Vancouver Nights

Vancouver Nights

Also by Hank Edwards Fluffers, Inc A Carnal Cruise

Vancouver Nights P A Charlie Heggensford Adventure A Novel

Hank Edwards

Lethe Press Maple Shade NJ

Copyright © 2010 Hank Edwards. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanicals, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author.

Published by Lethe Press 118 Heritage Ave, Maple Shade, NJ 08052 www.lethepressbooks.com [email protected]

Book Design by Toby Johnson Cover by Fred Sczykutowicz. 978-1-59021-111-3 / 1-59021-111-1

For Cheri, The most elegant, stylish, vivacious vixen I know: here’s to many more years of divine insanity.

Contents Ken’s Biggest Fan

9

A Rim with a View

23

A Real Doll

39

Oh, Canada!

51

Canadian Critters

59

Pin Action

71

Triple Play

89

Uncut Above the Rest

103

Plumber’s Helper

115

Comfort Food

129

Jock of All Trades

141

Bottoms Up

157

Charlie Strikes Out

171

Champagne Enemas and Chug-a-lug Dreams

183

Slick Willie

201

Shit Happens

213

Hunky Brewster

227

Fly Away, Homo

241

CHAPTER ONE

Ken’s Biggest Fan

T

he rough bristle of Rock’s two-day beard scratched the edge of Charlie’s jaw. Goose bumps rose on his arms as Charlie closed his eyes and sighed. A moment later Rock’s soft lips covered his own. The man’s tongue poked at his teeth. Parting his lips, Charlie admitted Rock’s tongue and sucked on it, groaning up into his lover’s mouth. A shiver skimmed along his spine and Charlie felt a little dizzy. Rock Harding. He was kissing and touching Rock Harding, a porn star lusted after by thousands. And Rock was here with him, plain old Charlie Heggensford from a dairy farm in Idaho. He had lusted after Rock for a year, able only to suck the man’s cock in a business-like manner, if that were at all possible, as he fluffed Rock on movie sets. Now, he had him in his bed. Charlie ran his hands over the muscles in Rock’s back, feeling them move beneath his fingers with each shift of position. Rock’s erection ground against Charlie’s and the porn star’s fingers stroked his face and combed through his hair as his tongue did a slow waltz through Charlie’s mouth, brushing up against his teeth and wrapping like a python around 9

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his own tongue. Pulling back, Rock raised his head and opened his eyes to look down at him. “God, I’ve missed you.” Lust deepened Rock’s voice as his brown eyes moved, taking in the details of Charlie’s face. “You have no idea how often I wanted to come home to you. I hated being in Europe without you.” “I missed you, too,” Charlie said and pulled him back down for a deep, wet kiss. Charlie rolled them over so he sat astride Rock’s hips, bent at the waist to maintain their kiss. Rock had been on tour in The Netherlands for so long, ever since they had stepped off the gangway of the cruise ship that had brought them together. And now Rock was home, back in L.A.. Charlie inched his mouth down along Rock’s whiskered chin, kissing and licking the salty skin beneath the beard. He suckled lightly at the hollow of Rock’s throat and placed his palms on the man’s hairy chest, feeling the vibrations of Rock’s moans. Sliding his tongue down through Rock’s chest hair, Charlie nibbled and sucked at each nipple. The round, dark skin hardened into points of arousal beneath his mouth and, with a final lick on each one, Charlie left Rock’s chest and eased lower. The tip of Charlie’s tongue rode the ridges of Rock’s muscular abdomen, leaving behind a thin trail of saliva. His tongue parted the trimmed dark hair that covered Rock’s belly and slowly circled the oval of his navel. “Oh, God, Charlie,” Rock sighed and raised his head as Charlie quickly dipped his tongue into the warm, shallow cave. “That feels so good.” Charlie reached down and wrapped his fingers around the thick, pulsing length of Rock’s erection. It bucked in his palm and he smiled as he moved his mouth away from Rock’s navel and down to the dark patch of his pubic hair. Charlie planted a kiss in the wiry bush of hair and inhaled, breathing in the musky smell of sweat mingled with the light citrus scent Rock always wore. He loved the smell of Rock’s body. With a slow pump of his hand, Charlie raised Rock’s nine-inch cock and looked at the red, engorged length of it. He had missed this fat, powerful cock the last two months. The slit in the smooth, heart-shaped

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head glistened with pre-come and Charlie touched the tip of his tongue to it. The taste of the salty fluid exploded in his mouth and he could not hold back any longer. He parted his lips and took in the entire length of Rock’s dick. Charlie and Rock groaned simultaneously as the wide head bumped and skimmed along the roof of his mouth to nestle in the back of his throat. Charlie closed his eyes and sucked gently on the man’s entire length. He moved his fingers down between Rock’s muscular thighs and clasped his smooth, heavy balls. As he pulled the tightening sack away from Rock’s groin, Charlie pressed his lips together and pulled back, dragging his mouth up the veined surface of Rock’s prick. “Oh fuck,” Rock said. “I’ve missed your hot mouth.” Charlie retreated along the shaft until his lips bumped the ridge around the head of Rock’s cock then lowered his mouth again, once more taking it all into his throat. He paused with his nose buried in Rock’s pubic hair before sucking the man, slowly at first then more urgently. With his right hand Charlie grasped the base of Rock’s dick and pumped the shaft in time with his sucking. In his other hand, Charlie held Rock’s balls, feeling them pull up against his groin in preparation for his orgasm and he quickened the pace of his sucking. He wanted to taste Rock’s come as his cock spurted in his mouth, wanted to feel the sticky fluid spill out over his lips and drip down his chin. He closed his eyes and moved his mouth and fist even faster. “Oh fuck!” Rock grunted. “I’m coming, Charlie! Oh yeah. Suck that fuckin’ juice right out of me. Yeah, suck me dry. Fuck!” The sharp taste of semen filled his mouth and the smell of Rock’s come burned into his sinuses. Charlie felt the thick fluid bubble out from between his lips and dribble down his chin and his own orgasm rushed up and out of him. He climaxed without touching himself, the taste and smell of come pushing him over the edge as it had a way of doing. He blew his wad across Rock’s muscular thigh, the thick white liquid dripping through the hair to pool on the man’s tan skin. Charlie raised his head and opened his eyes, giving Rock a come smeared smile as a sharp beeping sound pierced the air beside him.

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Charlie frowned and turned his head, wincing as he looked for the source of the irritating sound. He rolled his head back and forth on the pillow, static building in his hair as he slowly opened his eyes, moaning when bright sunlight seared his sleepy eyes and blinded him. He rolled over on the futon and flailed his hand on the floor until he connected with his alarm clock and silenced the beeping. With a sigh he rolled onto his back, winced at the sunlight that hit him in the face once again then moved into the shadows as he tried to gather his thoughts. The sheet covering his crotch felt sticky and he raised his head to peer down at himself. A thick wet spot had blossomed over his fading erection and Charlie groaned. A wet dream. Good God, how long had it been since he had had one of those? At least ten years? He sighed and closed his eyes. Another dream about Rock. It had been two months since Charlie had last seen the man, disembarking with him from the cruise ship Dominatrix. Since that time he had talked to Rock once on the phone for five minutes over a static ridden international phone line and received several postcards. Charlie had to give the man credit, even though Rock was now an internationally recognized gay porn star, for the last eight weeks he really had tried to keep in touch. Charlie enjoyed the cards and phone call, but he really just wanted Rock to come back to L.A. so they could start being together. They’d only had a few days together on the cruise ship before Rock’s agent Barty had whisked him off overseas. Charlie wanted to hold Rock, kiss him, listen to his travel tales and then stay up all night fucking and sucking. And then? Charlie sighed and shook his head. He’d let the future take care of itself. He just wanted Rock to come back home. Charlie glanced down at the clock and groaned: 8:10 a.m. He usually did not get up until nine thirty or ten, why had he set his alarm so early? Closing his eyes Charlie tried to recall the reason he needed to get up so early. Work out? No, he did that in the evenings. He rolled over and squinted through one eye at the jumble of items on his desk. A folded piece of paper caught his attention and a jolt of panic brought him upright in bed. An address was written on the folded paper where Kinitia had asked him to meet her at 8:30 this morning. He must have snoozed his

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alarm several times without waking up and now had only 20 minutes to get ready and ride the bus to the rendezvous point. After a quick shower Charlie hopped around his apartment with wet hair hanging in his face, pulling on socks and underwear. He left his shirt hanging out of his jeans, grabbed his shoes, and ran out the door and down four floors to the bus stop. Thirty minutes later Charlie stumbled off the bus and double-checked the address he had almost forgotten to grab as he had dashed out of his apartment. He walked along the sidewalk, looking in store windows and avoiding the homeless people begging for money before he finally located the address. He shaded his eyes with a hand and peered at the house standing before him, set back a few yards from the sidewalk. A large, Victorian style home, it might have been attractive back in, say, 1910. Paint peeled from every exterior surface and weeds had overtaken the fenced in front yard and wraparound porch. A for sale sign stood by the fence, creaking eerily as it swung in the ocean breeze. As he stood before the old house Charlie had flashbacks to every cheap horror movie he had seen on late night cable TV. Turning, he looked up and down the street for Kinitia’s car but saw nothing. Was this some kind of joke? Had he written the address down incorrectly? A red VW Beetle purred up to the curb and Charlie let out his breath. Finally, a face he recognized. Ken Carlton, senior member of the Fluffers, Inc. team and resurgent porn star, stepped out of the car and smiled. “Morning, Charlie!” “Hi there,” Charlie replied. “Did Kinitia ask you to meet her here too?” “Yeah, she did.” Ken looked up at the house, his voice dropping. “What the hell are we doing here?” “I don’t know,” Charlie whispered back. “But I’ll bet that people have died in that house.” “Why are we whispering?” Ken asked. “Because we don’t want to wake it up,” Charlie replied and turned to look at Ken. The man’s dark, wavy hair was attractively tousled from driving with the windows down and a light brown patch of chest hair poked out of the V of his open necked silk shirt. Ken’s blue eyes sparkled

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and his teeth gleamed in his tan face. They smiled at each other then jumped as a horn sounded behind them. Turning, the two men found Kinitia waving at them over the steering wheel of her car. “Well, she arrives,” Ken said. They approached Kinitia’s Camry as she picked through papers on the passenger seat and she tossed her extensions over her shoulder with a slick move of her head to smile up at them. “Good morning, gentlemen,” she said. “Glad you could make it.” “Not a problem, Kinitia,” Ken said and held the car door open for her as she stepped out. “What are we doing here? You’re not planning on murdering us, are you?” Kinitia laughed and patted his shoulder. “No, no. For that I would invite you drive to Vegas with me and bury you in the desert along the way.” She smiled at their uneasy expressions and breezed on with her explanation. “No, I’m looking to buy this place and wanted some other input.” “Buy it?” Ken repeated in surprise and looked back at the run down house. “For what? A tax write off?” “No. For our new office.” She raised her eyebrows and walked to the fence. “What?” Ken said and exchanged a worried look with Charlie before they followed her. “You want to move the office in … there?” Kinitia shrugged. “Maybe. I arranged to meet a realtor here for a tour.” She reached down and opened the gate to proceed into the yard and the two men followed her up the cracked and uneven walk. As Charlie passed the for sale sign he noticed it was faded and peeled almost as badly as the house and he wondered just how long the place had been on the market. They picked their way through the thick tangle of weeds, circling the house and peering in dirty windows. Kinitia simply smiled and shrugged as Charlie and Ken pointed out junk piled in the yard and mattresses and graffiti strewn throughout the rooms inside. A few minutes later, as they once again stood in the front yard looking up at the warped roof, a dented and bondo decorated El Camino chugged up to the curb. The sun on the windshield prevented them from seeing details, but Charlie could make out a short woman behind the wheel, her

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long, straight hair caressing her face as she turned her head back and forth, gathering items and stuffing them into some kind of briefcase. She struggled to close the flap on the briefcase then slid across the bench seat where she turned to place her feet on the passenger door and lay on her back out of sight. With a grunt audible from where they stood, the driver pushed the passenger door open, the hinges emitting a shriek that made all three of them cringe. The woman stepped onto the sidewalk and Charlie found himself looking at a small Asian woman, five feet tall if she was an inch, with long black hair, a smart navy blue skirted suit, and black frame glasses. The woman reached into the car and pulled her bulging briefcase out to drop it on the sidewalk then turned her back on the three onlookers and used both hands to push the car door shut, the hinges crying out once again. The woman straightened up, brushed the wrinkles from her navy suit, adjusted her glasses, then hefted the briefcase to her shoulder with a grunt and approached them with a brisk step. “Who in God’s name is that?” Ken asked. “That,” Kinitia replied with a smile, “is Ming Ho, my real estate agent.” Ming gave them a bright smile as she walked up to open the gate, which promptly fell out of her small hand and rattled to the ground. She stopped and glared down at the busted gate. Kinitia raised an eyebrow. “Hello, Ming. Will that be fixed?” “Oh yeah! Yeah, sure!” Ming called and leaned down to pick up the gate, dropping her briefcase in the process, which vomited out a pile of loose papers. Charlie and Ken moved quickly to help her gather the papers before the wind could carry them off as Ming leaned the gate in the space where it had once stood. She turned to thank them with a bright smile, then suddenly stopped. As she looked at Ken her eyes grew wide and Charlie thought the woman might have stopped breathing. “Ming?” Kinitia asked. “Are you all right?” Ming blinked and looked at her, then turned back to Ken, smiling as a blush spread across her face. “Ken Carlton! Oh my God! You Ken Carlton!” Ken grinned and blushed himself. “Um, yeah. I am.”

