward and took his face between mine.

“No, go on. You felt the need to start it.” I had been thinking about this a lot lately. The reasons that I act the way I do.

“You’ve had a shit life, Ty. When your parents died, you were sent to live with someone who didn’t want you. I understand that. My parents never wanted me. At least you had love for a while with yours.” He frowned.

“Maybe that made this all the worse. Maybe you’re the lucky one?” I whispered.

“Maybe.” He reached back out and took my hand again. “But we can only know each other’s trauma if we share it, right? You hide behind that wall of anger that you protect yourself with. I can see why. I hide behind my overflowing abundance of feelings that I wallow in and feel like I’m always about to drown. We’re both broken, and this place makes things worse. You know it, and I know it’s true. We’ve used sex and fame to replace any semblance of reality, and we have to figure out a way for us to be happy. We deserve it, don’t you think?”

I pulled him down and rested his head in my lap. Stroking his hair always soothed the beast that threatened to erupt if I gave in to my feelings. “The shit I’ve done, boo… I don’t know anymore. I'm not even sure who I really am right now, much less whatever the fuck I’m feeling. How could I ever let myself feel anything? I’m numb and not comfortable.”

“That’s a weird phrase.” He giggled.

“Never mind, babe.” I bent down and kissed his head. “Where are we going?”

“Just trust me, ok?” He sat back up and pulled me off the bed.

“I guess you’re one of the only people that I do.”

We snuck out of the house, and as soon as we made it outside, Jules put on the most giant pair of sunglasses I had ever seen.

“Very incognito,” I scoffed. “No one will even glance at you.”

“I know, right? Roam gave them to me.” He giggled as he grabbed my arm. “This way, stud. Being in the sun always makes me feel a little better. How about you? Come on.”

He pulled me down the street, and we walked towards Melrose. I knew where we were going. Jules had this place that he adored going to. His words, not mine. It was a tiny coffee shop with a fortune teller inside who would read your cards or tea leaves. He always tried to get me to go and have my fortune told. I had refused, but the coffee was pretty great.

“I know that you don’t like this place,” he said apologetically.

“It’s not that. I just don’t like people preying on the weak.” The truth was – I was afraid it would be bad, and they would be right. Fate had not been very kind to me.

“I may look like… Well, act like a delicate flower, but I’m not weak, Ty.” He jutted out his bottom lip with consternation.

“I didn’t mean that.” I sighed.

“That’s not why we’re going there, anyway. We’re meeting Roam and Merc.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. “Really?”

“Yes, come on.” He pulled me and wrapped his hand through my arm. “I need him, and he said he was bringing Merc. I thought you two were friendly now. It sure seemed like you were at the party.”

“We’re not killing each other.”

“I’ll take that. Please, just do this for me. Ok?”

I nodded.

We walked the last two blocks in silence. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Merc. I didn’t not like him, if you know what I mean. It was just that he made me crazy. All of his bantering and snarky comments twisted my mind up into a knot that I couldn’t unravel. When I left him a couple of days ago, I couldn’t get him out of my mind. The things he said to me and the way he tried to connect made me feel uncomfortable. I hadn’t been able to truly connect with anyone in a very long time. It was safer that way. Jules was about as close as I had ever gotten, and even that was half-assed. I wasn’t a fully formed person, and Merc made me think about that fact. He also made me want to reach out and touch him – not for the studio and the audience – but for myself. There was something real about him. I hadn’t had anything real in a very long time.

“Ok. Be nice.” Jules said as we stopped in front of the door. I could see Roam and Merc sitting uncomfortably at a small round table in the back corner. Merc raised his hand and grinned at me as if he were happy to see me.

Fuck. My stomach flipped. Damn, he looked sexy as fuck. That black tank top was… It fit him very well.

“I’ll be on my best behavior, boo,” I huffed and tried to push the butterflies down where they belonged. Those feelings would only cause me regret later. It was safer to stay the way I was. “After you.” I pulled the door open, and we went inside.

“This isn’t a cat café, you know?” Merc grinned slyly. Fuck. His deep voice had wormed his way in and felt comforting and dangerous all at the same time.

“Fuck you, Merc,” I said lowly. Roam snorted back a laugh and stood as Jules rushed into his arms.

“Ah, young love. Ain’t it grand?” Merc scooted out a chair beside him with his foot. “Pop a squat, hot stuff.”

I grabbed it by the back and pulled it to what I considered a safe distance away from him. His tight tank top showed every muscle he had as if it were see-through. Soon, my fingers would be exploring them, and… Stop! This is just a fucking job – another fuck that will lead nowhere, and I had to remember that.

Jules pulled back from Roam and nodded his head. Together, they sat down in their chairs and scooted them close together. Jules reached over, and Roam took his hand and held it lovingly in his lap. It made me jealous.

“Are you ok?” Roam asked huskily. His voice broke with concern.

“No. I am troubled and in despair.” Jules batted his eyes in a way that only Jules could, yet he was still masculine at the same time. He danced between the lines, and that was why he was so popular. “Everything is coming up pentacles, and I can’t find a way out.”

“What are you… Oh…” I realized. Jules’ tarot thing was real, and he rarely did anything without consulting it. “Pentacles? Those are bad?”

“Yes, silly. Now, before we begin, I need you and Roam to shake hands,” he demanded. “I know the rivalry thing still feels real, and all of you tops have taken it way too seriously for far too long.” He smirked. “I am serious about Roam. I am also serious about you, Ty. Merc, I don’t really know you – but if you have Roam’s heart, you also have mine.”

Roam stood up and offered his hand. I sat there dumbly until Merc kicked my shin gently.

“Don’t leave the poor boy standing there.” Merc chuckled, and my toes actually tightened in my shoes.

I slowly stood up and gave him my hand. “Don’t hurt him.”

“I couldn’t. He’s already taken complete control of my heart. Cupid pierced me with his arrow the minute our eyes met, and anyone and everyone else just fell away until it was only him.” His sincerity was overwhelming.

But, God! The pretention was also real. Merc was right – his emo had another level of emo underneath. No wonder people fawned all over him. “Dude? Can I have my hand back now?”

“Oh, sorry. I’ve just heard so much about you from Jules. I’m also totally a secret fan. I watch all your videos.”

“That’s… cool.” It actually always weirded me out when people told me this. I was fine with what I did, but it still made me… It felt odd. I felt the same way about fan interactions, which happened every now and then. I fucked – they beat off. It was weird.

We both sat back down, and Jules kicked his feet over Romeo’s legs and sighed heavily. “So, the reason I got us all together.” He slid his feet off and leaned onto the table. “It’s horrid. Cappie has decided that I now belong to Paris Fitzsimmons. There is a clause in my contract – you should check yours too, Ty – that allows him to rent me out for long-term assignments like I’m a courtesan. Of course, there is also a clause in Paris’ contract that still allows me to film for Cappie twice a month. It basically states that while I am on this long-term rental, like I’m a fucking condo, I have to obey the client and provide any service that he wishes, or I would be in breach of said contract.”

“That’s… crazy.” Merc looked unnerved. “If Cappie has it, I bet Monty does too. The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, I bet.”

“It’s like I’m in that movie where they sing on top of the elephant.” He ran his fingers through his blonde hair, and his blue eyes looked up with tears in them. “My God, I’m Nicole Kidman! Seriously, could life get any worse? I’m living the life of a ginger, and I’m platinum blonde!” His eyes spilled as tears fell down his cheeks.

Dramatic. But sweet. Hearing this made my stomach clench into a knot. This was extra-level shittiness from my uncle.

“This is forced sexual servitude.” Roam’s face turned red. “We should fight it.”

“We shouldn’t do anything. It’s a Cappie contract. His lawyers are fucking sharks. That contract is iron-clad.” I reached over and patted Jules’ hand. “But that doesn’t make it right.”

“What am I supposed to do? Paris is fine if you're into kinky cocaine fests at three in the morning. That’s not what I want. Not any longer. Now,” he reached over and touched Roam’s hard chest. “I know exactly what I want.”

“We could run away.” Roam’s voice rose with his passion.

I shook my head. “No one runs away from Cappie. I’m sure they say the same thing at Monty’s, right?”

“That they do. We had a guy who tried to run away, and Monty had someone hunt him down and bring him back. He had a nice black eye and limped for a few days, but that didn’t stop them from filming a scene with him right after to prove a point. You don’t fuck with those guys.” Merc looked appalled and maybe a little scared.

“It’s like working for the mob.” Jules huffed.

“Who do you think gave them their start-up loans?” I murmured. “That’s exactly what it is, Jules. You’ve seen those guys come to the house. Some of them even stay around for a dalliance or two.”

“I told Cappie I didn’t want to do it,” he whispered. “He threatened me. This is too important to him. Paris invests a lot of money, and he’s decided that I am exactly what he wants for now. What can I do?”

“I don’t know,” I answered sadly. “We’ll figure something out.”