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“I love you!” Ming exclaimed. “You do movies. I have all your movies, every one! I have all your movies at home, all twenty-seven, even older ones not available anymore. When come out on DVD I buy those too. I think you the best. You hot, really hot. I like to watch you bang other men.” Ming curled her small hands into fists and held them out in front of her hips. She thrust her pelvis forward hard and fast, imitating Ken fucking the hell out of one of his co-stars. “Bang, bang, bang, like that. I like it when you bang them with your big dick, oh yeah. You really hot.” She turned to Kinitia. “He hot!” She turned back to Ken. “You get me wet every time I watch your big dick bang men’s asses. Yeah, you hot.” Kinitia cleared her throat. “Ming, this is Charlie Heggensford.” Charlie smiled as Ming turned to him. “You porn star too?” Ming asked. Ken snickered and Charlie shot him a dirty look. “Um, no. I’m a fluffer.” “Fluffer?” Ming repeated and shook her head so her fine, black hair swirled around her face. “What that?” Kinitia stepped forward. “I own a business called Fluffers, Inc. which supplies men and women to the adult movie studios to provide a specific service for the actors and actresses in the films. A fluffer is someone who keeps a star, usually a man, hard and ready to film his scenes between takes.” “Oh!” Ming smiled at Charlie. “You suck Ken’s cock when camera not on.” She nodded and looked back at Ken, asking in a low voice, “He good fluffer?” Ken laughed and nodded. “Oh yeah, Charlie’s one of the best.” Ming gave Charlie an assessing look. “You look kind of plain, but you got nice lips and cute face. You work out?” “Um, Ming?” Kinitia asked. “Can we see the house?” “Oh yeah, house! Sure, sure. Come on.” She shouldered her briefcase again and linked her arm through Ken’s as they made their way up the uneven pavement of the front walk. “So, you sign my video boxes for me if I bring to your work?” Ken nodded. “Yeah, sure. Bring them up to the office next time you’re around and I’ll be glad to sign them.”

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Ken stopped at the bottom of the steps and allowed Ming to proceed up the warped porch steps first. The woman placed a tiny black loafer on the porch boards and, with a loud crack of wood, her leg went straight through the rotted boards. “Oh, shit! I mean, shoot. Sorry. Careful here. That fixed, of course, if you buy. Sorry. Watch yourself. Oh, hmm, I seem to be stuck here.” Charlie and Ken helped Ming pull her leg out of the porch, the tiny woman giggling as Ken touched her thigh, and they proceeded carefully to the door where Ming stopped to check her suit pockets. After searching through each pocket twice as well as several places in her briefcase, Ming looked up with wide eyes. “Oh no, I think keys are back at office.” Kinitia rolled her eyes. “There’s no lock box?” “Kids break in so I took it down,” Ming explained. She thought a moment, then stepped off the porch and disappeared around the corner of the house. Kinitia, Ken, and Charlie looked at each other, shrugged, and then followed her. They found the realtor kneeling by a small basement window she had pushed open, her head and shoulders stuffed out of sight inside the frame. “Ming, that window is filthy, you’re going to ruin your suit,” Kinitia said patiently. “Let Ken or Charlie do it.” Ming pulled her head out and Charlie winced at the cobwebs caught in the woman’s shiny hair. He hated spiders and dark, creepy basements. He turned and caught Ken smiling at him. “I’m not crawling in there with this outfit on,” Ken said. Charlie assessed Ken’s silk shirt and dress slacks and sneered at him. “Fine, I’ll do it, you big pussy.” He got down on his knees at the window and peered into the darkness beyond. “Anyone living down there?” he asked Ming. “No, not anymore,” Ming said and waved for him to crawl in. “I chase them away last week. It okay.” Charlie let out his breath and started to turn so he could put his feet in first. “Not that way,” Ming said. “Go in head first and see where you going.” Charlie gave her a dubious look but she nodded vigorously at him. “It okay. Porn star Ken Carlton and I hold your ankles, lower you down

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slow. It okay.” She made circles in the air with her finger. “Turn around and go in head first. Yeah, like that.” Charlie slowly turned back around, took a breath, and then crawled head first in the window, Ming and Ken holding his ankles. Cobwebs brushed his face and he flinched, swiping at them and trying to clear a path through the thick, dusty strands. “Been a long time since I’ve held your ankles like this, Charlie,” Ken said. “Kind of turns me on.” Ming giggled and Charlie started to swing back and forth with the woman’s movements, trying desperately to steady himself with his hands on the grimy cinderblock wall before him. “Oh, you fuck him?” she asked Ken. “You bang his ass like in your movies?” “Oh yeah,” Ken replied and Charlie could picture his cocky grin. “I’ve banged the hell out of Charlie a few times.” “Oh,” Ming whispered. “That hot. Gay men sex really hot.” “Hey, hello!” Charlie called out as he tried to brace himself against the wall. “I’m hanging head first in a dark basement! Stop swinging me!” Ming adjusted her grip on his ankle and he managed to slow his swaying. “Thank you. Now lower me just a little bit further, I think there’s something down here I can land on.” As he started moving lower, Charlie felt his left leg slip out of Ming’s tiny hand and he dropped several inches before Ken was able to stop his descent. “Uh!” Charlie grunted. “Hey! Don’t you fuckin’ drop me down here!” “Oh! Sorry!” Ming said. “My bad.” “I can’t hold on much longer, Charlie,” Ken groaned. “You’re kind of heavy. I’m losing my grip!” “No!” Charlie cried as his foot slipped free of Ken’s grasp and he fell into the darkness. He landed in a bin of some kind, on top of soft, oddly shaped items. Cobwebs covered his face and head and he frantically tried to wipe them off. He grabbed one of the objects beneath him and lifted it, squinting through the cobwebs to make out what it was. In the dim light, he found he had grabbed a human hand, severed at the wrist, a white bone sticking out of the stump. He let out a high, shrill scream and tossed the hand away.

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“Charlie?” Kinitia called through the window. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?” Charlie screamed again as he picked up another severed hand and he tossed that one away as well. His eyes began to adjust to the darkness of the basement and he looked around with growing panic. He was in a large bin filled with human hands, hundreds of them, thousands. He screamed, a high, shrill sound, and scrambled out of the box, tossing hands right and left. His feet hit the basement floor and he turned to run right into a human skeleton hanging from the rafters, the grinning skull staring in his face. A spider crawled out of one of the eye sockets as Charlie sucked in his breath and screamed even higher than before. Outside the window he could hear Kinitia and Ken shouting at Ming to do something. “Go to steps!” Ming called to Charlie. “Go upstairs, unlock front door! Let us in!” Charlie darted around the skeleton only to find dozens more hanging behind it. He shrieked and batted his way through the swinging bones to the stairs where he ran up three at a time then through the dirty, trash-filled rooms to the front door. When he pulled it open Ming was standing right in front of him, blocking his escape, and he screamed again. Kinitia pushed them both inside as she and Ken rushed in and closed the door. “Charlie, what’s wrong? What’s happened?” Kinitia asked. “Bodies,” Charlie gasped, “in the basement …. severed hands … a box of hands ... skeletons … hanging.” “Skeletons?” Ken said and looked at Ming. “What the fuck is going on?” Ming smiled and waved at them reassuringly. “Okay, okay. I know what happen. Sorry, sorry. I forgot to warn you. Man who owned house before ran gag gift shop out of basement. Hands and skeletons are fake. Latex and plastic, that all. I should have said something, sorry. My bad.” Charlie looked at her with his mouth hanging open. “Yeah, I think you could have warned me I might be landing in a box full of hands and running through a maze of fuckin’ skeletons, don’t you? Jesus!” Charlie felt a cobweb touch his ear and shuddered as he pawed at his head. As Charlie brushed himself off the others looked around. The first floor held the kitchen, a large living room, dining room, full bathroom, and

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two bedrooms. Charlie joined them as they walked through the kitchen and carefully took the steps to the second floor, looking down over the banister at the entrance foyer and peering into the four bedrooms upstairs. Dust, dirty wallpaper, old mattresses, graffiti, and rodent droppings greeted them. Charlie and Ken screwed up their faces in distaste, but Kinitia was looking beyond the dirt and grime and seeing the house for what it could become. “Well?” Ming said when they had carefully descended the stairs once again. “What you think?” Kinitia looked at the trim and wainscoting then turned back to the realtor. “It’s intriguing. How much?” “Let me check.” Ming pulled a crumpled manila folder from the briefcase and found a price sheet that she handed over. Ken and Charlie peered over Kinitia’s shoulder and Charlie choked as he saw the figure. “That much?” he gasped. Kinitia smiled at Charlie, then looked back at Ming who stood watching them with a blank expression on her face. “Charlie does make a point, Ming. The for sale sign has been in front of this place for quite a while and there is a lot, a lot, of work to be done on it before the inspectors can even be brought in.” “Yeah,” Ming said. “Yeah, you right, I know. But fake hands and skeletons included in price.” Kinitia gave her a thin smile. “I don’t think so.” She wrote a figure on the price sheet and folded the paper in half before handing it back. “Take this offer back to the current owner and see what they say, okay?” Ming opened the paper and looked at the figure without expression. “I tell seller and let you know.” “Thanks so much,” Kinitia said. “It really does have a lot of character.” “Yeah,” Charlie grumbled. “That’s what they said about John Wayne Gacy.” Kinitia’s cell phone rang and she fished it out of her purse. “Yes? Oh, hello Bernice. I see. No, he’s here with me, I’ll let him know. What’s the address?” She wrote out an address on a notepad. “Yes, I remember that meeting now. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll be right there.” She dropped the phone back into her purse and handed the note to Charlie. “You’re

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needed on a set at this address. No one else is left in the office and I know Ken has some scenes to film today, so he can’t fluff, okay?” “Yeah, all right,” Charlie said and stuffed the address in his pocket. “Now, if you’ll excuse me everyone,” Kinitia said with a smile. “I have a business issue to deal with.” “It can’t be about me,” Charlie said. “I haven’t been at any sites yet today.” Kinitia reached out and patted his cheek. “Amazingly, Farm Boy, it doesn’t concern you.” She looked at Ken. “I’ll see you both back at the office later today. Ming, it was nice to see you again.” She shook the realtor’s hand, then walked out the front door. The three stood in awkward silence a moment before Charlie let out his breath and said, “All right then, I’m off. Got some cock to suck.” “Oh yeah?” Ming said, raising her eyebrows. “You think I could come watch? I always wanted to see gay men sex live in person.” “Well, they’re kind of picky about that sort of thing,” Charlie said as he imagined Ming running lose on a porn set and driving everyone crazy. “I don’t think they let just anyone in.” “I could be fluffer,” Ming said and dropped her briefcase on the floor then hiked up her skirt and knelt before Ken. “Unzip your pants, I show you. Let me suck your cock and make you hard, then you can bang plain blond boy here and I watch. Okay?” Ken took a step back from Ming’s voracious look and said, “Um, as much as that idea gets me oddly excited, I need to get to a set and I’m going to drop Charlie off on the way.” “You are?” Charlie said. “Yeah,” Ken replied, giving him a look. “Remember you asked me to give you a ride to the set when we talked on the phone?” “Hmm,” Charlie thought about it, then shook his head with a grin. “Not really, no.” “Well, you did.” Ken looked down at Ming. “So, it was nice to meet you. Glad you’re a fan. Bring the movies by the office sometime and I’ll sign them for you. Okay?” Ming got to her feet and brushed the dust from her knees. “Okay. But I think my idea lot more fun.”

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“Oh, it sounds fun to me, too,” Ken assured her as he guided Charlie to the door. “But Charlie and I are both running late. Nice to have met you. Bye!” They stepped out on the porch and Ken closed the door behind them as he let out his breath. “Man, is she a piece of work or what?” “Maybe she’s a crazy homeless person who convinced Kinitia she’s actually a realtor,” Charlie said. “I mean, she has all your movies. Come on, even you don’t have all your movies.” Charlie smirked and took a step forward, his foot catching in the hole left in the porch by Ming’s leg. He rolled out into the long, weed choked grass and lay on his back for a moment, staring up at the blue sky as Ken stood behind him and laughed. What a fucking day, and it wasn’t even ten a.m. yet.

CHAPTER TWO

A Rim with a View

W

hen Charlie arrived in the office the next day he could hear Kinitia in her office talking on the phone. Her voice was tight and stressed, louder than usual as it drifted down the hall to the front desk. Bernice sat at her usual place behind the raised front desk and when she saw him gave him a sweet, sad smile, like a friendly school secretary who knows the kid showing up before her is about to get his ass reamed out by the principal. Charlie leaned on the desk. “Is that about me, Bernice?” She opened her mouth, hesitated, then closed it and nodded. Her curly brown hair bounced around her wide, friendly face and her sympathetic eyes looked twice as big behind the lenses of her glasses. “I’m afraid so, honey.” “What’d I do now?” Charlie asked quietly. “I don’t remember doing anything stupid lately. I haven’t been on any of Cedric’s sets and I haven’t over-fluffed a guy in a month at least!” When he had first started working for Kinitia, Charlie tended to perform his duties with a little too much

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gusto, bringing to orgasm the men he was supposed to simply keep hard before they could be filmed fucking and having an orgasm. Before Bernice could reply they heard Kinitia slam the phone down in her office and both jumped. Charlie turned to dart out of the office but it was too late, Kinitia had appeared in her doorway and caught sight of him, her face stern and dark eyes cool. “Charlie!” she said, her voice stopping him in his tracks. “Oh, uh, hi there, Kinitia,” Charlie said nervously. “My, you’re looking lovely today.” Kinitia did not reply as she took a step back and waved for him to enter the office. With a glance toward Bernice, Charlie walked down the hall and stepped past Kinitia. She closed the door and rounded her desk to sit down with a heavy sigh, tossing her extensions over her shoulder and placing her red tipped fingers on her temples. Charlie waited a full minute in silence before bursting out, “I’m sorry, Kinitia. I really am. I didn’t mean to do it. It was an accident. I’ll apologize. Dock my pay, anything except firing me!” Kinitia held up a hand and he stopped speaking. She cocked her head, giving him a quizzical look. “Apologize for what?” Charlie blinked and shrugged. “Whatever it was I did. I’m assuming I fucked up on one of Cedric Wilmington’s sets or something.” Charlie sighed and slouched in the chair. Cedric Wilmington, the name alone made his stomach ache. Cedric was Rock Harding’s ex-lover, gay porn director extraordinaire, and the biggest prima donna bitch Charlie had ever met. Usually when Kinitia sat behind her desk rubbing her temples and collecting her thoughts before talking with him it was following a phone call from Cedric complaining about something Charlie had done to fuck up one of his shoots. “Well, that’s not the case this time,” Kinitia said. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly and closing her eyes. “Charlie, have you seen the news this morning?” Charlie looked down. “Um, no. I didn’t pay my cable bill and they shut off my service, but I’m going to pay it up in full next month and I’ll be able to be more informed after that. I promise.”