“I knew I could count on you.” Jules looked like he was about to burst into tears again.

“Always.” I reached over and touched his leg. “You’re not going to become someone’s sex slave. We’ll… I don’t know, but we’ll think of something.”

“Roam already has a very bad plan.” Merc pinched my shoulder gently, and I tensed up. “Easy there, Ty. Just a small pat.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “I’m just tense at… So, what is your plan?”

Roam frowned at his friend. “It’s not bad. It’s the only one we have. We run away. Get as far away as we can. Maybe we go to Italy or…”

“You did hear me say that they’re in bed with the mob, right?” I shrugged. Roam might be hot, but he was a total moron.

“Then somewhere else where they can never find us.”

“You should try Arkansas. They have mountains there. You can live off the land,” I scoffed. “And what will you live on? What skills do either one of you have except fucking and taking goddamned selfies.”

“He has a point.” Merc nodded. “I said the same thing to him.”

“I could wait tables, maybe?” Jules sniffed.

“Honey, no, you couldn’t. You cry when you get dirt under your nails. You’re not cut out for that kind of life, and you know it. We have to bide our time and come up with a plan that actually makes sense. When are you supposed to go to Paris’?”

“Beginning of next week.”

“That gives us time to figure something out that’s actually intelligent. You know how powerful these guys are and what they’re capable of. If you defy him, he will make sure he takes away the one thing you actually love. You, Jules. He’s horrible enough to disfigure you. He knows your weaknesses because he helped create them. Promise me that you won’t run away with him.” I looked Jules sternly in the eye.

“You don’t know me.” Roam tried to puff up like a rooster.

“Damned right, I don’t. So, if you think I’m going to let Jules run away with you to who knows where you are fucking wrong!” I raised my voice and slapped the table.

“Doesn’t love count for something?” Merc said quietly.

“Love? This can’t be love. They just met a few days ago.” I scoffed and could see the hurt in all of their eyes at my statement.

“We’ve watched each other from afar,” Jules whispered.

“What you feel is lust. You two might be fucking destined – I can’t say otherwise, but I can promise you that this isn’t love. You don’t know each other.” I tried to get them to understand. But I felt like they were all looking at me like I had two heads.

Roam sighed and kissed Jules on the cheek. “We know each other. All we’ve done is talk late into the night. I snuck into his window last night.”

I looked at him like he was an idiot. “Then you really are a fucking moron. Do you have a death wish?”

“Ok… That was… not smart.” Merc tried to ease the tension, but then he turned to me. “I’ll give you that. But love is love, Ty. There are no rules. Sometimes, one glance is all you need to know. Maybe that’s what they have.” He sounded so fucking sincere it sent a chill up my spine.

“Love is a fucking lie. Love only binds you to someone who can destroy you with a word. It leashes you to fear and despair. You can’t eat love or be safe with love – because love is never safe, and it can’t fulfill you. It just leaves you aching and craving more.”

“Maybe we should talk to you about getting therapy.” Merc frowned. “I would disagree with everything you said.”

“Why am I not surprised? I think you’d argue with a fucking door.” I chuckled. Was I wrong? What was it about love that made me so scared of it?

Merc reached over and took my hand in his. It felt comfortable and safe, which made me tense up. “Love isn’t something that you can change. It’s not a fixed point on a bullseye that you have to aim for. It’s flexible and diverse and means something different to every person who breathes. Love is like the oxygen that gives us hope.”

“Hope is also useless and fixes nothing.” I shook my head sadly. I had hoped, and that hope had died a long time ago. It had been a meaningless exercise that had taught me a harsh lesson. The only person you could ever count on was yourself.

“Maybe Merc is right, Ty. You sound so depressed. Maybe you should talk to someone.” Jules hiccupped. “Ty, you are my best friend. My… only friend, really. Out of all the hos in the house, you are the only one I love. I would do anything for you. I know what love is. How can you tell me that I don’t know it when it has overcome every one of my senses? I breathe, and I smell Roam. I hear people talking, and I hear his deep murmurs in my ear. I may be a little fool. But I know this to be the most important truth I have ever known.”

“Ok… I can’t argue with you. I won’t.” I felt the tension slump out of my shoulders like I had let go of a boulder. It was out of my hands. I had to let Jules… be Jules.

“I’m not you. My heart was never hardened by the past. I crave this, and I have yearned for it. Now it’s here – with Roam.”

“Will you give me a few days to figure this out? I won’t let you be Paris’. I can at least promise you that.”

“I know. I trust you with everything that I am. Love, Ty. This is what love is.” Jules smiled sadly at me. “And I think you know much more than you are letting yourself know right now.”

“He’s much wiser than you ever told me.” Merc laughed. “So, we need to come up with a plan.”

The sound of his laughter filled me with a warmth that turned to a chill.

Escaping Cappie or Monty was impossible. But there had to be a way. If there was a way for Jules… Maybe there was a way for me.

Merc touched me a lot through the night, and when he looked at me, I craved it. I wanted more of it, and that scared me.

Love? How would I ever know if it was real or even existed?

10

Merc

It felt weird to walk into a studio that I didn’t know.

Cappie and Monty couldn’t agree on which of our studios to use, so they rented one between our two houses. Cappie's guys were there, and so were Monty’s. There were a lot of people standing around in the studio, and that made me cringe.

It was odd to be nervous. It felt like my first time, and in some ways it was. I had never bottomed on camera. I had also never had so many fucking people in the studio when I filmed. Usually, it was the director, a cameraman or two, and a guy with a boom. This was an audience. The fucking lawyers were here, man. What were they going to do? Kill us and film it? It would probably be the highest rating of any porn film in the history of porn, but that was a record I didn’t care to be a part of.

After listening to Jules’ problems and watching him with Roam – I began to rethink the fun I was having. This had stopped being fun a lot longer ago than I cared to admit. Sex was fun. The guys were pretty cool. Ben and Roam were great most of the time. Well, Ben was great all the time. But the glimmer had faded from the life I lived. Walking in here felt like walking into a viper’s den.

I nodded at Monty as I made my way back to the dressing rooms at the back of the soundstage. It wasn’t a very big soundstage, not like the ones used in the big movies we all loved, but there in the middle of the space sat a bed and nothing else. The way the lights were hitting it made my stomach churl. This was going to be weird. My skin tingled with a chill as I opened the door.

Ty sat on a wooden chair and looked paler than I had ever seen him.

“Hey,” I nodded, trying to keep this as professional as possible. After yesterday's conversation with Roam and Jules, I realized that even if I had started to feel things for Ty, it wasn’t healthy for me to continue down that path even if I were fascinated by him. He was closed off, and I was finally beginning to want something real. I don’t think I could have that with him, even if his mere presence sent me into a flirtatious tizzy. To have something real – you had to have it with someone who was also available. Ty had made it pretty clear where he stood. But still… It was going to be Ty and me on that bed. His cock and my cock, our two holes, his hands on my body, and that made me a total freaking mess. I wanted it. I wanted him. I just had to remember that this was a job and not anything else between us.

“This is going to be insane. Did you see all the people that those assholes brought to watch? What the actual fuck?” Looking at him, I could tell he was as nervous as I was. That made me breathe a little easier.

“Yeah. It’s strange,” I mumbled. It was hard to look at him and breathe at the same time. I threw my bag against the wall and stared at myself in the mirror.

“What’s wrong with you?” He pulled his arms behind his back, and I heard the crack of his spine.

“I’m… just nervous, I guess. We have a huge audience. I wonder if they’ll applaud at the money shot?” I said disgustedly.

“Do we need to discuss anything about our… preferences? Anything off the table?” He stood up and pulled his shirt over his head. His taught body rippled with muscle, and I inhaled sharply. God, I wanted him.

“Not if you kiss me during the scene.” I turned to him. I knew that he never kissed during any of his scenes, except for one with Jules, which Cappie marketed the hell out of. If he would do that… “If you do that, I’m game for whatever you want. I’ve seen your videos. You’re not into anything crazy like bloodletting. You just fuck like a goddamn monster.”

“Kiss?” He cocked an eyebrow at me.

“Yeah. You know… Lips meeting lips and maybe a tongue. You want to practice?” I teased and instantly regretted it. A kiss from Ty might rock my world in a way I couldn’t come back from. It would have been better if I hadn’t said anything.

He shrugged. “I mean, it’s a night of firsts for both of us, right? I don’t… I can kiss you,” he mumbled as if it embarrassed him. But the way he looked at me… A small glimmer of hope shined for just a second. It was enough to scare the living shit out of me.

“All right. Then I guess you can have your fucking way with me. You know that’s what you want.” It was better to go back to where we had been. Banter and witty responses felt much safer than staring at him.

“All right then… Stop trying to rile me up. I’m already twisted into a chaotic mess.” He said it so seriously that, for a moment, I saw a glimpse of the real him – the one he tried so hard to hide.

“Do I unnerve you?”