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Kinitia sighed. “Charlie, be quiet.” He snapped his mouth closed and she nodded. “Thank you. There’s an interesting report I’d like you to see. I had Bernice record it for me the second time it aired just to make sure I heard it right. Come with me.” Kinitia led him into the back waiting room where his friends Ken Carlton and Billy Ransom along with several other fluffers sat on sofas watching TV. When Charlie entered the room everyone turned to look at him and all conversation died, leaving a thick silence in its wake. “Uh, hi everyone,” Charlie said nervously. “What’s up, guys?” “Can you all give us a moment, please?” Kinitia said and the room cleared out in a flash. She waved Charlie to a sofa and sat beside him, then picked up a remote and aimed it at the cable box. She went through the DVR menu to select a news item at the top of the list. A TV news spot came on showing a handsome young male reporter standing outside a large, low building. Behind him a group of attractive, well-built men walked in a circle carrying signs and chanting something Charlie could not make out. The recording was queued up a short ways into his report. “… and no one seems to know for sure how long this strike will last, but it looks as if Bruised Knees Productions, one of the major producers of adult gay videos, will be ground to a halt from this latest development. Behind me you can see the picket line formed by the actors as they protest outside the main office of Bruised Knees Productions.” The reporter turned and the camera zoomed in on the line of muscular men. They carried picket signs and shouted, “Hell no, we won’t blow!” as they moved gracefully within their tight bike shorts and form fitted T-shirts and tank tops. Some of the signs read “Porn Stars Are People Too,” “We Don’t Get Paid, They Don’t Get Laid,” and “Porn Stars CAN Say NO!” The reporter flagged down one of the picketers and the man trotted over, his hair styled perfectly and his teeth gleaming white. “Oh,” the actor said with a smile. “Hi, Greg. How are you? Haven’t seen you in awhile.” The reporter blushed and cleared his throat. “Uh, I have with me one of the striking actors … I mean, um, picket line members. Can you tell me your name?”

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“Sure, Greg, it’s Rick, but you already knew that. How’d that carpet burn heal up?” Rick waved at the camera. “Hi, Mom!” “Tell me, if you will, Rick,” Greg went on, sweat popping out on his forehead as he desperately tried to save the interview. “Why are you picketing out here today?” “Well, Greg, as you know, the conditions we work under are horrible,” Rick said dramatically. “Low pay, drafty rooms and hot lights, no insurance, no consideration of which actor we might want to work with … it’s just awful. But before we organized the union for Gay Actors and Porn Purveyors, or GAPPY, there was nothing we could do about it here at Bruised Knees Productions.” “And, uh,” Greg stammered, “when was GAPPY officially formed?” “Interesting story,” Rick replied. “I was on a set complaining one day and one of the guys in the crew said, sort of casual like, ‘If you’re unhappy you should form a union and demand better work conditions.’ And I kind of looked at him and thought, ‘My God, he’s right,’ you know? And so, a few months later, here we are.” Rick looked at the camera. “And I’d just like to throw a big, wet kiss out to that special fluffer, Charlie. Thanks so much for the idea!” He pursed his lips and made several loud smacking sounds. Charlie sank down into the sofa as Kinitia pressed a button on the remote and the TV fell silent. Slowly turning his head, he raised his eyes to Kinitia’s stern face and swallowed the little spit left in his dry mouth. “I – I don’t remember saying anything like that,” Charlie said quietly. “I do remember I had been watching Norma Rae before going to a Bruised Knees set one day and thought it was a great coincidence one of the actors was talking about working conditions.” Kinitia shook her head. “Farm Boy… ” she broke off and closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the situation. “You are definitely going to be the death of me.” Before Charlie could respond Bernice’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Um, Kinitia? Sorry to interrupt, but there’s an important call waiting for you.”

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Kinitia took a breath and shook her head, the beads at the end of her extensions clicking quietly together. She cocked an eyebrow at him and asked, “You haven’t done anything else, have you?” Charlie shrugged and said quietly, “Not that I can remember.” She crossed the room and picked up the extension to begin talking quietly as Charlie sat and fought back tears. Why the hell did stupid shit like this keep happening to him? He wasn’t a bad person, how did he always seem to get mixed up in big, complicated messes? “Pssst!” someone hissed behind him. “Charlie!” He turned to see Ken Carlton and Billy Ransom leaning around the doorframe. “Did she fire you?” Billy asked. “He’s not fired yet, but you two are pretty damn close,” Kinitia snapped and Charlie watched their faces zip out of sight. Kinitia turned back to the phone and Charlie tuned out the sound of her voice. He felt overwhelmed and needed to regroup. He sat and tried to think about Rock Harding, but he was too miserable to even conjure up the man’s image. Instead, he stared at a picture of Ken in a jockstrap on the cover of a recent skin magazine. When Kinitia finally hung up, the sound of the phone hitting the cradle snapped him back to attention. Kinitia sat on the couch once again and gave him a tired look. “Farm Boy, I’m going to be honest. You are responsible for the majority of the irate calls I get from our clients.” Charlie opened his mouth to protest and she held up her finely manicured hand to stop him. “I’m not finished. Yes, you are responsible for most of the irate calls, but you have also helped me double the business since I hired you, which is important for a company supplying fluffers, what with Viagra and Cialis and those other drugs so popular. You are honest, outgoing, and personable. You won the Hummer award the first few months you were out here, and you inadvertently helped Rod Mandrake film an award-winning finale to his movie in the desert. You helped Theo capture international drug smugglers on our cruise to Acapulco…” Charlie smiled at the memory of Theo Riley whose stage name was Chantilly Lace. The man was an FBI agent by day, a drag queen by night, and underneath the dresses and badge he was hung like a horse. “. . . and everyone in the office loves you.”

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Charlie looked up at her, wondering where she was going with all this. “So I’m not fired?” Kinitia smiled and reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not fired. But I do think you need to take some time off. I know you’re missing Rock right now, and the situation with the strike is a little sensitive. I think you should take some time off, go on vacation.” “But I don’t have any vacation time left,” Charlie said. “I’ll give you the time,” Kinitia replied. “Go away for a while. Get your head together, and then come back refreshed and ready to go.” “Really?” “Really. We’ll manage without you here.” Charlie’s eyes widened. “Am I in danger because of the strike?” Execution style killings he saw on cable, at least when he had paid his bill, flashed through his mind. “Not in the way you might think.” Kinitia nodded at the phone. “But that was a friend of mine at Four on the Floor studios. It seems their actors have all banded together to join GAPPY and are on strike as well. It’s likely to spread to each of the studios and will affect our ability to find work.” Charlie gasped. “You’re not going to lose the company, are you?” Kinitia shook her head and smiled. “It will take more than some actor’s strike to put me out of business, Charlie. Not even Cedric Wilmington can shut me down, remember? He bought interest in this building and jacked up my rent, but we’re still here. We’ll be fine, trust me. Besides, this will give us a chance to work on the new offices.” Charlie frowned at her. “New offices? Oh! The house! They accepted your offer?” “We played a little bit of numbers tag, but yeah, they accepted my offer.” Kinitia shrugged. “Our lease here is up in two months and it will take us at least that long to get the new place even close to ready.” She smiled at him wearily. “You saw what it looks like.” Excited whispers could be heard outside the door and Kinitia rolled her eyes before calling, “Oh, for God’s sake. Just come in the damn room and hear it all first hand. Jesus!”

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Billy, Ken, Bernice and several other fluffers walked through the door looking simultaneously ashamed and excited. “I was trying to get them to move away from the door,” Ken said. “You’re lying!” Billy shot back. “It was your idea to stay and listen!” “Stop it, both of you!” Kinitia snapped and they shut up. “It looks like the other studios we do work for will also be joining the strike, so, Charlie is going on leave for a while and the rest of us will work on fixing up the new office.” Ken smiled. “They accepted your offer?” Kinitia nodded back. “Yes, and we have a lot of work to do to get the house ready before we can move in.” “Great,” Billy grumbled. “Just what I wanted to do. Become an honorary construction worker.” “Well, Billy,” Kinitia said, “you could always just take the time off unpaid.” Billy’s eyes widened. “I could look good in a tool belt.” “And help paint, repair dry wall, rewire rooms, weed the lawn, and clean the place up,” Kinitia said. “There’s enough work to go around for everyone, and you’ll still get paid.” Murmurs of both relief and persecution circulated through the room until Bernice clapped her hands and said with a megawatt smile, “Well, I am very excited to do whatever needs to get done to help move this great company into new quarters where we won’t have to worry about that nasty Cedric Wilmington jacking up the rent any longer.” She raised her eyebrows and gave Charlie a meaningful look. “Right?” Charlie nodded. “You got it, Bernice.” “What about Charlie?” Billy asked. “Why doesn’t he have to help fix up the new office?” “Charlie’s going out of town until this strike issue is figured out,” Kinitia said. “And only a few of us here will know his whereabouts.” “Oh yeah,” Billy mumbled. “That’s fair. He creates a labor disruption and gets to go on vacation.” “Billy…” Kinitia said with warning and he pouted. “Now, you all have your appointments to keep. Until all of the studios are officially on

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strike, we are still in business, got that? Good. Be careful out there and please report back here at the end of the day.” The fluffers wished Charlie good luck and filed out of the room, then Kinitia turned to him and said, “Think about where you’re going to go, Farm Boy, and let me know where you can be reached.” “Okay.” Charlie followed her down the hall to her office. “Kinitia?” She turned to look back at him. “Thanks. For everything.” “You’re welcome, Farm Boy. And be careful, okay?” Charlie went back to his apartment and climbed the stairs feeling at a loss. He had practically no money and now had to go on the lam. How the hell was he going to manage this? He had just enough in his checking account to cover his rent for this month and the next, but little money left over for travel expenses. He entered his small studio apartment and sat on the sill of his window, leaning out to see the tiny slice of ocean visible to him between buildings across the street. He was contemplating where he would spend his time off when there was a knock on his door. He peered through the peephole to find a hot young man with dark, tousled hair, small round glasses, and a square jaw standing in the hallway wearing mechanic’s coveralls. Charlie opened the door with a smile. “Hi there, can I help you?” “Charlie Heggensford?” the man asked. Charlie swallowed nervously. What if this was some kind of hot, gay hit man sent by the studios? He had never considered that possibility. He closed the door a few inches and prepared himself in case he had to slam it shut. “Um, who’s asking?” The man reached into the deep pocket of his coveralls and Charlie’s eyes widened. Just as his arm was flexing to slam the door on what he expected to be a gun or a knife, the man pulled out a business card and handed it over, his face lighting up with a warm smile. “I’m Danny Rhinestone, escort for hire. I’ve been sent by Rock Harding as a gift. He wants you to know he misses you more every day and has asked me to give you something from him.” Charlie blushed and smiled as he took the card. Written on it was Danny’s name, the simple title of Escort, and on the back was a note that

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read: “Charlie, Since I can’t be there in person I hope Danny will help you relax. I miss you. Rock.” “Oh, wow,” Charlie said and fought back a tear. “Rock sent me a man.” “Better than flowers,” Danny said. “I wrote down what he said when he placed the order over the phone. Can I come in?” “Sorry, please do.” Charlie stepped back and Danny entered the apartment, looking around at the sparse furnishings. “Small, but comfortable.” Charlie shrugged. “Yeah, it’s not much, but it’s home.” Danny turned to him and unzipped his coveralls down to his crotch, exposing a firm, tan chest. A patch of dark hair grew in the shallow cleft of his pecs, forming a treasure trail that led down along his ripped stomach to disappear beneath the zipper. “Any plans for tonight?” Charlie smiled. “Not anymore.” Danny shrugged out of the coveralls and reached down to stroke his fattening cock. He had a compact, muscular body with a tanned dick about seven inches long, the cut, rounded head gleaming in the bright afternoon sunlight coming in the window behind him. He stepped out of the coveralls, his legs muscular and hairy. Charlie pulled off his T-shirt as he stepped forward and tripped over a tennis shoe he had left in the middle of the floor, stumbling toward Danny. The man caught him in his strong arms and pulled him close, the hard length of his dick pressing against Charlie’s thigh and encouraging his own cock to vault to life. “Woah there,” Danny said with a grin. “You okay?” “Just being my clumsy self,” Charlie said and flushed in embarrassment. “Sorry. You all right?” “I’m fine, just really horny,” Danny replied and reached down to tweak Charlie’s nipples. “Well, let me see what I can do about that,” Charlie said. He got up and finished undressing, then stood nude before Danny. The man looked Charlie’s body over with lust-filled eyes, slowly stroking his cock. Leaning forward, Danny kissed him hard on the mouth, his tongue

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pressing past Charlie’s teeth, then leaned back and turned his head to look out the window. “Hey, I can see the ocean from here. Nice view.” “Yeah, thanks.” Charlie leaned in and kissed him again. Danny broke the embrace and said, “Lay down on your back.” Charlie stretched out on the futon and watched as Danny stepped up on the mattress, turning his back and lowering his ass over Charlie’s face. “Dig in and eat my ass.” Charlie reached up to spread the man’s hairy ass cheeks wide and expose the pink button of his anus. He ran his tongue along the salty crack of Danny’s ass, then drilled the tip of it into the dark, musty confines of the hole. “Oh yeah,” Danny groaned. “Get that tongue up in me. Slide it in.” Danny adjusted his position over Charlie’s face, then reached down and lifted Charlie’s legs to lick and suck at the exposed anus. As Danny rimmed him, Charlie groaned into the damp valley of the man’s ass. “That feels really good,” Charlie said. Danny raised his head and sucked on the slowly tightening sack of Charlie’s shaved balls. He ran his tongue along the smooth, pink balls, tracing the raised seam of skin down the middle of the sack and further down to the hairy strip between Charlie’s balls and asshole where he paused to suck hard. Charlie groaned and lapped at Danny’s quivering hole, pulling the man’s ass cheeks further apart and forcing his tongue deep into him. Wetting his index finger with spit, Charlie slipped it up alongside his tongue and Danny groaned around his mouthful of Charlie’s balls. “Oh yeah,” Danny said, sitting up and bucking his hips slowly to rub his anus over Charlie’s stubbled chin. He reached down and took hold of the hard length of Charlie’s dick, stroking it slowly, tightening his fist and slapping the cock against Charlie’s firm, flat stomach. Leaning down once again, Danny sucked Charlie’s cock, deep throating him and running his tongue along the shaft. Hooking an arm around Charlie’s leg, Danny reached down and slipped a wet finger into Charlie’s hole, moving it in time with his mouth. Charlie slid another finger into the asshole above his face, then managed a third. Charlie raised both of his legs and Danny pulled the dick

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out of his mouth and pushed Charlie’s legs back further, raising his hips off the futon as he spread his cheeks and resumed rimming his ass. “Oh fuck,” Charlie groaned. “Get your tongue up there. Yeah, eat that ass.” He raised his head and ran his tongue around the wrinkled edges of Danny’s anus as his three fingers pulsed in and out of the reddened hole. Danny wet his fingers with spit and worked first one, two, and then three up inside Charlie’s ass. As Charlie pumped his fingers into Danny, the man in turn thrust just as deep into Charlie. They worked each others’ holes for a few minutes more until Danny pulled his fingers free and gave Charlie’s gaping anus a last, lingering lick before standing up beside the futon. “I want your cock in me,” Danny stated. “Get your lube and condoms.” Charlie rolled off the futon and got situated as Danny lay on his back with his hips at the edge of the futon. Charlie moved between Danny’s legs and lifted them to rest on his shoulders. He applied lube to his condomcovered cock and used his slick fingers to anoint Danny’s twitching anus. “Put it in me,” Danny groaned. “I want it all inside me.” Charlie leaned forward and felt the head of his seven and a half inch dick bump against Danny’s balls. He adjusted his stance and moved forward again so that his cock parted the pink lips of Danny’s hole and slid deep inside. Danny closed his eyes and groaned, his fingers digging into the sheets beneath him. “Oh fuck,” Charlie gasped. “That feels so good.” “Oh God,” Danny said. “Bury that fucking cock in my ass. Yeah, all the way in. Holy shit.” Charlie pressed deeper until his balls swung up and gently slapped the crack of Danny’s ass. Turning his head, Charlie kissed the hairy, muscular calf by his face and ran his hand over the muscles of the man’s stomach and chest. “Fuck me,” Danny said. “Fuck me deep.” Charlie slowly pulled his dick out and let it hover on the threshold of the widened sphincter that gasped and pulsed as if trying to suck the invading object back inside. With a firm thrust of his hips, Charlie plunged full length into the man and Danny grunted. Charlie steadied his feet and grabbed Danny’s ankles to lift his hips a bit more off the futon,

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then pumped in and out of his hole. He watched the shaft of his dick as he fucked the handsome escort, the lubricant glistening in the dying rays of sunlight from the open window beside him. “Oh fuck!” Danny said. “That’s so hot. Drill my ass, baby. Get it up in there. All the way in. Oh yeah.” Charlie plunged into Danny’s ass as deep as possible and paused. He pressed his groin tight against Danny’s cheeks and thighs and looked down at the hard length of the man’s cock where it lay spilling pre-come into the hair beneath his navel. With his dick fully embedded in Danny’s rectum, Charlie rotated his hips, shifting his cock in the tight, hot confines of the man’s ass. “Oh yeah,” Danny said through clenched teeth. He ran a hand through the hair of Charlie’s sweaty chest and belly. “Spin that cock inside me. Oh yeah, that’s so fuckin’ hot.” Charlie stopped rotating his hips and resumed pumping steadily, sinking his dick deep with each thrust. Sweat rolled down his body and his fingers pressed into the tight muscles of Danny’s calves. He felt the man’s rectal muscles tighten and release around his cock like a hot, wet fist and groaned. “Don’t come yet,” Danny said. “I want to fuck you.” “All right,” Charlie said and pulled slowly out of the warm cave of Danny’s ass. Reaching down, he peeled off the condom, then slipped three fingers deep into the man’s gaping red hole. “Oh fuck,” Danny gasped, surprised by the entry of Charlie’s fingers. “Don’t do that when I’m this close, man. I almost blew my load.” Charlie smiled and stepped back so that Danny could stand up. They kissed, tongues clashing inside their mouths, and then Charlie knelt to suck Danny’s cock. He gauged the dimensions of the dick as he took it in his mouth, relishing the salty taste of Danny’s pre-come. It jutted about seven inches from a thick patch of dark pubic hair, a pair of shaved balls hanging low beneath its shadow. Charlie fastened his lips on the red, swollen head and suckled gently. Another burst of pre-come filled his mouth and he lowered his mouth over the length of the dick, taking it completely into his throat. Danny groaned and placed the palms of his hands on the back of Charlie’s head.

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After several minutes of sucking, the escort pulled his cock from between Charlie’s lips and helped him to his feet. He instructed him to kneel on the futon and position his ass in the air. Charlie listened as Danny opened a fresh condom and rolled it on his throbbing prick, then felt a slick chill as the man lubricated his hole. “Ready?” Danny asked, placing his hands on Charlie’s hips. Charlie looked back over his shoulder with a grin. “More than you know.” The fat head of Danny’s dick pushed steadily past the furrowed pink opening of Charlie’s anus and into his rectum. He closed his eyes and relaxed his muscles to allow Danny the deepest access possible. The full length of the man’s hard-on gradually filled him and Charlie groaned and grunted until he felt the soft tickle of Danny’s pubic hair touching the hair on his ass. “Oh fuck, Charlie,” Danny moaned. “Your ass is so hot.” Danny pulled his hardened length out and plunged it in again. His hips found a steady pulse and he fucked Charlie, driving his cock deep and pulling it out completely with each thrust. Charlie’s forehead slid across the sheets and his fingers reached up to grab at the cotton as Danny pummeled his ass. “Oh fuck. That feels so good. Oh yeah, fuck that ass.” “Oh fuck,” Danny said. “I’m gonna come. I’m getting close.” “Shoot it inside me, baby,” Charlie said. Danny grunted as he planted his cock deep inside Charlie’s hole. His hips pumped slowly as he came into the condom. Gasping for breath, Danny fell forward over Charlie’s sweat-covered back and placed a gentle kiss on his spine. “Keep your dick in me while I come,” Charlie said. His cock still half hard, Danny slowly resumed humping his tender hole as Charlie stroked the shaft of his cock. His balls pulled up and his prostate tightened and, with a gasp, Charlie shot his load onto the sheets crusty from the previous day’s wet dream, the white semen standing out in stark contrast to the dark material of the sheets. Charlie groaned as Danny carefully pulled out.

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“That was great,” Danny said. He peeled the condom off his dick and wrapped it in a tissue. “God, I really needed that,” Charlie said and rolled onto his back. “Thanks a lot.” “You’re welcome,” the man replied. “Mind if I clean up in the bathroom?” Charlie tried to remember just how dirty his bathroom was, then shrugged. “Sure, go ahead.” Danny entered the bathroom and shut the door at the same moment the phone rang. Charlie considered ignoring it but decided it might be best to answer. It could be Kinitia, or maybe even Rock, calling to see if he had gotten his gift yet. Instead, it turned out to be Brent Harrington, a big bear of a porn actor who was also an old friend. Brent had once lived across the hall from Charlie and, Charlie had found out later, had been hired by Rock Harding to watch over him during the weeks he had been nominated for The Hummer award. Brent had kept Charlie from being drugged at an industry party and Charlie had gone on to win The Hummer award for best fluffer. Before Charlie had gone on the cruise to Mexico a few months ago Brent had bought a pet store and moved to Vancouver. “Brent! Hey there, what’s up?” “Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing,” Brent said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve talked.” “I’m doing okay,” Charlie sighed. “The usual crap.” “Uh oh,” Brent said with a chuckle, “that bad, huh?” “All right,” Charlie replied, “that’s enough. How’re things up in Vancouver, eh?” Brent laughed at Charlie’s attempt at a Canadian accent. “Doing well, doing well. The store is making money now and I’ve joined a gay bowling league, met some new people. I like this city. You should come up for a visit sometime, you’d love it here.” Charlie smiled at the thought of Brent, such a big, easy going guy, bowling and running a pet store. For some reason the image seemed to fit. The bathroom door opened and Danny stepped out, causing Charlie to jump; he had forgotten he had company. “Uh, hey Brent? Can I call you back in a bit?”

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“Uh oh,” Brent said. “Got company?” “Yeah. I’ll call you back.” Charlie hung up and smiled at Danny. “Hi there.” “Hi right back,” Danny said. He leaned down to kiss Charlie, then pulled on his coveralls. “I’m really sorry about this, but I’ve gotta run. I have another appointment later and I need to shower.” “Oh, okay,” Charlie said. “Thanks very much for the gift.” Charlie got up and fished around in his wallet, finding he only had a ten dollar bill. He held it out with a wince and said, “Sorry, it’s all I have for a tip.” “You know what,” Danny said with a smile, “keep it. I had a great time. And Rock included a good tip in my payment.” “Jeez, thanks Danny. I’ll definitely recommend you to my friends.” Charlie stepped up to give the man a soft kiss and a hug. Danny’s hands moved down to cup Charlie’s bare ass a moment before he turned and walked out the door. Charlie sat nude in the window for a bit and watched the people walking along the street below. After a time he picked up the phone and dialed Brent’s number in Canada. When the man picked up on the third ring Charlie could hear dogs barking and cats yowling in the background. “Canadian Critters,” Brent said. “Hey, bear man,” Charlie said, raising his voice to be heard over the background noise. “Does that invitation to visit still stand?”

CHAPTER THREE

A Real Doll

K

en Carlton turned his VW Beetle into the parking lot of a truck stop south of San Francisco and cut the engine as the sun edged over the roof of the low-slung building. Turning to look in the backseat he found Charlie and Billy sound asleep, Billy’s head resting on Charlie’s shoulder. Billy’s mouth gaped open to emit soft snores and drool dripped down onto Charlie’s shirt. Ken grinned and shook his head. He started to turn away when he caught sight of a second vehicle pulling into the lot behind him. It was an old El Camino, bondo standing out in patches along its sides. Upon seeing Ken’s VW parked close to the driveway, the driver of the El Camino frantically turned left, then right and disappeared behind a line of trucks in a effort to get out of sight. Ken sighed and shook his head as he turned in his seat and looked out the windshield. Ming Ho, Kinitia’s realtor, had been following him for days now. Every bar he went into, every store he stopped in he could almost count on seeing Ming out of the corner of his eye. It was beginning to worry him. Maybe now that they were in San Francisco, Ken could lure

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Ming into a bath house or something and wait until the small woman was distracted by gay sex then slip out the door. It would be worth a shot. With that plan of action decided, Ken reached out and pressed on the horn. Billy and Charlie jumped and sat up in the backseat, blinking in the bright morning light and looking around in confusion. “Oh, very funny, Ken,” Billy said as he wiped the back of his hand over his dry lips. “Nice guy.” “Jesus, Ken,” Charlie said through a yawn. “Trying to scare us to death?” “Hey, you guys got to sleep on the drive up here,” Ken replied, stepping out of the car. “It was the least I could do.” He stretched and yawned as several large trucks rumbled past. Billy and Charlie climbed out of the backseat and groaned as they stretched and shook the sleep from their legs. Billy walked on his toes across the wide asphalt lot, pulling the underwear out of his ass and rubbing his eyes. Several truckers blew their horns at him in appreciation and he waved and gave them a bright smile. Charlie and Ken exchanged a look as Ken pulled Charlie’s duffel bag from the trunk. “Does the show ever end?” Ken said. Charlie laughed and shook his head. “Apparently not even when he’s half asleep.” They followed Billy across the lot and into a restaurant set at the end of the gas station and convenience store. The smell of grease and frying meat slapped them in the face as they stepped through the door and a bone thin waitress approached them, her prominent jaw a blur of motion as she snapped a piece of gum. “Help ya?” asked the waitress. Her eyes traveled over the three of them, then came back to Ken’s face and she added with a nicotine-stained smile, “Handsome?” Billy rolled his eyes and looked around the woman’s bony shoulders, scanning the booths. He spotted the man they were meeting off in the back of the restaurant and gave him a wave before looking back to the waitress. “Never mind,” Billy said, eying a faded stain on the woman’s uniform, “we’re meeting someone.” Charlie and Ken followed him through the restaurant and stood awkwardly at the table as Billy slid into a booth and hugged a man who

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looked to be in his early forties with a shaved head and mustache. The man, Canyon Collingwood as Billy had told them the night before, was a truck driver with a route between San Francisco and Vancouver, Canada. Billy had met him at a bar several months ago and they had kept in touch. After hearing about Charlie’s plans to visit Brent in Vancouver, Billy had called Canyon’s cell phone and asked if he would mind a passenger on his next trip north. Canyon had agreed and Ken had offered to drive them to San Francisco where he and Billy would spend a few days cruising the bars and seeing the sites. Charlie was grateful as he could not even afford to buy a bus ticket to Vancouver. After he had hugged Billy for a moment, Canyon smiled up at Ken and Charlie and waved for them to sit down. They slid into the booth across from Billy and the trucker and shook hands with Canyon. He had a firm grip and soft, delicate hands. His arms were heavily muscled and Charlie could see the bottom of a tiger tattoo peeking out from beneath the rolled up sleeve of his white T-shirt. Canyon’s shaved head was tan, gleaming beneath the weak lights of the diner. A dark blond mustache spilled over the sides of his mouth and down to his chin. His blue eyes sparkled as he talked and a diamond stud glinted in his right ear. “How are you boys?” Canyon said. “Which of you is Charlie?” Charlie raised his hand. “I am, sir. I really appreciate the ride.” Canyon laughed. “We ain’t got there yet, Charlie. Don’t thank me till you step your saddle sore behind down from the truck, you know what I’m sayin’?” Charlie smiled and nodded. “Well, thanks all the same.” They talked for a bit longer, then Canyon suggested it was time to hit the road. Charlie, Ken, and Billy slid out of the booth and stepped aside to allow Canyon to precede them to the lot. The trucker laid money on the table and slid out himself, standing up and raising his head to smile at Charlie. The top of Canyon’s gleaming skull only came up to Charlie’s nipples and he blinked down at the trucker, trying not to look surprised. The man could not have been more than four and a half feet tall. Canyon caught the surprise on Charlie’s face and said with a smirk, “Don’t worry, cutie, everything else more than makes up for my height.”