“You surprise me every time I fucking see you to the point where I’m... But it’s… I don’t know what to do about this Jules thing, too. We have to think of something.” He threw himself onto the floor and started doing pushups. Jesus… Where was my popcorn and drink? It was so effortless and fast that I could feel a twinge in my nethers.

“We? Are we a couple now?”

“Will you stop, or I’m going to make sure that after tonight, you can’t walk for a week.”

“Remember that I also get to fuck you. So be careful with what you wish for.”

He stopped and stood up quickly. “I hated the prep. How do bottoms do that? Jules couldn’t stop giggling as he helped. It was embarrassing.”

“You’re cute when you get flustered,” I said quietly.

“I am not cute.” He made an ugly face, and yes, for a second, he wasn’t that cute.

“No, you’re not cute. You’re fucking hot, and you know it.” I blushed like a stupid twelve-year-old asking their crush out on a first date.

He walked over and stood in front of me. “So are you.”

“Yeah… But one of us has to be hotter, right?”

“You can have the honor.” He reached over and put his hand on my shoulder. That contact was… like a fire.

“No, that’s totally yours. I’m just teasing. You know I think you’re sexy, or I wouldn’t have offered myself up as a tribute to your cock.” I grinned.

“I… You totally confuse the shit out of me.” He walked back over to his chair and threw himself down. He was a fucking mountain of muscle, and right now, he looked like a lost kid.

“I thought Jules took care of that for you.”

“Smartass. He actually wanted to come to watch. I had to say no.”

“Roam wanted to, too. I also said no, thank you.” I snorted.

‘We need to find better friends.”

“Maybe we already did.” I looked back at him and made contact with those beautiful green eyes. He was about to say something, but the knock on the door stopped him.

The door opened. “Are you two about ready? We have the lighting setup done, and everyone is out of camera view. All we’re waiting on is you.” The young man shut the door.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“I’ve never seen him before in my life. He’s probably the next hot twink in one of our studios. We’ll hate him together.”

“I’m nervous. I don’t readily admit that to anyone.” I pulled my shirt off and tossed it onto the floor. “Fuck.”

“I’m nervous, too. I can’t believe that it’s you I’m…”

“The Prince of Cats is never nervous. That’s’ what they say. His rod is hot and thick and pierces you as he splits you in half.” I grabbed the robe and pulled it on before taking my pants off, which was weird. I usually had no issue with nudity, but to be naked in front of him made me… God, I was in trouble.

“Are you reading my reviews on LPSG?”

“Every one of them. I plan on leaving one myself five minutes after they call cut.”

“Smartass. What am I gonna do with you?”

“I told you – you can do whatever you want as long as you kiss me.”

“I will. Jesus… I can’t believe I’m about to let anyone fuck me. I… I’m glad it’s you, though.” He pulled his pants down, and I could see that he already had a full hard-on. He grabbed the robe.

“I’ll be gentle. I know it’s your first time. But with me… Please don’t be,” I moaned.

“All right. Showtime.”

-------

We crawled up on the bed, and Ty looked over at me. He could see that I was nervous, so he put his hand on my shoulder. I think it was to calm both of us. This set was nerve-wracking, and to know that it was a sold-out live feed to about a million men who were jacking off as they watched us felt even more weighty than anything else I had ever done.

“So, this is a live feed. No setups and no changes. Just thirty minutes or so, depending on how long you can handle it. Remember that they are paying for the whole stream, so this isn’t a minute-by-minute cash cow. It’s a paid stream that goes all the way through to the end. There are six cameras, and we will not be cutting when we have one moving in for closeups. There will be little of that since the zoom on these babies is fucking out of this world, and we have almost every angle covered. Remember, boys, that we want them to be able to see all of it, so think about your poses and postures. Try to keep in mind that we want to see the shaft penetrate as your fucking. So, pull back far and keep it interesting.”

“You were given the list of positions that will work for our setups. Try to stick to them. This has to last thirty minutes and should be no longer than forty-five if you can help it. We all have other things to do tonight, and we have to clean the studio before the next shoot starts loading in. We have about two hours. Some crappy student film, probably.”

“Harry, no one gives a shit. They tested, and they’re negative, so the show must go on,” Cappie walked forward, and Monty followed close behind. “Remember Ty, make the studio proud. Cappie’s boys are the best in the business.”

“Give it to him, Merc. You’re the first to have that virgin hole. Show them what a Monty boy can do.”

“People are going to lose their minds.” Cappie grinned.

“Got it. Fuck him and let him fuck me. We can do that.” Ty sighed as he pulled his robe off and handed it to someone who walked over to grab it.

“I’m more than ready,” I lied. Ty had gotten inside me, and the fact that he said he would kiss me was… Well, I was falling into the blackness of his orbit. I just hoped I could come out unscathed. I pulled my robe off, and my hard cock bounced as its freedom.

“All right. We have two minutes until the feed begins. Is everything ready? Because it better fucking be!” Harry barked.

“Just tune them out. That’s what I’m going to do,” Ty whispered.

I turned to him. He was laid back on the bed with his arms behind his head. His large cock looked angry and ready, already flooded with the blood that made it a goddamn battering ram. His body was perfection. It was even more perfect than mine, and I worked my ass off to look like this. His smooth, tanned torso was a work of art.

“You’re… uh… Damn, you really are beautiful.”

“Duh… So are you. Just look at me, and I’ll look at you, and we can pretend that this is… that they’re not there. Just the two of us on this strange bed.”

I crawled up to him and put my mouth against his ear. He shuddered. “I can’t wait to taste you – to feel you – since that first conversation, I’ve been… Whatever you want with me, Ty. I’m yours tonight.”

“You want it rough?”

“More than I’ve ever wanted it. When I watched your videos, I wondered what it would be like to be your bottom. But I do expect that kiss.”

“I haven’t forgotten. I have something special for you. I’ve watched your videos too, you know. Your body is fucking ripped.”

“All right, boys. Twenty seconds until the stream goes live.”

Ty sat up and pushed me back on the bed. “I think we’ll just start, don’t you?” His hands felt up my torso and gently twisted my nipples between his fingers. “I think this is how I want you. Let’s give them a show.”

“Ten seconds.”

He slowly pushed himself forward until his face hovered over mine. A brush of his lips. I could hear a gasp from somewhere off to the side. His tongue licked my bottom lip.

“And we’re live in 3… 2… 1…”

His mouth met mine hungrily, and his tongue pressed into my mouth with a force I had never encountered before in a kiss. Caveman sex… That was what Ty always promised from his videos, but this was… something else? Passion. My body flooded with warmth as he pressed his body against mine. Our lips hungrily devoured each other as our hands roamed the hard bodies of the other.

Our cocks brushed against each other – steel on steel, and I reached down and took his girth in my palm as I stroked his angry rod.

He raised himself up slowly and grinned at me mischievously. I could feel myself blush. Danger Will Robinson – that kiss was so full of promise. The only video in which he kissed someone was with Jules, and it was chaste compared to that. If nothing else, he wanted me, too.

Or was he just making sure to give the fans their money's worth?

I looked up at him, and he raised his ridiculously muscled arms behind his head and flexed.

My cock throbbed. My hole ached. My mind spun, and my soul might have left my goddamned body at the sight of him. His biceps bulged, and his pecs tightened. I shuddered.

“I need that now,” I groaned. I reached up and pushed him back. He chuckled as he fell onto his back. His cock slapped against his stomach, and I crawled towards it hungrily.

The camera in front of me moved closer. It was… The bed glowed with the lights, and the rest of the room was so dark and blank. I knew there were many men in the studio watching, but I couldn’t see them. I had to squint to even see the cameras.

I looked back down at Ty, and he smirked at me before winking with his left eye. He knew what I wanted.

My hands slid up his thighs and over his taut abs. My fingers brushed over the ridges of muscle, and I sniffed at his balls before licking them. His fucking scent filled me, and I wanted to breathe nothing but him for the rest of my life. He had trimmed, but he hadn’t shaved. Ty’s entire thing was manly and sexy – like a jock that you could never have had in high school or college but had always desired. He was the American dream of a man, and I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anyone in my life. Foolish? Yes. But I couldn’t help it. My brain warned me that I should just enjoy the sex that we were having. But my heart thumped a request for more inside my chest.

I took one of his balls in my mouth and rolled it around. He groaned, and his hand slid down his torso until it grabbed me by the hair. I moaned as he pulled tightly – taking control. I slipped his other nut into my mouth and used my tongue to swirl them around. His hips bucked, and I pulled his sack gently with my mouth as it stretched away from his cock.

God, his smell was intoxicating. I could smell the soap, but there was something else—something that was just him. It was a scent of strength and power, and I just wanted to give myself over to him and let him use me in any way he wanted. But first…

I reached up and wrapped my fingers around his shaft. Popping his heavy balls free from my mouth. I raised up and grinned as I stared at the girth and magnitude of his cock. It was no wonder that he was so popular with a gift like this, and I slowly teased his helmet with my tongue – brushing it against his slit. I wanted to tease him, but all I wanted was to choke on him.