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Charlie blushed. “Oh, I wasn’t… I don’t care if you’re… It doesn’t matter that you…” He gave up with a sigh. “I’m sorry.” Canyon laughed and put an arm around Charlie’s waist. “You’re okay, Charlie. Come on, I’ll show you my baby.” As they followed Canyon out of the diner Charlie shot Billy a murderous look. “Thanks a lot, Billy. You could have prepared me for that.” Billy looked at him with wide-eyed innocence. “What? That he shaves his head?” Canyon’s baby was a big diesel painted midnight blue and waxed to a glossy shine. A long silver trailer was attached at the back and Charlie asked what cargo Canyon would be hauling. “Cucumbers,” he said with a grin. “Maybe we can put a couple of ‘em to good use during the trip, huh?” He winked and Charlie couldn’t help but smile back. The trucker had an addictive charm. Charlie hugged Ken and Billy good-bye, made sure they had Brent’s number in Vancouver, and then climbed up into the cab. The seats were covered in imitation cowhide. A row of fringe hung around the entire roof of the cab, highlighted with tiny white lights. A dark curtain hung behind the front seats and blocked the back sleeping compartment from view. Canyon tossed Charlie’s duffel bag into the back from the driver’s side, then settled into his seat. “This is nice,” Charlie said as he buckled his seat belt. “Thanks,” Canyon replied. “Did ‘er up myself.” He buckled his own seat belt and got himself situated. Charlie tried not to stare as Canyon adjusted his feet on wooden blocks attached to the pedals to accommodate the shorter length of his legs. The man started the engine and the entire cab thrummed with power. Canyon shifted into gear and jerked out of the lot and onto the road, Charlie’s body bouncing so much he gripped the door handle and seat cushion for support. After they had hit the open road the ride evened out and Charlie found he enjoyed riding high up off the ground. He could see far ahead over the cars on the road before them and look down into the laps of the drivers they passed. He thought it was unfortunate that the weather

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had turned cooler and he did not see many men wearing shorts, and even fewer wearing less. They conversed easily for the first two hours and Charlie found Canyon to be an outgoing, interesting person. Then the man reached behind his seat and pulled out a CD case. He handed the case to Charlie and said, “Why don’t you choose a CD for us to listen to? We’re losing the last good radio station for a while and I ain’t got around to getting that satellite radio bullshit they got these days.” “Okay.” Charlie opened the case and flipped through the sleeves. Eight CDs gleamed up at him, all of them discs recorded by Laura Branigan. “Huh. Not much of a selection here.” He tried to sound amused but the truth of the matter was he was starting to feel scared. They were going to be on the road for two days and only had eight CDs to listen to? All by the same artist? “What are you talking about?” Canyon took the case back and flipped through it. “Well, shit. They’re not all here.” Charlie relaxed a bit until Canyon pressed a button on his CD player and grabbed the disc that poked out and slid it into a sleeve in the case. “Ah ha! Knew I had another one. Here you go.” He handed the case back to Charlie who reviewed the selections again with a heavy heart. The new disc turned out to be Laura Branigan’s Greatest Hits; he was doomed. With a sigh he slid the woman’s first album into the CD player and tried not to wince when Canyon cranked the volume up. The little man began singing the first song with gusto and Charlie slid down in his seat and closed his eyes. It was going to be a long drive. As the sun set on their first day on the road, Canyon pulled off into a diner truck stop and parked at the end of the lot. He waited for Laura Branigan to finish singing “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?” before shutting off the engine. Grinning at Charlie, he said, “I just can’t get enough of a good singer. Time to pee and then rest a bit. We’ll continue on in a few hours when there’s less traffic and I’ve caught a few winks.” Charlie smiled as Canyon opened the door and his head dropped out of sight below the seat. The little man strode off across the asphalt and Charlie got out to stretch his legs. He crossed to the bathroom, catching himself humming the words to “Gloria.”

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Charlie sighed as he peed, the pressure leaving his bladder and easing his discomfort. Canyon must have ducked into a stall for Charlie did not see him anywhere in the store, diner, or bathroom. He washed up and headed back to the truck. After climbing up into the cab he heard a giggle from behind the dark curtain and turned around to part the material; he had not yet had a chance to inspect the sleeping compartment of Canyon’s truck. Canyon lay smiling at him from a small sling hung from the roof of his cab. He was naked and a dim side light cast shadows over his muscular, hairy body. Charlie let his eyes roam over the ridges of muscle in the trucker’s stomach, arms, and legs and felt himself growing hard. A box of condoms, a tube of lubricant and a couple of dildos lay just beneath Canyon’s hairy ass. “So, Charlie,” Canyon said. “Care to come on back or would you rather stay up front and play “Solitaire”?” The trucker laughed at his play on Laura Branigan lyrics and Charlie smiled weakly. “I think I’ll come back there.” Charlie climbed back and inspected the set up of the sling as he got undressed. It hung a couple of feet off the surface of the mattress, just enough height for him to kneel and be able to reach Canyon’s asshole with his dick. Charlie leaned over Canyon and kissed him on the mouth, their tongues meeting and the man’s mustache brushing up against Charlie’s face. Charlie ground his erection down against Canyon’s hard, thick dick. “You’ve got a great body, Canyon,” Charlie said as he moved his mouth down to the man’s neck. “It may be little, but it keeps coming back for more,” Canyon said. “Oh that feels really good.” Charlie kissed his way down to Canyon’s nipples, both pierced, and he sucked and bit at the round brown nubs and silver rings. He twisted and tugged on the rings with his fingers and Canyon moaned. Moving lower, he ran his tongue along the ridges of Canyon’s abs to the shallow oval of his navel, feeling the rounded head of Canyon’s erection poke into the underside of his jaw. Charlie let his tongue dip into the sweaty indentation of Canyon’s navel and heard the trucker sigh.

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Reaching down to move aside Canyon’s rigid cock, Charlie ran his tongue through the man’s soft bush and finally came to rest at the base of his dick. It had to be eight inches long at least and was quite a beauty. Delicate veins coursed along its length and the pale skin glowed in the dim light of the compartment. Charlie ran his tongue slowly up the shaft to the wet, sticky head. “Wait,” Canyon breathed. “Don’t suck it yet.” “Okay,” Charlie said. “How come?” “I want to arrange them. Give me a second.” Charlie frowned. Arrange what? Moving his head, Charlie looked up along Canyon’s right side and saw that the trucker was fiddling with items on the mattress beneath him. Charlie squinted in the dimness of the compartment, and then his eyebrows went up as he identified the objects. Canyon had two anatomically correct male dolls by his right hand. They were each made of hard plastic and had been stripped of clothing. To each doll Canyon had attached a blunt plastic penis and tiny testicles. Holes had been drilled in each of the dolls to simulate a mouth and an asshole and it looked to Charlie as if each hole might accommodate the other doll’s plastic penis. A blond felt mustache had been hot glued around the mouth of the shorter of the dolls. “Uh…” Charlie said without realizing he was going to speak. “I like to recreate the sexual positions we try out,” Canyon said. He nodded down to the scene he had created beneath him. “See? I even have a small sling for them.” Charlie looked again and, sure enough, the doll with the mustache was lying in a small-scale sling made up of what looked like strips of leather and parts from an erector set. Canyon positioned the dolls to reflect in miniature what Charlie and he were about to do, and then reclined in the sling. His dick was a solid pole of flesh in Charlie’s hand, throbbing with energy. “Okay, now I’m ready,” Canyon said and winked. “Okay,” Charlie said and, a little unsure whether or not he wanted to continue the game, bent down to suck Canyon’s dick. As he took the hardon into his mouth, Charlie forgot about the sexual tableaux below them and lost himself in the action. Canyon’s cock fit snugly in his throat, the

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head nestled deep inside. Charlie reached down and tugged on Canyon’s balls, then slipped a finger further down to probe gently at the trucker’s shaved asshole. “Oh God,” Canyon groaned. “I love a man’s finger up my ass.” Charlie obliged the man’s request and slid his finger into Canyon up to the first knuckle. Canyon grunted and the swing shifted and a moment later Charlie heard the sharp snap of plastic limbs being adjusted. He raised his head and looked up to find that Canyon had moved the kneeling doll’s hand down to the sling doll’s asshole. He rolled his eyes and bent lower to lick Canyon’s smooth, pink hole. “Oh fuck, Charlie,” Canyon said. “Lick that asshole. Oh yeah.” Charlie found a more comfortable position and really set to work on Canyon’s anus. He ran his tongue around the wrinkled rim, then plunged it inside, leaving slick tracks of saliva behind as he worked on Canyon’s asshole. After sucking and licking at the opening Charlie brought his finger back up and stuck it in his mouth, wetting the length with spit before sliding it inside the man. “Oh fuck!” Canyon said. “Yeah, get that finger up my ass.” Charlie slipped another finger beside the first and Canyon continued to shout encouragement. Looking around, Charlie picked up a medium sized dildo and the lube. A moment later he pressed the rounded tip of the latex cock against Canyon’s anus and slowly slid it into him. “Oh my God,” Canyon gasped. “Use that fuckin’ dildo. That’s it, give it to me good.” More cracking and snapping of plastic joints as he repositioned the dolls and a tiny, plastic dildo came out of a zip top bag to be inserted in the Canyon doll’s asshole. Charlie pushed the dildo in as far as he could and eased it out, then began to move it faster. The sling swayed in time with Charlie’s thrusts and he watched a shining drop of pre-come drip down from the head of Canyon’s dick to pool in the hair of his belly. “Use the bigger one,” Canyon said and Charlie picked up a longer, thicker dildo. He lubed it up and slid it in as he pulled the medium dildo out. Applying a steady pressure to the wide base of the toy, Charlie eased the dildo into Canyon until the entire shaft was buried inside the man’s rectum.

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“That’s pretty fuckin’ hot, Canyon,” Charlie said. “Care to eat my ass while I fuck you with this dildo?” “Get that pretty ass up here,” Canyon replied in a deep voice. As Charlie got up to adjust his position, he again heard the rustle of fabric and snap of joints that signified a changing of the tiny plastic replicas. He lifted one leg over Canyon’s chest and lowered his ass to the trucker’s face. The soft, blond mustache brushed up against his shaved balls, then Canyon reached up to spread Charlie’s cheeks apart to lick and suck his hole. With one hand on the base of the dildo and the other gripping the base of Canyon’s cock, Charlie leaned down to suck the trucker’s dick. Pre-come filled his mouth and made his own dick jump. He tried to keep the rhythm of the dildo equal to that of his sucking and moved his hips in time so that his asshole rubbed back and forth against Canyon’s mustache and lips. The trucker reached around with one hand and took firm hold of Charlie’s cock to jerk him off. Before long Charlie heard Canyon grunt against his anus and seconds later a flood of semen shot into his mouth. The taste and odor of the spunk brought him to climax as well and he shot his load over Canyon’s hard, ripped torso. He raised his head and let the come dribble out of his mouth and onto Canyon’s dick, smearing it along the shaft with his fingers. As he crawled off Canyon, Charlie glanced down at the two dolls on the mattress, wondering if he would find tiny puddles of mayonnaise or yogurt splattered on them to simulate orgasm, but the dolls were clean and showed no evidence of reenacted come shots. He eased the dildo out of Canyon’s stretched hole and ran his fingers along the man’s smooth perineum. “Thanks, Charlie,” Canyon said with a smile. “That was great.” “My pleasure.” Charlie smiled back as he used a wet towelette to wipe up. “Think you can give it another go?” Canyon asked, his eyes wide and pleading. Charlie glanced down and found the man was already hard again. He raised his eyebrows and said, “My God, Canyon. You should be in porn.”

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“I’ve done a couple of movies,” Canyon said with a shrug. “But it got kind of weird, you know?” Charlie wondered how it could have gotten weirder than rearranging plastic dolls to imitate sexual positions, then decided he might not want to know. Instead he simply nodded in empathy and bent down to once again suck Canyon’s dick. “Feel like a go in the sling?” Canyon asked. Charlie raised his head and inspected the sling. “Am I too big for it?” He screwed up his face as the words left his mouth, embarrassed at having asked such a pointed question. Canyon laughed as he slid out of the sling. “I made it adjustable. See?” He moved a few leather straps and adjusted some chains then helped Charlie lie back across the leather webbing. He fastened Velcro bands around Charlie’s ankles before rearranging the dolls and moving them within his reach. Charlie watched with a skeptical eye while Canyon positioned the dolls just so but soon was lost in the intensity of Canyon’s blowjob. The man grabbed the base of his dick in his small, strong fist and began to suck on it furiously. Charlie gasped and groaned as Canyon focused first on the head, then the entire shaft and once more on the head. Before too long Charlie was once again fully aroused. Canyon gently massaged his asshole, his slim, delicate fingers stroking and relaxing the sphincter muscle. Charlie listened as Canyon moved the dolls around, and then moaned at the first slippery entry of the trucker’s finger as the man continued to suck on his dick. After getting three fingers inside him, Canyon raised his head from Charlie’s cock and said, “Want something a little bigger up there?” “Oh yeah,” Charlie replied. He watched as Canyon slipped a condom on his long, thick dick and squirted lube on the tip. As he spread the lubricant over the length of his cock, Canyon also reached down to move the dolls. Charlie turned his head and watched as Canyon moved the kneeling Canyon doll up and poked its tiny plastic dick into the sling bound Charlie doll’s ass. Charlie had to admit it was kind of a turn on to watch the process, even if it was in miniaturized plastic. Satisfied with his recreation of the events about to take place, Canyon shifted his focus to Charlie’s open and ready hole. He slipped a couple

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of lubed fingers inside him, then walked up closer on his knees and slid his cock home with a steady push. Charlie’s mouth dropped open and he let out a cry of pleasure as the entire length of Canyon’s long, hard dick filled him. When Canyon was completely embedded, he paused and leaned forward for a kiss. Then Canyon took hold of Charlie’s legs held up by the sling and began to move his hips, slowly at first but gaining speed with each thrust. The trucker’s abdominal muscles moved, clenching and releasing beneath the dark blond hair on his torso and his nipple rings bounced against his solid pecs. Charlie put his head back and rode Canyon’s dick, clenching and releasing his rectal muscles as the man penetrated him. “Oh, fuck yeah,” Canyon growled. “Tighten that ass. Oh, that’s nice. Yeah, bite down on that dick. Oh fuck!” Canyon reached down and pulled Charlie’s cock up against his solid, sweaty belly and rubbed his hand along its length. Charlie could feel the constriction and release of Canyon’s amazing abs, the muscles stroking one side of his dick as Canyon’s hand massaged the other. As Canyon pumped faster his hips became a blur and he speared Charlie’s asshole with what felt like even deeper thrusts. Charlie’s balls pulled up and he felt himself cross the edge of control. “I’m coming!” he said and raised his head to watch as his dick erupted up along Canyon’s sweat drenched body. The come shot up to Canyon’s nipples, splattering across his chest and belly and running down over the back of the trucker’s hand where it gripped the shaft of his dick. “Oh God,” Canyon groaned. “That is so hot. I’m coming. Oh yeah!” He pulled his dick out of Charlie’s ass and peeled off the condom, aiming his load up along Charlie’s stomach. Canyon’s come shot up to Charlie’s chin, the hot semen splashing through the hair on his chest and stomach and settling on Charlie’s sweaty skin. After catching their breath and toweling off, they dressed in sweats and flip flops and Canyon led Charlie up to the diner where several private showers were available for rent. Canyon paid for the both of them and they showered together, washing each other beneath the hot, hard spray. When they returned to the truck, Charlie and Canyon curled up in the sleeping compartment, the trucker spooning Charlie from behind. Just

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before Canyon switched off the small light on the wall Charlie saw that the man had arranged the two dolls in a spoon position as well. He shook his head, then closed his eyes and fell asleep as another truck rumbled into the halogen lit lot.

CHAPTER FOUR

Oh, Canada!

L

ater the following evening, Canyon dropped Charlie off on a narrow street across from the address Brent had given him. After Charlie jumped down from the cab, Canyon leaned across the seat to smile down at him. “You have fun up here, Charlie,” the trucker said. “If you need a ride home, you’ve got my cell phone number.” “Thanks again, Canyon.” Charlie waved and watched the truck jerk, then roll up the street and around a corner out of sight, the lyrics to “Self Control” fading away into the night. With a sigh, Charlie turned and surveyed the building across the street. Some of the red brick facing had chipped away and the windows looked old and warped. A set of wooden steps rose up along the right side of the building, the condition of each riser an advertisement for every slip and fall lawyer in the country. The glow of the street light illuminated a small sign hung out over the street and allowed him to see the words “Canadian Critters, One Flight Up.” Charlie picked up his duffel bag and crossed the street to mount the creaking stairs. A landing at the second floor supported a soft drink vending 51

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machine, its glowing advertisement sending a blue tint over a heavy wood door with a window in the center, the words “Canadian Critters” etched across the glass. The shop was dark, it was almost eleven p.m. after all, and though Charlie pressed his face to the glass he could not see two feet into the shop. He turned to another set of stairs, even narrower than the steps from the street, which rose to a third level landing above. Charlie started up the steps and at the top found another landing, this one a little bigger with two plastic lawn chairs and a small charcoal grill. He smiled at the sight of a thick metal door painted in the varied colors, browns to black, of the bear flag, complete with a bear paw print in the corner. The door opened a moment after his knock and Charlie felt his cock twitch at the sight of Brent Harrington standing before him in a pair of dark green boxer briefs, his dark hair casually shaggy, goatee trimmed, and soft, slightly rounded belly covered with curly dark hair. “Well, well, well,” Brent said with a smile. “If it isn’t Charlie Heggensford, all the way from a farm in Idaho, come to see little old me.” “Hey there,” Charlie replied with a tired smile. “You are a sight for sore eyes. Can I come in before these stairs collapse under me?” Brent laughed and stepped aside to allow him to enter the apartment. Charlie set down his bag and looked around the combination living room dining area with a couch, two overstuffed chairs, and an old seventies style Formica topped table surrounded by chairs. “This is nice, Brent,” Charlie said and turned to his friend. “It’s good to see you.” “Good to see you, too,” Brent replied and reached out to give him a strong, lingering hug. Charlie closed his eyes, enjoying the familiar feel and smell of Brent’s strong, hairy body. A moment later, Brent broke the embrace and took a couple of steps back where he dropped his gaze to the floor and said, “So … how’s the famous Rock Harding?” Charlie grinned at the touch of jealousy in Brent’s tone. “Rock’s okay, I guess. I’ve talked with him once since he got to The Netherlands and he’s sent postcards. Oh, and a hot escort for me to play with named Danny Rhinestone.” Charlie shrugged. “But he’s not around, and I miss him.”

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“Yeah, I understand.” Brent crossed his arms and raised his eyes for a moment before going back to studying the floor. “So … are you two a couple now?” Charlie shrugged. “I don’t know. We never got a chance to discuss it after we got together on the cruise ship. But if you’re asking me if I have sex with other men the answer is hell yes. I care about Rock, a lot, but he’s a porn star and I’m a fluffer and sex with other men is a part of our daily lives. If he and I had met in Idaho rather than L.A. things might be different, but we didn’t.” He touched Brent’s arm and the man raised his eyes to look him in the face. “I care about you too, Brent. And sometimes I think you get me in ways Rock never will, you know? Not because he doesn’t try to get to know me, but because he and I are just such different people. Opposites may attract, but it’s always good to have someone similar to you in your life. It helps me feel less abnormal.” Brent smiled and touched Charlie’s face. “I’m glad to hear you say that. You mean a lot to me, Farm Boy.” He leaned in and gave Charlie a long, deep kiss, their tongues rolling through their mouths. Finally breaking the embrace, Brent asked, “Wanna see the rest of the place?” “Yeah, I do,” Charlie replied. As Brent stepped back Charlie looked the man over and said, “You’re looking really good, Brent. Still jogging every day?” Charlie placed a palm on Brent’s rounded stomach and the man patted the back of his hand with a grin. “I try,” Brent said with a sigh. “But it’s tough what with running the shop and all. Besides, I don’t want to lose too much weight. I gotta stay in bear condition in case I want to get back into the movie business.” Brent took Charlie’s bag and showed him around the apartment. The kitchen contained old appliances, practically relics, and a deep steel sink. Charlie loved it on sight. The single bedroom was small and filled with a dresser and the king sized bed Charlie remembered from Brent’s apartment across the hall back in Los Angeles. They had had a lot of fun on that bed. Brent came to a stop outside a door across from the bedroom and leaned against it to smile at him. “And this is the bathroom.” He opened the door to step inside and Charlie followed, stopping to catch his breath. A massive claw foot tub took up most of the room,

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surrounded by dozens of burning candles. Charlie turned to Brent with a smile. “You never cease to amaze me.” “I like the sound of that.” Brent grinned and reached down to start running water into the tub. “Now, you have a choice. You can luxuriate in the calm serenity of the bath alone, or you can invite in an old friend to get reacquainted.” Charlie looked the tub over and said, “It’s a pretty big tub just for me, and I did have a Harvey burger a little while ago so I shouldn’t be swimming alone. I think I should have someone in here to help me out.” Brent smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.” As the tub filled with water Brent helped Charlie undress. He eased Charlie’s sweatshirt over his head and leaned down to run his tongue over each nipple. Charlie sighed and closed his eyes. Brent raised his chin and scratched the hair of his goatee over the sensitive points of Charlie’s hard nipples, smiling when he gasped. “Like that?” Brent asked as he reached down and unfastened Charlie’s jeans. “Uh huh,” Charlie said. “But I like this even better.” “I thought you might.” Brent lowered the zipper and knelt on the floor as he eased the jeans down over his legs. He slipped his tongue through the hair on Charlie’s belly and lapped at his navel. Charlie stepped out of his jeans as Brent slowly ran his tongue through the hair leading to his groin. He ducked the tip of his tongue beneath the waistband of Charlie’s underwear and ran it over the cotton covering Charlie’s swiftly expanding erection. “Something’s going on in there,” Brent said with a grin. “Oh yeah,” Charlie replied. “And it really wants to come out.” “Then by all means,” Brent said and pulled Charlie’s underwear down. His cock sprang up, aimed directly at Brent’s face, and the bear took it into his mouth. He focused on the swelling head, pursing his lips around the smooth, glossy surface. Charlie moaned and twisted his fingers in Brent’s long, soft hair. “Oh yeah,” Charlie sighed. “That feels so good.”

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Brent swallowed him deep and paused with Charlie’s dick wedged in the back of his throat. He drew back slowly and sucked again on the sensitive head, causing Charlie to gasp and shudder. He leaned forward over Brent’s head and ran his hands down the man’s back, sliding his fingers beneath the waistband of Brent’s boxer briefs and gripping his hairy ass cheeks before straightening up again. Releasing Charlie’s cock from his mouth and taking it in his hand, Brent smiled up at him. “I think your bath is ready.” Charlie finished undressing and stepped into the tub, his hard-on bobbing on the surface of the water as he watched Brent strip off his boxer briefs to reveal his thick, stout cock. The man lowered himself into the tub facing Charlie and they jockeyed their legs around until Brent was able to slide forward so their balls pressed together. Brent reached out and took both of their hard cocks in one hand, stroking them as Charlie massaged both sets of balls. Brent picked up a bottle of bath gel and coaxed Charlie into standing up and turning his back, then scooted up and washed the man’s ass, reaching up between his legs to soap his balls and cock. The lather formed around Charlie’s crotch and Brent reached up to work the gel over his back, then stood to reach around him with both hands and slowly wash his torso, his cock sliding along the soapy crack of Charlie’s ass. Charlie carefully sat in the tub to rinse off, then helped Brent wash up. After rinsing, Brent stood up and turned his back on Charlie, moving his ass up to Charlie’s face and resting one foot on the side of the tub to expose his freshly washed anus. Charlie planted his face in the crack of Brent’s ass to rim the man out, his tongue licking and slurping at the crumpled circle of his sphincter. “Oh yeah,” Brent moaned. “Eat that big, hairy ass. Get your tongue up there.” Pressing his face more firmly into the damp, fresh valley of Brent’s ass, Charlie speared his tongue deep into him. The musky taste of Brent’s asshole filled his mouth and he pulled his mouth back to slide a finger into the man. As he finger fucked Brent, Charlie moved his mouth lower and licked at the man’s round, hairy balls. Brent groaned and reached back to pull an ass cheek open wider.

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“Get another finger up there,” Brent groaned. “Work that hole for me.” Charlie inserted a second finger and resumed pumping hard and deep into Brent’s ass. He bent his knuckles and spun his fingers inside the hot, wet tunnel, looking for and working at the hard knob of Brent’s prostate. “Oh, fuck that spot, baby,” Brent coaxed. His right hand became a blur as it stroked his hard, thick cock until he suddenly lowered his foot and carefully turned around in the tub. He wrapped his free hand around his balls and grunted before unleashing a drenching load of hot come across Charlie’s upturned face. The semen splattered over Charlie’s cheeks and chin, dripping onto his chest and into the bathwater. When he was spent, Brent lowered himself into the water with a sigh, reaching out as Charlie leaned back against the high side of the tub. Brent’s fingers circled the twitching ring of Charlie’s sphincter beneath the water, then slowly pressed into the opening. Charlie’s mouth dropped open and he groaned, his fist making waves on the surface of the water as he masturbated. He raised his legs and placed his feet on either side of the tub to allow Brent deeper access to his ass. The bear got to his knees and moved forward, his fingers driving fast and deep into Charlie’s anus as he watched the man jerk himself off. “Oh fuck,” Charlie groaned. “That feels really good, Brent.” “I’m getting hard again watching you jerk off,” Brent said, his voice deep and thick with lust. He licked his lips as his eyes tracked the furious motion of Charlie’s hand. “Oh God,” Charlie moaned and lowered his feet into the tub. “I’m going to come. Oh yeah.” He stood up, his hand slowing and tightening just beneath the tip of his cock as he bent his knees. Looking down, he watched as the head of his dick swelled, then come burst out over the water and onto Brent’s face. The heavy load coated Brent’s goatee and cheeks, runners of semen dripping down onto the man’s chest and into the water. When he had finished, Charlie used the oozing head of his cock to rub the semen into Brent’s skin. “That was really hot,” Charlie breathed as he lowered himself into the water once again. “Do you need to come again?”

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Brent shook his head as he squeezed out a handful of face gel and passed the bottle to Charlie. “No, I’ve been jerking myself raw thinking about our reunion the last few days. I think I’ll leave him alone for now.” He grinned before scrubbing the come off his face and picking it out of his goatee. They rinsed off, then stepped carefully from the tub to dry each other off with thick, soft towels. At one point, Brent wrapped Charlie in a towel and turned him around to kiss him, his tongue gently probing Charlie’s mouth. Charlie smiled after Brent broke the embrace. “It’s good to see you, Brent. It’s been a long time.” “Too long.” Brent led him by the hand into the bedroom where they dropped their towels on the floor and slid nude between the sheets. Brent spooned Charlie from behind and wrapped his big, hairy arm around Charlie’s chest. Within minutes they were both asleep, their breathing deepening as a shadowy figure lurked toward the foot of the bed.