I had to give a good show.

I kissed the top and ran my tongue around his glans. His fingers tightened in my hair, and he pushed his hips forward.

I opened my mouth and slowly took his helmet into my mouth. God, he tasted better than I could have imagined. His manly musk enticed me, and I had all but given in to my urgings. Another inch into my mouth… followed by another. I wasn’t even halfway down.

“Stop fucking teasing me,” he growled and held my head in place as he force-fed his thick shaft to me. I felt it brush the back of my throat and opened my throat as far as it could go. I gagged, and he chuckled as he kept pushing it in. My nose brushed against his pubes as I sat impaled on nine inches of Ty’s shaft.

He slowly pulled back and held me in place as he used my mouth for his pleasure. In and out – brushing against my lips with every thrust. I moaned as he filled me, and after a few thrusts, I tasted his precum as it leaked from his slit into me—salty and tangy – figures.

I tightened my mouth against his shaft and breathed through my nose as his cock slid in and out. I reached up and grabbed his pecs in my hand and kneaded them. He flexed, and my cock throbbed.

“Change position. I want to go deeper.” He pushed me back, and I fell onto my back. He crawled over me and stood at the edge of the bed. A golden god of sex with his thick cock throbbing in need just out of reach. He pulled me by my shoulders until my head rested on the edge of the bed. I knew what he wanted, and I bent back – open and ready for him to fuck my mouth.

He pressed the tip of his cock against my lips, and I opened wide and clasped my lips around his shaft as he entered me. He pushed himself all the way in and leaned forward on his fists. He licked at my shaft, and I could hear the cameras to our side moving in to capture close-ups as we pleasured each other.

His pubes tickled my nose every time he pushed himself all the way in. I was sure the cameras could see his monster as it slid down my throat. He grabbed my cock in his hand and took my head inside his mouth, and sucked on it as his hips kept up their assault.

Fuck. He was hungry – just as hungry as I was, and he took all of me into his mouth and moaned around my shaft as he kept shoving his cock into my mouth. I breathed through my nose as he clogged my airways with his large pipe.

God, he was forceful. Yet, he was giving as he bobbed up and down on my cock. He was fucking good at sucking dick, and my cock pulsed with precum.

He popped my cock free from his mouth and slowly reared back, leaving his cock in my mouth all the way in, and I held back my gag as he chuckled. “I think I'm ready for some of that Monty boy ass,” he shouted.

But he didn’t move. And I lay there impaled on his cock as he gyrated his hips. “Would you like to breathe, Merc?” He caressed my face and slowly pulled his cock free from my gasping mouth. He bent down and kissed me once again. “I taste good, don’t I. So do you.”

“Fuck, you are killing me,” I begged as I flipped over and presented him with my ass.

“Perfect. A perfect fucking ass and a virgin hole,” he lied. But it was for the cameras as much as it was for me. He bent down and whispered into my ear. “I’m gonna make sure you remember me forever. Scoot up.”

I crawled forward and felt his massive body crawl back onto the bed. His hands on my ass cheeks as he spread my ass open. His hot tongue on my hole made me shiver with anticipation as I scrunched up the sheets into my fists.

I might have preferred to bottom, but I rarely ever got the chance in my private life. Once they saw my dick, they almost always turned into a bottom themselves, even if they said they were verse. So, my hole was tight, and no matter what – this was going to hurt.

But his tongue. Jesus, that man could eat ass. His tongue lapped at my hole and pushed itself in. I squirmed as he pushed it in and out. He swept it right and left and then further in before licking my crack and spitting on my hole. His tongue pushed it in, and I moaned with pleasure as his hot breath hit my skin. His tongue was just as rigid as his cock as he tongue fucked my hole. He made sure to hold my ass cheeks apart so the camera could see what he was doing.

He pulled away, and I knew what he was grabbing from the edge of the bed. The lube tickled as it slid down my crack, and he used a finger to slowly push some inside me. Honestly, there would never be enough lube to make this easy. One finger and then two as he opened me up and prepared me for his massive cock. I had stretched it as much as I dared with a toy before coming here. I knew how to bottom, and I was a professional fucker as much as he was.

“You ready for this, Merc?”

“If you don’t fucking stick that cock in me, we’re gonna rumble. I fucking want it. Please, Ty?”

“Monty boys beg, huh? I like that. Tell me how much you want it.”

“I want you, Ty. All of you. Now shove that fucking monster in my hole, for fuck’s sake.”

“Oh, no… Not like this. I want you to look at me while I fuck you.”

He flipped me over and crawled up on top of me as he pulled my legs back behind my head. My ass was presented to him, and he winked as he rested my legs over his ample shoulders. He reached down and guided his cock to my hole, and slowly pushed it against me. He spit on his shaft and swiped it up and down my crack.

“I like you like this. Of course, I also like you when my cock was down your throat. Maybe it was because you couldn’t talk for once,” he chuckled.

“Will you please just fuck me?” I laughed loudly.

He pressed his large helmet against my hole. Our eyes locked.

Pain? There was no other word for it as his girth split my hole open with just an inch of him. His cock stretched me further than I had ever been in my entire life, and the warmth that coursed through my body covered me like a blanket as he pressed down on his shaft and another inch slid slowly into me.

“I’m being nice here. But remember, you asked for this.”

“I’d beg, but I can barely breathe.”

“You’re still talking, so… breathing.”

“Shut up.”

“You talk so sweetly.” Another inch slid in, and I threw my head as far back as I could and winced. I already felt so full of him that I could bust. My cock throbbed as he rubbed against my prostate. He was so fucking thick that I wasn’t sure I would be able to stop myself from coming once he really started to fuck me. “Fuck! You’re so fucking thick.”

“I’m barely in, bro. You want more?”

“Please… Just do it.”

“You want me to just do it, huh?”

“Stop talking and fucking fuck me.”

I screamed loudly as he pushed his cock down my hole until his pubes rested against my cheeks. “That’s almost all of it.”

“Stop… just… stay there for a minute. Fuck that is huge.”

He slowly ground himself into me. His thick cock pushed against my walls and stretched my hole as his sword stuck deep into my guts. “Any better?”

“It’s fucking fantastic. So fucking thick and hard, I…” I threw my head to the side and moaned. I reached up and felt his abs.

He slowly pulled out and then shoved it back in. I felt like a fucking car, and he was checking my oil from this position. But the cameras could see every inch of him inside me. But this wasn’t comfortable for either of us. This was just the beginning – the dumb show for the people who needed to see the entrance.

He spent a few minutes slowly fucking me this way. Preparing me for what I knew was going to come.

“Enough of this. Fuck me!” I was begging for it, and I knew Monty wouldn’t be happy about that. But I couldn’t help myself. It was Ty and me here on the bed, and his cock was so fucking deep inside me that all I wanted was to give myself completely over to him as he abused my hole in the only way he could. The way I had wanted him to since first meeting him.

He pulled out and wiggled his thick meat over my ass before letting my legs slide down his side. “Flip over.”

I quickly did as I was told, and he pulled me back to the edge of the bed. He stood up and pressed his cock into my hole once again – shoving it all the way with one thrust as he grabbed me by the hips. I threw my head back and howled with pain and pleasure as his cock slid so deeply into me – my hole clenched onto his girth, and I let myself go.

The fantasy of him – of someone who would fuck me the way I had always dreamed – rough and mean, yet caring, was overtaking all of my better judgment as I gave myself entirely to the moment of Ty and me here on this bed.

He reached up, and his hands grabbed me by the neck as he pummeled his cock into me forcefully. The fan sites called him the caveman or the Prince of Cats. But when he fucked – the first was correct. He grunted as he destroyed my hole, and I loved every second of it now that the pain had subsided and left only pleasure in its wake.

In and out, his cock slid into me with the force of a nuclear bomb. Slow and cruel and then fast and mean as he took what he wanted and dug deep into me with his shaft. My head swam with thoughts of him and me away from this. No Monty and Cappie, no other sex workers vying for attention – just us living a life together that was filled with moments like this. Moments that altered reality and possessed me with a fortitude that I deserved this, and it was ok to want it with every fiber of my being.

“Oh, fuck… yes, Ty. Fuck me… uh…” I begged. My moans became loud and needful as his hands tightened around my neck, and he pulled me back. I gasped as I arched my back, and he turned my head to the side as his lips found mine.

Fucker. This was my move.

He kissed me deeply as he pummeled me – pistoning into me with the force of a jackhammer. Not nice and easy, but hard and cruel – and I loved it. It was exactly what I had dreamed of, wished for, begged for, and now it was happening, and I couldn’t think. His tongue rubbed against mine as he left his cock buried deep inside me and rotated his hips. I moaned into the kiss, and he chuckled as he nipped at my bottom lip.

“You could totally ruin my rep, Merc. Fuck you’re so tight, baby.”