CHAPTER FIVE

Canadian Critters

C

harlie was in the midst of a vague dream in which he was suffocating when he startled awake with a gasp. Morning light edged into the room through the open bedroom door and he pulled in another breath with effort. His chest felt heavy and he could not seem to be able to breathe properly. With a yawn, Charlie turned his head and found himself staring up into the round green eyes of a gigantic orange tabby cat. Charlie’s eyes immediately filled with tears and swelled shut. His throat tightened and the skin around his mouth started to burn. “Brent?” He called out weakly. At the sound of his voice the cat hissed at him, flashing white, needle teeth Charlie glimpsed through his slitted eyes. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and fought to gasp in more air, reluctant to move for fear the cat might claw his face. He took a breath and called a little louder, “Brent!” He heard the sound of a chair scraping back in the small kitchen, and then Brent’s heavy tread as the man crossed the living room to the bedroom door. “Yeah? Oh for God’s sake. Endora! Get off Charlie. Come on.” 59

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Charlie’s eyes were so swollen he could barely see as Brent lifted the big cat off his chest. He drew in a shuddery breath and peered blearily up at Brent who stood by the bed cuddling the cat. Brent leaned down and looked more closely at Charlie’s face, then exclaimed, “Oh my God, Charlie! What happened to you?” “I think I’m allergic to cats,” Charlie replied, his voice nasal and raspy. “I can barely see and I can’t breathe real well.” “Jesus! Come into the bathroom.” Brent tossed the cat into the living room and helped Charlie out of bed. “Splash some water on your face, I’ll get a washcloth.” Charlie rinsed his face and took a breath. The tightness in his chest eased a bit and he found he could take in more air with each inhalation. He leaned into the mirror and gasped. His eyes were puffy and red and tiny hives had started to appear on the skin around his mouth. “Ah!” he cried. “I’m getting lumpy!” Brent appeared next to him with a bottle of liquid Benadryl. “This will help. Turn to face me… Wow! You are really allergic to cats. Didn’t you have cats growing up on the farm?” “Yeah, but they lived in the barn and ran away whenever anyone got too close.” Charlie sat on the toilet and Brent knelt before him. “I look awful.” Brent leaned back and assessed his face. “Just a couple of cross town buses, that’s all.” “Oh, just a couple. Well, that’s a relief.” Charlie grinned in spite of himself. “When did you get a cat?” “A few months ago. Took her from a friend of mine on the bowling league who had just moved in with a man who is allergic to cats.” Brent shook his head. “Endora really is a good cat, she just gets jealous whenever anyone stays over. She’s actually very affectionate.” “Yeah, I’m sure the hissing was meant as a welcome and not an implied threat.” Charlie sighed. “My first day in Vancouver and I can’t even see it.” “You’ll be fine, Charlie,” Brent said softly. “There, I think I got all the hives. They should go down soon. How are your eyes?”

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Charlie looked around the room, his eyelids still slightly swollen. “They’re getting better. Maybe a shower will help.” “Just let the Benadryl work on those hives for a bit before you take a shower,” Brent said. “Come out here and lie on the couch.” After the hives had gone down, Charlie showered and checked his eyes in the mirror, happy to see the swelling had subsided. He looked almost normal, or less like a homeless alcoholic who had lived in a sewer for the last several years. “Well, I look a little better,” Charlie said. “But I still feel stuffed up.” “How ‘bout a blow job?” Brent asked, leaning in the bathroom doorframe with his beefy arms crossed over his bare, hairy chest. “Would that help clear your sinuses?” Charlie grinned at him in the mirror. “Couldn’t hurt.” Brent knelt before Charlie and slowly unwrapped the towel from around his waist. He leaned in to caress the steadily hardening length of Charlie’s dick with his mouth and tongue. As Brent licked and sucked at Charlie’s cock, he pulled own dick out and began stroking himself. Taking Charlie’s entire length down his throat, Brent sucked him fast and hard, his fist jacking himself in time. “Oh God, Brent,” Charlie gasped and bent his knees. “That feels so fucking good. Oh, suck me hard. Yeah, that’s it.” The wet sounds of Brent’s sucking sped up even more and soon Charlie grunted, “I’m coming! Oh yeah, I’m gonna fuckin’ shoot!” Brent held Charlie’s spurting cock in his mouth, slurping up as much of his load as he could as several runners of come spilled out over his lips and oozed down into his goatee. With Charlie’s spent dick still clamped firmly in his mouth, Brent blew a hot breath out his nostrils and tightened his fingers around the base of his own cock. He grunted deeply and Charlie looked down as Brent’s come blasted onto his feet and across the tile floor. When he had finished, Brent gently released Charlie’s dick from his mouth and squeezed the last vestiges of clear fluid from it, leaning forward to suck the head clean. He shook a string of semen off his own cock onto Charlie’s right foot and smiled up at him. “Feel better?” Brent asked.

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Charlie nodded and touched Brent’s come streaked face. “Much better. Thanks.” He watched Brent use his damp towel to wipe the come off his feet and asked, “Into feet now, Brent? Have you been watching a few of Rod Mandrake’s movies?” referring to a gay porn director in L.A. who had once eaten his food off Charlie’s feet and later had asked Charlie to foot fuck him. Brent grinned, then leaned down to run his tongue over the tops of Charlie’s feet, dipping it down between his toes every so often. “Why?” he asked as he sat back on his feet, “does it bother you?” Charlie let out his breath, his cock twitching from the tongue bath his feet had just received. “No, no. Just curious.” Brent chuckled and let out a grunt as he got to his feet. “I’m getting too old for this.” “Please,” Charlie said and reached down to tug playfully on the man’s cock. “You don’t look a day over forty-five.” Brent swatted at him and Charlie ducked out of the bathroom, laughing. The man cleaned up at the sink while Charlie searched through his bag for clothes. They battled to dress around the large dresser and kingsize bed which dominated Brent’s only bedroom, then met in the living room as Brent pulled a T-shirt over his head. “Ready to go to work?” Brent asked. “Lead the way.” Charlie followed Brent to the apartment door where Endora crouched on a nearby windowsill staring out the glass. As Charlie passed her, the cat turned to hiss and took a swipe at his arm. “Endora!” Brent scolded. The cat sat up and looked at Brent with big, round eyes before lifting a paw to begin cleaning her face. “That’s it. You’re spending the night in the store for the rest of Charlie’s visit.” He shrugged at Charlie. “What can I say? She loves me.” “Yeah? Like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction love?” Brent sighed and opened the door. “Come on, the animals await.” Charlie followed Brent down the rickety steps and waited as the man unlocked the door at the second floor landing. Inside, Charlie could hear a chorus of barks, tweets, and meows. He took a last, deep breath of fresh

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air and felt his stomach knot as he wondered if he would have a reaction to a closed space full of animal dander and fur, then followed behind as Brent stepped inside. The store was long and narrow, separated into two aisles running its length by a row of metal shelves. A wide glass counter stood just inside the door with a cash register and a large aquarium containing a massive quantity of goldfish. A hand-lettered sign on the aquarium read, “Don’t forget your feeder fish!” Along the inner wall were a number of cages of various sizes that held jumping, barking puppies and crying kittens. A pair of rabbits huddled in a corner of one cage and three ferrets twisted over and under each other in another. The shelves in the middle of the store were devoted to fish tanks and birdcages and along the outer wall beneath the windows were piles of different types of chow: dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, even goat. A large parrot with royal blue feathers stood in the front corner of the shop across from the glass counter, cocking its head at them. It was a loud, aromatic place and Charlie felt a wave of homesickness. It smelled like his family’s dairy farm and he found that he missed Idaho, and his family, with a sudden, surprising intensity. “Well?” Brent asked with a wave of his hand. “What do you think?” Charlie smiled at him. “It’s wonderful, Brent.” “How are your allergies?” Brent asked with concern. “Can you stay in here all day?” Charlie took a tentative breath and nodded. “I feel okay. I don’t think I can touch cats, probably allergic to their saliva or dander or something. Dogs are okay, I’ve had dogs as pets, but not cats. I’ll let you know if I start to swell up, trust me.” “Yeah, do that,” Brent said, then grinned. “Maybe all’s you need is a blowjob whenever you start to feel that way. Come on, I’ll show you around, and then we can start feeding these little monsters.” He stepped up to the open perch where the blue parrot stood bobbing its head. “This bird is a rare species. A Hyacinth parrot. There are few left in the world, and she’s the only one I know of here in the city. I’ve been trying to find her a good home, but she’s a little snappish around new people, so consider yourself warned. Her name is Jane.”

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“Jane?” Charlie said with a frown. “That’s a pretty boring name for such a colorful bird.” “I got her after the cops raided a crack house. Fucking drug dealers want to have exotic pets but then they never take care of them. She was pretty worn out and I didn’t think she was going to make it. I called her Jane as in Jane Doe because they hadn’t named her.” As Brent talked the parrot raised a gray blue claw and climbed up his arm to sit on his shoulder where she began to preen his shaggy hair. “She loves to do my hair. Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the place.” For the next few hours Charlie helped Brent clean out cages and feed the animals, giving the kittens and cats a wide berth. The bell over the door jingled quite often and Brent would stop what he was doing to wait on his customers. Charlie smiled as he watched Brent joke with the people, calling some of them by name and suggesting various products; he was friendly and outgoing and ran his shop well. Between customers, Charlie filled Brent in on the details of the actor’s strike back in L.A. and his inadvertent involvement. When he had finished his story Brent shook his head with a small smile. “What?” Charlie asked, feeling a little defensive. Brent’s smile widened. “You have the worst luck of anyone I have ever met. Are you sure you didn’t get chased off your family’s dairy farm?” In the early afternoon, following a quick lunch of delivered deli sandwiches eaten at the front counter, the bell over the door rang again and Brent stood up from where he and Charlie knelt cleaning out a cage full of hamsters. Charlie continued to pull out wood shavings and stuff them in a plastic garbage bag, being careful not to throw out one of the rodents with the chips. “Hey there, Derrick,” Brent called. Charlie stood to look up the aisle. An older, handsome man stood at the front of the shop, his hand resting on a dolly stacked with bags of food. He had dark hair cut short which receded nicely from his rugged face, blue eyes and a dimpled chin covered with a day’s worth of beard. Charlie raised his eyebrows and followed behind as Brent walked up front.

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“Got your shipment,” Derrick said, his voice deep and masculine. “Want it in the back?” “Yeah, that’d be great,” Brent replied and took the invoice Derrick handed him. Derrick started to angle the dolly toward the back of the store, working his way by Jane as the bird watched him carefully, and stopped to grin at Charlie. “New employee?” Derrick asked as he stood grinning at Charlie. “Huh?” Brent looked up from the invoice, caught Charlie and Derrick smiling at each other, and rolled his eyes. “You could say that. He’s more of a temp, though. This is Charlie Heggensford, a friend of mine from L.A.” “Hi there,” Charlie said and stuck out his hand. Derrick removed his glove and wrapped his large, warm palm around Charlie’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Charlie. Derrick Peterman.” “Yes, you certainly are,” Charlie said and Derrick laughed as he pulled on his glove, then turned to wheel the bags of food down the aisle, making kissing noises at Jane as she clicked her beak in a threat. “Smooth, Charlie,” Brent whispered and shook his head. “How did you ever manage to land Rock Harding?” Charlie looked at him over his shoulder and cocked an eyebrow. “Or you.” Brent nodded with a grin. “Touché.” The door opened again to emit a stocky man wearing a dark suit with a white shirt, the knot in his striped, tired-looking tie pulled down an inch and the top button of his shirt undone. His salt and pepper hair was cut in a crew cut, and a trim, matching goatee surrounded his mouth. His face was worn and rugged, his deep blue eyes tired as he spread his strong, hair-flecked hands across the top of the glass counter and looked at Brent, completely ignoring Charlie. Brent, Charlie noticed, had grown quiet and tense, his mouth set in a thin line and his eyes narrowed. “Monsieur Harrington,” the new arrival said with a French-Canadian accent. “Inspector Jeannotte,” Brent replied and crossed his arms over his chest. “What brings you by this time? Food for your piranha?”