“You called me baby.”

“I like you better when you're not talking and moaning because my dick is making you stupid.”

“That it surely is.”

He grabbed me by my arms and pulled me back. I felt his hips bump into me, and he left his dick buried there. I arched forward, knowing what it was he wanted and what I desired. He held me there, suspended in the air, as I leaned forward and my ass pushed hard against his crotch.

“Ready.”

“More than I’ve ever been.”

Holy hell broke loose. How could anyone ever move their hips so fast as he slammed into me over and over – every inch of him was a gift. So fast and hard for what felt like forever, he fucked me until I couldn’t think. I had come completely undone as he held me in place. My muscles had stopped working, and my head fell limp as my body vibrated with the power of him.

I laughed as I imagined trying to walk after this. My cock throbbed and pulsed as my prostate gave into his assault, and waves of energy coursed through my body. Cum burst from my cock without even touching it, and I painted the sheets with my heavy load. I couldn’t control my moans, and I let them burst free as Ty took me to places I had never been before. A paradise only meant for the two of us. I pushed my ass back against him as much as I could so he could get as deep as I needed.

I was worth nothing at this point. I was just a hole for him, and I knew I was spent. How did they ever expect me to be able to take this and to fuck him, too? It was impossible, and Monty would be mad. Fuck Monty. I had no control, and I pushed the thoughts of Monty aside as Ty slowed his assault down.

“I’m… God, Merc, you are so fucking tight, I… I can't hold back.”

“Mouth?” I managed. I wanted every drop of this stud, and I never wanted anyone else to have it ever again. I wanted to belong to him and for him to belong to me.

He pulled out of my ass and let go of my hands. I fell face-first into the mattress. My knees shook as I turned over, and my hole ached for more of him. He looked like a golden fucking god as his green eyes locked onto mine once again. I opened my mouth, and he slid onto the bed and stroked his cock above me. Rivulets of cum spurt forth as it splashed across my face. I reached up and grabbed his base and sucked it into my mouth as he pushed it gently in, and I swallowed every drop. I sucked on it as he moaned and chuckled and pulled it free from my hungry mouth. He bent down and kissed me gently – then needfully.

My body throbbed and shuddered as I lay there.

“Can you walk?”

“You might have to carry me.”

“And cut!” Harry yelled. “Thirty-seven minutes, boys. Good job.”

“Here are your robes.” I heard someone say, but I didn’t look at them. The only person in this room was Ty.

“Do you want the fucking robe?”

“No.”

“Want some help getting up?”

“Yes.”

“Merc!” Monty yelled. “You were supposed to fuck him.”

“You try telling that to my body. There was no way, man. I couldn’t stop it.”

“This isn’t what we agreed to.” Monty fumed.

“Here we go!” Cappie yelled.

“Wanna get out of here and let the old men fight?” Ty placed one last kiss on my lips. No cameras were rolling. What did that mean?

“Yes, please.”

Ty and his still rock-hard cock helped me off the bed, and my knees wobbled. “Damn, you…”

“I promised, didn’t I?”

“Promise fulfilled.”

He put his arm around me and led me back to the dressing room. Our cocks slapped against our bodies as he slowly guided me.

“Well, we did it. I hope you…”

“Enjoyed it? Yeah, I definitely did.” I moaned at the memory of how he made me feel. I wanted to get used to that.

He shut the door and grabbed a towel. “You’re really tight. How long has it been?”

“What? Since a fucking monster fucked me? Uh… never. You are definitely the biggest I have ever had.”

He grinned and turned away from me.

We could hear Cappie and Monty’s voices screaming somewhere on the soundstage but could barely make out the words.

“I could get used to that.”

“Yeah, me too, you greedy little fucker.” Ty turned towards me.

I leaned up against the wall as my body found enough strength to regain some control.

He dropped his towel and strode over. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He took me tightly in his arms and pressed his lips to mine once again, and I gave myself over to his hungry kiss. This one was different – this one was just for us.

“I thought you didn’t kiss?” I managed to say after he slowly pulled back.

“I guess I do you. And if I’m already going to hell…” He kissed me again, and I swear my fucking leg popped. He was so hungry and angry – or passionate. With Ty, it was hard to tell. But I gave myself into it.

“Damn…”

I couldn’t stop the grin from showing how happy that made me.

I was lost, and if I wasn’t careful, he could destroy me.

11

Ty

Iopened the door, and Jules flew into my arms. “Jesus Christ, Ty! That was… We watched it downstairs on the television.”

“Oh, God…” I groaned. It was a seventy-five-inch, four-K screen. “I need to shower.”

“Greg said you were just showing off.” He laughed happily as if he had no cares in the world. I knew that was a lie.

“I wasn’t… It was weird as fuck.” I shook my head to try to get my brain working again. I kissed him, and I liked it. I had kissed him a lot.

“Sam said it looked like you were in love. I mean, you kissed him right away.” Jules gasped. “People lost their fucking minds.”

“I have to shower. I reek.”

“You did get very sweaty as you were fucking him. It was a total workout.”

“Can we talk about this later?” I headed upstairs. “Have you been waiting by the door?”

Jules followed me up: “You know it. It was seriously insane. He was putty, and you could see how much he was enjoying it—you, I mean. How much he was enjoying you.”

“It was fun,” I managed.

I walked into my room and started to shut the door, but Jules pushed it open and strode in. “What? I'm not stopping you from showering. We can chat while you clean the stink of love off your body.”

“Fucking isn’t love.”

“The way you look, and banter with him is. Jesus, Ty!” he said, exasperated, and I knew that I was in for it. When Jules got something in his fucking craw, it wouldn’t go away.

“Fine.” I pulled off my shirt and threw it onto the floor. “You won’t take no for an answer.”

He reached out and pulled me into a hug. “God, you are sweaty. It’s ok, Ty. Because you won’t listen to what your own heart is trying to tell you. I know you too well, hon. You’re probably a mess.”

“A stinky mess.”

He let go and looked at me sternly. “That’s’ not what I mean, and you know it.”

I slid my pants off and kicked them away. “He’s… I don’t know, ok. Yes, he’s fun, and I like him. Is that what you want to hear?” I sat down naked on my bed and felt all of my muscles tense as I thought about him. The way his body felt against my fingers was different than it ever had been. I liked intimately touching him, and that just… I groaned loudly.

“Is it what I want to hear? Yes, and no… I want you to be truthful to yourself and stop hiding behind all the walls you’ve built to protect your heart. You feel it. I know you do. It was there on your face as you stared into his eyes. The way you kissed him made my knees weak.”

“What does any of it mean, Jules?” I hung my head and took a deep breath. It was silly, but I could still smell him on my body. I liked it too much. What kind of anything could we ever have? We were sex workers who were trapped in the lives we lived. “How can we ever have something real? We aren’t the masters of our own destinies. Look what you're going through, babe. How can we ever give ourselves to anyone when this is our fucking life. We have Cappie’s property tattooed on our asses.”

“Metaphorically speaking, of course.” He looked at me affronted. “I would never have that tattoo.”

He walked over and slid his arm around my waist. I slumped against his thin frame.

“I’m just fucked up. As soon as I kissed him… I… I knew it. I wanted something more.” I sniffled and could feel the emotions I had denied threatening to burst like a fucking dam.

“Tell me.”

“He makes me laugh.”

“And…”

“He’s fun to talk to, and he’s fucking beautiful, so that doesn’t hurt.”

“And…”

“Fucking him was something different than anything I have ever felt before. It was meaningful or some kind of shit like that. I don’t know. He… he felt like he was made just for me, you know. That our pieces fit together in some way.” It was true. We were two peas in a pod, and I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him ever since we first spoke without fighting. He was different and kind. Funny and stupid. Beautiful and hard, yet soft on the inside.

“This wasn’t the first time that you felt that way with him, was it?”

“No. It’s been coming. Every time I see the fucker, he gets deeper into my skin,” I admitted.

“Is that a bad thing?” He stroked my hair, and I swallowed back the fear that had been overwhelming me. I knew it wouldn’t stay away. It was always there like a shroud.

“Yes. He scares me, ok? What I feel scares me.”

“Good. It should. It’s a major life event for you to even allow this.”

“I'm not fucking frigid, Jules,” I scoffed.

“I never said you were. But you push your deepest feelings down, boo. You have ever since I met you.”

“I’ve had a lot of fucking trauma,” I wiped at my eyes and sat up from where I had been crushing my best friend.

“You can’t dwell in the past, Ty.” He reached up and wiped at my eye gently. “That’s then, and I know how hard it was for you. But you have to let yourself heal and move on. It’s… life only gives you so many chances.”

“How many have we already squandered?” I was afraid of the answer.

“Time will tell. I’m not squandering my chance now, and I don’t want you to, either. The past is the past, and it’s not something that you can change. But the here and now, the future… It’s all unwritten and waiting for you to begin. All you have to do is start.”

“You sound a lot wiser than you look or normally sound.”

“See what allowing yourself to feel love can accomplish. I’ve turned into fucking Einstein.”

I chuckled. “That’s physics, not… Sure.”

“So, you’re scared. Wah! Don’t be a fucking baby about it. Be scared, but allow yourself to experience it. Jump in and revel in the mess that it creates.”

I slowly stood up and turned to him. “How can I ever be anything to anyone if I give pieces of myself away to strangers all the time? How can I fulfill a relationship when all I do is fulfill other people’s needs? I see some of the other boys in different studios accomplish this, but they’re not working for their fucking uncle. They’re not locked into contracts that keep us fed and well off enough that we don’t have to worry about money. We have a place to live and a… Well, a semi-sort of family that all looks after each other. Those other boys live different lives than us.”

“Who cares? That’s their life, not yours.”

“I’m tired of being a cock for sale, Jules. I… When Uncle Cap asked me to come and live with him after I turned eighteen, I had all these hopes, you know… All he wanted was to use me for my looks and my cock. My nanny, Esperanza, just let me go with him, and all she said was that I should mind him. She knew, and she didn’t even think to warn me. She cared for me so little that she let me be bought and sold for eight and a half inches of flesh.” My voice rose, and I realized who I had been mad at all this time. It was every adult who had let me down. My parents, my nanny, and my fucking uncle.

“It sounds like you want to escape as much as I do.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I don’t think I like it here anymore. I have never really liked my life. I just tried to make the best of it, I guess. Use what God gave me and help others feel fulfilled – that’s how Cappie put it to me. But I'm tired of fulfilling other people and feeling empty myself.”

“You want more. And Merc?”

“Would he go with me? I… I’m scared to ask.” I felt naked and alone, standing there in my truth. But sweet Jules stood up and came over to me and took me in his arms.

“I think all you have to do is ask,” he whispered. “The way he looked at you – that is the look of someone who is deeply in love, Ty. Trust me. But what would we do if we left? Cappie would never let us go, and you know it. That’s what you said, and I’m scared. I can’t live like this anymore.”

“We can try, Jules. I’ll go with you. I’ll tell Merc how I… I’ll ask if he wants to come, too. Maybe the four of us have a chance if we keep a low profile. I know that would be hard for you.” My mind started spinning as I tried to think of a way out. It felt desperate and needful, and I clung to my emotions. I had hope. I wanted to have hope, no matter what I had said about it in the past. It was all I had left.

“I’d shave my hair and wear black if that would help. I want to be with Roam, and I don’t care what I have to do to escape. I’ve lived in the limelight, and now I think I want something simpler. You know? Maybe be a house husband while Roam works construction. I can bake pies.”

“But can Roam use a hammer? Cappie will come after us. We make him too much money for him to ever let us go.”

“Death might be better than this.” He looked so forlorn. But I knew in my heart that he was right.

“Yes.” I nodded.

The stupidest look I had ever seen flew across Jules’ face as if he had just had an idea to smack him on the head like in a cartoon. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

“I think I have a plan, Ty. You’re not going to like it.”

“What?”

“We have to die. It’s our only way out. I would rather never breathe or feel again than be Paris’ toy.” It was so serious that it scared me. My body went instantly cold.

“That’s fucking dark.”

“It is the only way out.”

In my heart, I knew he was right. I had to kill Ty if I wanted out of the life I led.

12

Merc

“Are we really doing this?” When they told me this plan, my instinct was to laugh in their face. It was insane. But after Jules explained it, I thought it was even more insane. But Ty insisted that it was the only way out for any of us. He was so serious and heartfelt that I instantly agreed. He had asked me to escape with him out of this life. I was fortune's fool. And I realized as I listened to them that Monty would never let me go. He knew everything about me. There could be no escape.

“Yes,” Jules snapped as he placed the camera. “Are you sure he’s coming?”

“Ben never disappoints us,” Roam answered quickly. Besides Merc, he’s the person I trust most.”

“Most?” Jules glanced over at him.

“Besides you, babe.”

“That’s better.” His grin lit up his face. “This angle will be perfect. It will show everything.”

“I can’t believe that it’s come to this.” Ty looked shaken. “But it has, hasn’t it? I didn’t think I would ever look forward to death. But I can’t wait for it to be over.”

“We should have had In N Out one more time. I’m gonna miss their milkshakes,” Roam sighed.

“That’s what you wish for?” I laughed. “Your priorities are as always weird as fuck.”

A soft knock on the door made us all jump out of our skin. Roam ran over and slid the door open.

“Where the fuck did you find this place? I was scared for my life when the taxi dropped me off.” Ben looked shaken as he walked into the small, cramped room that we had found vacant after a few hours of looking around downtown. “Is this a drug den or something?”

“Something,” I muttered. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’d do anything for you guys. I even have an alibi. I bought a ticket to a show and gave it to someone who looked enough like me to pass. He was excited. So, I have three hours before I need to be back there, just in case. I’m just really sad about it. Are you sure this is…”

“Yes, Ben. We’re sure. It’s the only way for us. I just wish that you’d join us.”

“No fucking way. I don’t want to die, bro. I like who I am and what I do right now. And I appreciate you telling me everything that you have. But with the two of you gone, I’ll be Cappie’s biggest star. I’m ok with that for now. I have my own path to walk and my own plans for the future.” Ben was always steady in the course he charted for himself. I hope he got that degree he wanted.

“I’ll miss you most of all, Scarecrow,” I said sadly.

“With every beat of my heart.” Ben reached up and cupped my face in his palm.

“So, what do I have to do?” Ben looked at all of us. We looked beaten down and scared. We were.

“You have to make sure that this phone is turned off and destroyed as soon as the video is finished posting. We only have one chance at this. We can’t risk it looking like it was altered in any way. But this phone can never be found. Understand?” Damn, Jules could be scary.

“Hopefully, the things that we tell you before we begin can help the rest of you. Maybe it can stop the fucking bartering of people like we’re goods and not human. Their lawyers will fight, but the studios will probably fall. You will know when it’s time to get out. When you do – leave quickly.” Roam ordered.

I looked around at all of these people and almost burst into tears. But Ty walked over and took my hand in his. “We should start before I lose my fucking nerve.”

“Are we sure that this will work?” I looked around, scared.

“No. But Jules said we should go epic, and this was the best I could figure out. Roam is actually really good with this stuff.” Ty kissed me on the cheek. “Remember Ben, it has to look like Roam was able to turn the camera off, and no matter what – you can’t be seen or heard, got it?”

“Crystal. Holy fuck… I’m freaking out, and I’m not even doing it.” Ben turned to me, white as a ghost.

I think the color had drained out of all of our faces. This was the end. I'm not even sure how I got here except for the fact that I met a boy I liked too much. No. Not liked. I had fallen head over heels for him. I was in love enough to die with him. At this point, I should admit that.

“Let’s begin. Remember the order of things. We’re gonna give them one more show.” Jules walked over and placed two wooden chairs in front of the camera. He grabbed me by the hand and led me over to one of them. I sat down next to him. Roam stood behind Jules, and Ty stood behind me. “Oh, shit! Clothes!”

We all stood up, took our clothes off, and carefully threw them on the chair we had placed off-camera before returning to our positions.

Jules stood up, walked to the camera, and turned to look at us. “Ready? No mistakes.” He pushed the red button and walked back to the chair. He reached over and grabbed my hand. He was shaking.

Roam and Ty placed their hands on our shoulders.

“My name is Jules. At least that’s what Cappie called me when he hired me at Cappie’s Boys. Ty is here too, as are two of the guys from Monty’s Boys – Merc and Roam. We are live streaming tonight to tell you about the truth of the studios and why we are doing what we are about to do.”

Jules raised his voice. “These two studios are heavily invested with the mob and many of our city's most illustrious politicians, including the mayor and the police chief. Each of us has had to have sex with these men in order for Cappie and Monty to keep their businesses running. They are all in each other's pocket, and recently, we have discovered that they are not the only things bought and sold.”

“I was told that I was to become the property of a man who invested a lot of money in Cappie’s studio. For him to stay happy, Cappie willingly signed me over to him like I was a sublet on an apartment. I was told to keep him happy and to do whatever he said, however he said. He wanted me, and I was sold to him. It was in our contracts for the studio that this was within the rights of Cappie.”

“Monty has the same stipulation in his contracts,” Roam added. “I couldn’t believe it when I actually read the twenty-seven-page document. I should have done that before I signed it.”

“There was no way out for me.” Jules looked back at us. “For any of us. So, it has come down to this. It’s the only way to escape – because they would never let us go.”

I cleared my throat. “Being a sex worker is not the issue here. Many people choose this line of work and are content with their lives. This is not to shame them or say anything about the world’s oldest profession. It is noble, and the people who do it usually do it with the best of intentions. Money, fame, or to pay their bills. That’s why most of us get into this business. But some do it because they love it. That was once me.”

“I loved it for a while. I felt like I was on top of the world for a few years. The studio, and we are only talking about the two studios that we worked for, treated us like we were possessions and nothing else. We were rented by the hour. That wasn’t by our own choice – it was a part of the contracts that we signed, and yes, we signed them. We were young and had no lawyers on our side.” Roam sounded so angry that he made me proud. “We also barely saw any of that money that we earned.”

“I came from a home that threw me out when I was only seventeen. I struggled and turned tricks to survive on the street, hoping I would have enough to pay for a hostel and a meal every night.” Jules teared up. “Eventually, Cappie found me.”

“I came from a home that also didn’t love me,” I nodded. It hurt to say this out loud. But I needed to. “I ran away when I was told that I had to go to a conversion camp. I chose something else. I was lucky that I found a home as quickly as I did. I loved what I did, too. But here, lately, it has become something else—a burden. But I did find a family of others like me. People who were also looking for something. Together, we created a family.”

“My parents died when I was quite young, and the courts gave me to my only family,” Ty’s deep voice came out slowly. The sadness he felt was palpable. “Cappie of Cappie’s Boys is my uncle. I never saw him when I was young. I just knew he existed, but I was raised by a woman that he paid, and as soon as I turned eighteen, I was told to sign the contract. I had something that he wanted – my cock and my face. I turned my first trick the very next day. I had only been eighteen a week before I understood my place in what I thought was the only family I had.”

“I came to Los Angeles seeking fame and fortune as an actor,” Roam began his story. “I had very little talent, but I could do one thing very well. I would go into an audition and get a call a day or two later from the casting department or the director himself to meet them somewhere private. I discovered that the talent I actually had was not something that would ever put me on the silver screen. I could fuck really well. Monty offered me a position after a referral from one of his Hollywood friends. I moved in the next day and became a star. Until the depression hit, and I began wanting something more.”

“Not all studios treat their models like Cappie and Monty. Most of them, according to the people we’ve met at the Grabby’s, work for companies on the up and up. They seem happy and well-adjusted and know why they do what they do – to entertain and get the paycheck that comes with it. We get paid a stipend. Cappie keeps the rest of our money in what he calls our savings accounts. I have never known anyone to ever be able to cash out.” Ty finished.

“We all woke up and looked around and realized that we were miserable. This is our last film. It should probably have trigger warnings, but we don’t want to spoil the end.” Jules frowned. “Shall we one last time?”

“With all my heart.” Roam kissed the top of his head.

“Ty? You wanna do this again?”

“You have no idea how much,” he bent my head back and kissed me. I moaned into him.

“The last scene we will ever film. This one is just for us. Make sure to save it and make sure to spread the truths we have told.”

Jules and I stood up and moved to the side of the chair. This was to be no frills and down and dirty. We bent over and rested our hands on the hard seat. Ty and Roam moved around behind us, and Ty picked up the bottle of lube and poured some on his cock before passing it to Roam, who did the same. They stroked themselves and used their slick fingers to lube our asses.

“I love you, Jules,” Roam said quietly.

“I love you too, Merc.” Those words coming from Ty’s lips were not what I expected to hear. I wanted to turn around and throw myself in his arms. But our beds had been made, and we knew what we needed to do to escape the life we wanted behind us. My throat closed, and I gasped for air. It was happening.

I glanced behind the chair where my end lay waiting for me. But now, it was my actual end that made me groan as Ty’s lubed-up fingers pushed their way inside. I ground myself against his hand and felt a second finger enter me.

I glanced up, and Jules’ eyes rolled back in his head with pleasure. Roam smirked at me as he prepared his new love for what was to come.

Who knew that death could be pleasurable?

Ty bent over me and kissed my neck, sucking on my skin, and I knew that he was marking me. I would happily be his if that was what he wanted – if we could have a future. I felt the tip of his cock at the entrance to my hole, and he slowly pushed it in past my ring and deep into my body. I moaned with every inch he inserted and arched my back with pleasure.

Jules looked like a Greek god as he pushed himself back against Roam’s very hard cock. His solid seven inches were thick like Ty’s, but when Roam fucked you – you thought he loved you. Ty was a madman.

But he wasn’t. He slowly pulled all the way out and then gently inserted himself again. He bent back down, wrapped his hands around my neck, and pulled my head back. His mouth met mine, and he kissed me deeply – he did love me. There was no other reason for it. I knew it in my heart, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I guess I was. The life I had known was coming to an end that no one would ever forget.

He filled me with himself so deeply that I couldn’t stop myself. I thrust my ass backward and started riding his cock. He understood what I wanted and stood there with his hips thrust into me as I pleasured myself with his massive tool.

What did he say about porn star fucks? He didn’t remember the last time that he had ever just fucked someone because he could? Something like that. I wanted to give that to him. I ground myself against him and felt his pubes tickle my cheeks. I reached back and grabbed my cheeks and pulled them open so he could get as deep as I needed, as he wanted into me. I desired every inch of him, every moment with him. This was all that we had left of us, and I relished it.

I could feel the sweat from his body fall onto me. I could still taste it from our earlier scene as it fell into my mouth—tangy and salty like the rest of him.

Jules moaned so loudly that I looked up. If this were a scene for our studios, we would be kissing right now, but this was not that. This was just for us – a final reminder to the world that we were people too and not just an object of lust for them to talk about, ridicule, and judge.

I glanced over at Roam. He had shut his eyes and laid his pipe deeply into Jules as he ran his fingers up and down his spine. Jules arched his back and rolled his head as Roam’s cock buried itself as deep as he could go. He had arched his back, too. He knew what the fans wanted, and he would always give it.

Ty was different, though. He wasn’t fucking me with his usual caveman approach. He was gentle and thought of my pleasure instead of his. Earlier, I had loved being used by him. But now, this was even more beautiful. This was intimacy.

I glanced over at the camera and could see our gentle, sweet Ben crying behind it as he stifled his sobs with his tears. He knew what this meant. We would never see each other again. It wouldn’t be possible.

“Fuck,” I moaned as I rode Ty’s cock. He had given into the pleasure and was slowly thrusting back at me, thrust for thrust as if we were dueling once again out in the street. This time, instead of fists, he was beating my insides, and I loved it. I would gladly be his bruise.

I loved him. There were no other words for it. I would follow him off this cliff or any cliff, and all he would have to do is take my hand, and I’d happily jump with him. I was jumping with him now.

“Shit… You are even tighter now, babe. I… I think I do love you, Merc. Please forgive me.” He begged as he thrust faster into me.

Roam had picked up his pace, and his face had turned red from the exertion. He was really giving it to Jules now, who was grasping at the chair to stay on his feet. Roam seemed to have that effect on people.

Ty was fucking stabbing me to death with his cock, and I would happily die on his sword any day. Gone was the notion of love, and back was the caveman who was having his way with my hole. He howled as he thrust into me, and he and Roam reached over and grasped hands as they fucked us. They used their leverage to fuck us harder and faster, and I was barely able to stay on my feet. Jules had collapsed to his forearms, and his moans told me how deep his pleasure was.

Once again, I came all over the chair that I was holding onto from the force of Ty’s cock on my prostate. Jules also spurt cum all over the place, and a dash of it hit me on my arm. We both reached down and picked up the instruments that we had hidden and held them in our hands.

Ty and Roam both howled as they came into our asses. He had asked, and I told him that it was what I wanted. Jules loved it as much as I did. It was with Ty and Roam. We both needed it, and their load filled us with warmth as we both raised ourselves up and plunged the knife into our stomachs. Blood spurted forth, and we collapsed over the chairs, gasping in pain.

Ty and Roam both grabbed the knives from our hands and stepped towards the camera. As Roam reached out to stop the filming, they brought the knives up to their throats and slit them. The light on the camera went dead, and I watched the blood pool as we left the world we knew behind.

It was over.

13

Ty

“That is going to give me fucking nightmares!” Ben shouted as he made sure the filming had stopped and the video was uploaded.

We pulled ourselves off of the blood-soaked ground, and Jules ran over to grab the towels he had hidden behind the camera. His footprints left a trail behind him.

“I would hug you, Ben, but…” Merc looked down at my blood-soaked torso in horror. It was sticky and was totally grossing him out. “Is it done?”

Ben turned the camera so we could see and nodded. His eyes were still filled with tears. We weren’t dead – not really – but for all intents and purposes, to the world, we were. It had to be that way. It was the only way that we could get out. They had to believe the drama of our lie. Roam had done a great job with the knives and blood. It looked so natural and was so quick – hopefully, the world would believe that we were free.

“I really want that towel,” I stood there unhappily. “This is fucking disgusting.”

Jule brought them over and looked at the phone. “Great. Turn the phone off, Ben. Wipe it down with the alcohol swabs behind you, and when you get back to Hollywood, destroy it. Make sure that it is in pieces, and the sim card is broken in half. Got it?”

“Yeah…” He nodded and turned the phone off. We watched the screen go black.

“You should go. We have to… get out of here as fast as we can, too. Goodbye, Ben. I do hope one day it will be safe for us to see each other again.” Merc looked at his best friend sadly, and it broke my heart.

“When I choose to get out, Merc. I’ll find you. I hope you are all happy.” Ben turned and walked to the door and paused right before he opened it. “You were family, you know. I love you.” He opened the door and shut it behind him.

“God, this does not want to come off,” I hissed.

“Use the towels to get as much off as you can and then the wet naps. Jules bought a bunch. This stuff can stain a little.” Roam kicked a package over to us.

“Well, it’s over. I guess we’ll know if it worked or not.” Merc looked lost as he stood there staring at the door.

“When? How will we know?” Jules asked quickly. “I’m freaking the fuck out.”

“If they believe it. If they don’t come after us.” I glanced around at the people who had become the only friends I had and frowned. “Not until them, I guess.”

“Will we be running forever?” Merc turned to me. “I guess we will.”

“What’s the point? They either believe what they saw, or their guys find us. I’m just going to live my life and let the chips fall where they may. We’ll know what happens in the next few weeks, I guess. But no matter what – we can’t go back and look at that video. No links to that from any of us, understand? You never know who’s watching or searching.” I scrubbed my torso hard.

“Yes, I understand.” Roam nodded.

“What now?” Merc stared at me and started scrubbing harder at his stomach. The blood was smeared, and his frustration was evident.

“This is working a lot better,” I laughed as I wiped the remaining blood off my chest with the wet naps. “I’m almost clean.”

“Hurry, we don’t know how much time we have. They’ll try to find us – our bodies – to see if it’s real. This place can’t be found.” Jules started scrubbing the floor where our blood had trickled down. “We should destroy these chairs too. That red shit has soaked into them.

“The phone is gone. We should be ok,” Roam said quickly before bending down and helping Jules clean the syrup off the floor as best he could.

“Never trust technology.” Merc grinned all of a sudden.

“Are we clean enough?” Jules didn’t even look up from his task. He was scrubbing the shit out of the floors.

We all nodded. I think we were still in shock.

“Come here, Merc,” I held out my hand, and he took it. “Let me help.” I bent down and used the wet naps to clean the rest of the mess off of him. I did my best to get it out of his groomed pubes and cock where some had dribbled. “That’s better. We’ll get the rest of it off when we shower.”

“When’s that gonna be?” He looked down at me, and I rose up from my kneeling position and wrapped my arms around him.

“It’s gonna be ok. Trust me, Merc.”

“I… Ok.” He sighed.

“The floor is clean. Roam, you need to destroy the chairs and break them up into as small pieces as you can. Everyone, throw your towels and wet naps in this trash bag. We’ll drop it off somewhere far away.”

Roam and I demolished the chairs and put all the wooden shards in one of the large industrial trash bags that Jules had brought. When everything was as clean as it could get, we left that nasty room behind us and walked out onto the empty downtown street.

“Keep the hats on for a while, and remember to change your appearance for a bit. We can’t have people saying that they saw us. So, there are no gay clubs. Got it?” Jules glances around, and Roam popped the trunk open in the old car he had bought. “We’ll throw that shit away when we get to Arizona. Here.” Jules handed me a cell phone. “Here’s your burner. No text messages for now. But call me when you get to wherever you decide to go, ok?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

We glanced over at Roam and Merc hugging and waited for them to finish talking. They turned and glanced over at us. Roam patted Merc on the back and walked over to us.

“Take care of him,” Roam whispered to me.

“I plan on it.”

“I guess this is it.” Jules wiped at his eyes.

“Wait. I couldn’t do much because if I robbed Cappie’s safe completely, he would know. But I did take a small stipend for each of us.” I handed them the envelope I had kept hidden. It contained a hundred thousand dollars. “It will help get you settled until you find jobs or whatever.”

“I love you even more now. We emptied our bank accounts, too, and closed them down, as we all agreed. We’ll be fine.” Jules smiled sadly. “Talk soon?”

“Always.” I nodded.

“See you both in another life,” Roam opened his car door. The two of them got in and waved as they drove away into the night.

“What now?” Merc whispered.

“We leave in my very beat-up but beautiful Honda and get the fuck out of here.” I shrugged.

“I’m going with you?” Merc looked confused. “I mean, I know I was riding with you, but am I going with you?”

“Do you want to?” I smirked. I knew we would have to have this conversation, but I had hoped it would be after we both showered.

“Do you want me to?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes, I think I do.”

“I wish you knew.” He frowned.

“I… Tell me why you want to go with me, and I will tell you why I want you to. Deal?”

“My real name is Mercy. Did you know that? It’s just as stupid of a name as the one I chose for Monty. But it’s mine. I guess I can’t really use it. But Mercy is still alive – just lost to his family. I think I’d like you to be my new family. You make me feel something that no one ever has, Ty – complete in a way I’ve never been before. And… come on, the sex with you is… When you were inside me it felt like you were made just for me, you know? You may be a hot, smug bastard, but I’m totally into it.”

“I think I love you,” I shrugged. “Whatever love is… I am pretty fucking sure that right now, it is all about you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” I chuckled. “I guess I am Richard Gere and…”

“No, that would be me.” He crossed his arms and grinned at me.

“I am not Julia Roberts.”

“Well, I actually have the trust fund that I cashed out, so… I think that makes me Richard Gere.”

“What?” I was flabbergasted. Merc had a trust fund?

“My grandparents left me a trust fund that my parents couldn’t touch. I… I never had to do this, Ty. When I left home, I didn’t have to come to Monty’s. I told you that I did it because I wanted to. That was true. But it wasn’t out of necessity. I was bored and horny, I guess.” He shrugged.

“You were a bored rich kid? Holy shit.” I cackled. It actually made total sense when I thought about it.

“I needed to find out who I was, and I think I did. I found you.” He reached out and took my hand in his.

“God, I am Julia Roberts.” I groaned.

“But Julia Roberts as a top, I guess.”

“Wasn’t she always?” I cocked my eyebrow.

“I think I love you too, by the way.” I bent down and kissed him chastely on the lips.

“You wanna get out of here? The faster we get to wherever we go means I can stick my cock in you again.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

I took him in my arms and held him tightly. “I like kissing you.”

“I like you.”

Our mouths found each other, and I pushed my tongue gently against his. His smell made my head swirl with possibilities. Was this truly love? Only time would tell. But for now, there wasn’t anyone that I wanted to be with more than him – whatever new name he chose. We broke apart and walked over to the car I had just bought from a back alley.

“I think Richard would be a good name. I could call you Dick.” I laughed as I opened the door.

“Oh, I think you’re much more of a dick than I am.”

“Get in the fucking car. I think we have a future to find.”

We got into the car, and I started the engine.

“Where are we going?”

“Anywhere we want.”

I reached over and took his hand. For once, I believed we might actually have a future.

We never looked back.

The End

MORE BOOKS BY SHANE K MORTON

Shadowing My Dreams (Haunted Hearts)

https://mybook.to/ShadowingMyDreams

Everyone deserves a happy ever after – or a happy ever afterlife!

Jack died for less than a minute.

Now, he can hear the whisperings of the dead.

Jack- I wouldn’t recommend getting hit by a car and dying to my worst enemy. Talk about throwing a damper on my social life! I was just swiping through my dating app when, to my great surprise, I learned that I was not living alone in this house.

Whispering in my ear, bad dreams and shadows that walked through my walls made me question my very sanity. Was this thing always here, or did it follow me home? I loved my house – but to live here I was going to need help!

Archie- I’ve been using my psychic abilities to help people in West Hollywood for the last few years. It pays the bills, even if most people treat me like I’m insane because I can talk to spirits.

Then I met Jack. He has a ghost problem, and he’s also super, incredibly hot, and I can’t stop thinking about him.

The ghost in his house is angry and so sad that it breaks my heart. Now, we have to figure out why.

Can I help the ghost find his missing lover or will all be lost?

And more importantly, will Jack ever ask me out?

Haunted Hearts is an Own-Voices Paranormal Romance Series about love and the things go boo in the night. Join us on our romantic journeys over 10 books from some of your favorite authors! Be sure to read the entire series so you don’t miss a moment of falling in love, or sometimes falling into a happily ever after-life! Each book is a standalone but why not read them all? Everyone deserves the HEA!

ABOUT SHANE K MORTON

Shane lives in Studio City with his husband and their fur babies, Bette Davis and Dick Grayson. His novels include: The Trouble With Off-Campus Housing, Private Waterloos, The Year of the Cock, Fault Lines, the Drag Queen Detective Series, Bluegrass Boys Series, and The Point Pleasant Holiday Series. His Dark Romance books, written under Sean Azinsalt, include: It’s In My Blood, Bound, Dark Eros and Spindle. When not writing, Shane can usually be found at a film festival or performing cabaret in a dark dive bar.

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