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“New employee?” Jeannotte asked, tipping his head in Charlie’s direction without taking his eyes from Brent’s face. “He’s a friend up visiting from L.A. Need to run him in and check his fingerprints?” Brent snapped. “Um, hello officer, Charlie Heggensford,” Charlie said, stepping forward and extending his hand. “Originally from Idaho but currently residing in Los Angeles, California.” The man turned to look at him, his eyes narrowing as they dipped down to look at Charlie’s outstretched hand. He reached out and grasped it with a firm grip, saying dryly, “It’s Inspector.” “Ah, sorry. I’m up from L.A. visiting Brent for a few weeks.” “Yes, so I’ve heard.” The Inspector turned back to Brent. “There’s been another robbery, Monsieur Harrington.” “What?” Brent uncrossed his arms and punched the air, turning in a circle as he ran his hands through his shaggy hair. “Fuck! That’s the fourth one this month.” “Ah, very good, you’re keeping track too.” The inspector pulled a notebook from his jacket pocket. “Seems The Petting Zoo was broken into last night and all cats and dogs taken. No fingerprints left at the scene, no witnesses. Almost as if ghosts had gotten in and stolen the animals. Or another pet store owner who, amazingly, has been blessed with no break-ins since these vandals began to steal animals, and who also, coincidentally, has a surprising number of similar breeds in his inventory.” Jeannotte gave Brent a meaningful look as he licked the wide pad of his thumb and flipped through pages of his notebook. “You know, Jeannotte, I’m getting tired of your accusatory come ons,” Brent said. “Shouldn’t you be at the station managing your detectives? Either charge me with some crime or stay the hell out of my store.” Inspector Jeannotte’s eyes widened in mock innocence and he placed a hand on his chest. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Monsieur Harrington, I did not mean to imply any kind of impropriety on your part. But, now that you mention it, you are one of the lucky few store owners who have not been affected by this string of robberies. And my detectives are all tied up on other cases, so I thought I would step in and get this mystery solved quickly. Apparently I was wrong.” He stepped up to the counter and stared

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Brent in the eye as he slipped his notebook back into his pocket. “I’m watching you.” “Good to know you like to watch,” Brent said as the man opened the door. The inspector sneered at him, looked Charlie up and down, then stepped out of the store and was gone. Charlie let out his breath and looked at Brent. “What the hell was that about?” “Long story,” Brent grumbled. He stood still for a moment, then said, “Can you watch the store for a bit? I need to do something.” “Uh, sure, okay,” Charlie stammered. He watched as Brent walked out the door, then sighed and headed back to the hamster cage, stopping when he caught sight of the screened top leaning against the glass side. A few hamsters were milling around in the sparse wood chips, but it did not look as if there were as many as before. “Oh shit,” Charlie mumbled. He knelt down and counted the remaining hamsters. How many had been in the cage before? He closed his eyes but could not remember. “Oh shit,” he said again, and got down on his hands and knees to crawl around the floor, peering under shelves and cages. The puppies above barked at him, excited by his antics. He gave the cages of kittens a wide berth and crawled toward the back storage room, stopping now and then to peer beneath the shelves. As Charlie rounded the aisle, Derrick backed out of the storage room pulling his empty dolly behind him. His knees collided with Charlie’s side and the man fell backwards onto the floor, letting out a shout as the dolly fell on top of him. Charlie collapsed beneath Derrick’s weight with a grunt, his face plastered against the dusty wood floor as the dolly thumped down on Derrick’s thighs. Opening one eye, Charlie spied a small ball of fur waddling along beneath the center shelves and gasped, “There he is!” “What?” Derrick groggily raised his head. “Who?” “The hamster!” Charlie squeezed out from beneath Derrick’s legs and crawled up the aisle. “Go round the other way,” Charlie instructed, “we’ll cut him off!”

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Caught up in Charlie’s excitement, Derrick scrambled to his hands and knees and crawled up the opposite side of the center shelves. A volley of excited barking and mewing marked his progress up the aisle. “Where is he?” Derrick asked, pausing to peer under the shelves. “Headed to the front,” Charlie replied. “We can stop him before he makes it to the door.” Charlie and Derrick crawled around the front corners of the aisles simultaneously and collided at full speed. They knocked heads and collapsed on the floor, Derrick sprawled beneath Jane’s perch and Charlie at the head of the aisle, each of them stunned. The hamster trundled out from beneath the shelves and climbed across Charlie’s outstretched hand, pausing to leave a tiny nugget of shit in his palm before continuing on into the bathroom, his whiskers twitching. Shaking their heads and moaning, Charlie and Derrick slowly sat up and raised their hands to their foreheads. They rubbed the tender skin where their heads had bumped and turned to squint at one another. “Are you okay?” Derrick asked, brushing birdseed and feathers from his chest. “I think so,” Charlie replied, rubbing his forehead and squinting against the pain. “You?” “Yeah. Got a headache though.” Derrick stood up and reached down to help Charlie to his feet. He shook his head as he turned to retrieve his dolly and wheeled it up to the door. “Nice to have met you, Charlie. I think.” “Same here,” Charlie said. “Thanks for helping with the hamster. Sorry about your head.” “Good luck finding him.” Derrick smiled, one eye partially closed as he pulled the door open. “I’ll see you in a couple of days for the next delivery.” “I’ll be here,” Charlie said. “Bye.” After Derrick left, Charlie searched around beneath the shelves but could not find the hamster. He was about to walk to the back storeroom when an unusual noise out front made him step up to the door. Looking through the glass door, he found a handsome, well-built man wearing brown shorts, tan work boots and a short sleeve, tight-fitting brown shirt

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stocking the soda machine just outside the shop. The nametag on the man’s muscular chest read Nicky and the top two buttons of the shirt lay open to reveal a swatch of dark chest hair. Nicky turned, caught sight of Charlie watching him, and gave him a bright smile, then blinked and knitted his brows together. Charlie smiled and gave the man a small wave before looking down as the renegade hamster ambled across his shoe. “There you are. Come here you little shit.” He leaned down to pick the hamster up, cupping it in both hands as he carried it back to the cage. With a groan, Charlie found the screened top still leaning against the shelves and the cage empty. He turned back to look out the door, but the hot soda machine man had disappeared. “Fuck,” Charlie sighed. He placed the hamster in the cage and secured the top, then began crawling around the shop in search of the other escapees.

CHAPTER SIX

Pin Action

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t took Charlie over an hour to find the remaining hamsters, stopping now and then to help customers as they stepped through the door. He noticed people giving him lingering looks and had just decided that Canadians were straightforward with foreigners when Brent returned and immediately set him straight. “What’s that on your forehead?” Brent said. “It looks like shit.” “What?” Charlie stomped into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. A long brown smear marred his forehead, directly over the small bump where he had knocked heads with Derrick. The tiny raisin of a hamster turd still clung to his skin. “Oh for God’s sake! You would have thought someone would have said something. Dammit! That hot pop machine guy was here and probably thinks I’m some kind of weirdo who’s into animal scat. Perfect.” “That guy is hot, isn’t he?” Brent said, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. “So, did Derrick deliver his load?” “He dropped off the bags of food, then helped me track down a runaway hamster, if that’s what you mean.” Charlie scrubbed at his forehead. “Stupid rodent.” 71

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“Um, is that why there are two of them sleeping behind the counter?” Brent asked as he stepped out of sight. He reappeared a moment later holding up two rust colored hamsters that blinked sleepily at Charlie. Brent gave him a disgusted look. “You didn’t use them…” “What?” Charlie asked. “With Derrick?” Brent gave him a pained look. “You’re not into hamsters, right?” “Ewww, Brent!” Charlie said. “No! That’s awful. I love animals, but not in that way. They got out of the cage as I was cleaning it, that’s all. Jesus!” “Okay, sorry I asked.” Brent laughed as he returned the hamsters to their cage and double-checked that the top was secure. “I just know Derrick is into some heavy ass play.” “Yeah, well, I don’t mix animals and sex, okay?” Charlie walked out of the bathroom and stood before his friend. “Hey, what went on between you and that detective?” Brent’s face clouded up and he looked down at the floor. “He’s an inspector.” “Whatever. What’s the story there? What was all that male posturing about? I thought I was going to have to hose you two down or something.” “Well, it’s not like you think,” Brent said. “The good inspector is straight and he seems to have a bug up his ass about me. There have been a lot of pet shop robberies in the city and one time I happened to get a shipment of dogs and cats just as they were stolen from another pet store.” “Really?” Charlie said. “Animals are that valuable?” “I think it’s a black market gang doing the break-ins,” Brent explained. “They take the animals and sell them to medical testing facilities or dog fight rings, or to collectors. If some of the animals are lucky, they might go to an actual home as a house pet, but most of them end up dead or tortured or running wild.” “Jesus, really?” Charlie looked around at the puppies rolling over and nipping each other and the kittens swatting the small balls of string Brent had hung in their cages, and felt his heart sink. “Those poor animals.” “I know,” Brent said with a sigh. “It’s awful.”

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Charlie looked back at him. “How could that asshole think you would have any part of it?” Brent shook his head. “Who knows? After the first robbery Jeannotte came around to talk to all the pet store owners and poked around the shops. The next day he took me down to the station for questioning. Kept me sitting in a cinderblock room for almost four hours until he came in and started drilling me about my whereabouts the night of the break-in and did I have any receipts for the animals in my inventory.” Brent’s face tightened at the memory and Charlie reached out to rub the man’s arm. “He was a total asshole. And now there’s been a fourth break-in and he’s still looking to pin this stuff on me and I have no idea why.” “God, what a dick,” Charlie said. “I’m sorry, Brent.” “Yeah, me too.” Brent ran his hands down his face and took a deep breath, then looked at Charlie and grinned. “Well, anyway, it’s almost closing time. You’ve made it through your first day on the job, what do you think?” Charlie smiled and shrugged. “Not too bad. I made a few mistakes…” Brent raised his eyebrows. “A few?” “Okay, a few more than a few,” Charlie relented. “But I had a good time. I didn’t know what to expect from working in a pet store. It’s kind of fun.” The bell over the front door jingled and Brent rolled his eyes. “I have to take a leak, would you handle this customer?” “Sure.” As Brent vanished into the bathroom, Charlie headed up front and stepped behind the counter where he stopped and looked around the empty shop. He frowned and was about to turn away when he heard a voice from below the counter speaking in soft tones. “Does puddin’ want a wittle treat?” the voice cooed. “Hmm? Is that what my baby puddin’ wants? A wittle treat for his wittle tum tum? Yes, a wittle treat for my wittle baby puddin’?” Charlie smirked and peered over the counter to find a large, round ass bobbing below. The ass was covered in lavender satin that exposed the thick elastic of the customer’s panty lines. Charlie grimaced and leaned back to clear his throat, raising his eyes as a large form covered entirely in a lavender sweat suit rose up. The figure turned to face him and Charlie’s

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eyes grew wide as he looked from the tiny, hairless dog cradled in a thick arm up to the customer’s wide-eyed face. Charlie’s gut clenched and his mouth dropped open, as he understood what victims in horror movies felt before they were murdered. “Ah!” the customer shrieked and the tiny dog let out a string of high yips. “What the bloody fucking hell are you doing in Van-fuckingcouver?” Charlie squeezed his eyes closed and slowly opened them again, but it was not a hallucination. Cedric Wilmington, the gay porn director who thrived on making Charlie’s life miserable, stood before him, clutching a small, shivering dog with tufts of hair sprouting from the top of its tiny head and around its large, bat-like ears. Cedric’s eyes narrowed as he saw Charlie eyeing his creature companion and he clutched the animal to his chest. “Stop staring at Henry.” Charlie blinked and looked at Cedric. “What?” “My dog, you fucking simpleton,” Cedric snapped. “Stop staring at him.” “That’s a dog?” Charlie said and looked back down to where Henry trembled even more. “Are you sure?” Brent stepped out of the bathroom and walked up behind Charlie, stopping dead in his tracks at the sight of Cedric. “Holy shit.” “What?” Cedric gasped. “You too?” “What are you doing in Vancouver, Cedric?” Charlie asked. “Well, what am I supposed to do? My actors are all on strike, thanks to you, and a friend of mine who lives here is traveling and his apartment was available, so I decided to come up here to Vancouver. . .” Cedric stopped to glare at him. “Why am I explaining myself to you? You should be explaining yourself to me. What the fuck are you doing here anyway, hmm? Escaping the studios that want your head on a stake?” Charlie blushed and looked away. “Not really.” “Yeah, right. Then …” Cedric’s cold, gray eyes twitched over to Brent and he smirked. “Oh, I see. Isn’t it convenient and, oh, so interesting that Brent Harrington is the man you run to when you’re in trouble. I’m sure it will make for some juicy conversation when dear Rock comes home.” Cedric raised a plucked and penciled eyebrow as he pursed his thin lips.

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“Look…” Charlie started, but Brent placed a calming hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Cedric’s eyebrows darted up again as he watched Brent’s hand, then he gave Charlie a victorious look. “Cedric,” Brent said, deftly moving Charlie out from in front of the director and stepping up to take his place. “May I help you with something?” Cedric looked from one to the other before turning his attention to Brent. “Well, I need some food for Henry.” “Henry?” Brent said. “My dog.” Cedric held the shivering dog up and Henry stared at them with big, wet brown eyes. The dog was tiny, maybe four pounds soaking wet, and hairless except for white tufts of long, fine hair on his head, ears, legs, and the tip of his tail. His exposed skin was pink and smooth, covered with light brown spots that reminded Charlie of a calf he had raised back home. Henry blinked and whimpered until Cedric cradled him back in his meaty arm. “Is that a Chinese Crested?” Brent asked. Charlie and Cedric both looked at him, impressed, and Cedric said, “He’s a mix of Chinese Crested and Chihuahua.” “Interesting,” Brent said. “Let’s go look through the dog food aisle. This way.” Cedric gave Charlie another scowl before turning to follow Brent along the aisle. As Cedric stepped away, Charlie let out his breath and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He did not want to be anywhere near Cedric ever again, he was an evil, lying, conniving bitch who had hated him on sight. Well, maybe because Charlie had just finished sucking off Rock Harding, Cedric’s lover at the time, but that had been an honest mistake! It had been Charlie’s first assignment and Rock had made it sound like he was going to be filmed next and needed to be fluffed. Why the fuck would Cedric decide to visit Vancouver now while Charlie was here? Was Cedric stalking him? Or maybe he was working for the studios and had overheard Billy and Ken talking in L.A. and had come up to find him? The possibilities were endless when it came to Cedric and deceit.

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Several minutes later Charlie heard Brent ringing up the sale followed by Cedric’s cheerful farewell as he left the shop. Charlie sat on the lowered lid of the toilet and hung his head until Brent rapped on the door. “Hey, you okay in there?” Charlie opened the door and sighed. “Of all the pet stores in all of Canada, in all the world, he had to come walking into yours.” Brent nodded. “Interesting isn’t it? But, here’s the thing. It’s closing time and I’m going to take you out.” Charlie raised his eyebrows. “Out? Out where?” Brent smiled and clapped his hands. “Bowling, baby!”

P The bowling alley was dim and filled with the sounds of balls rolling down the lanes, the sharp crack of their collision with the pins, loud conversation, laughter, and rock music. Men and women wearing bowling shirts of varying colors stood in groups and watched each other watching everyone else. “We’re down here toward the end,” Brent said into Charlie’s ear over the noise of the place and led him down to one end of the building. Two large men and a shorter woman were removing bowling balls from their bags. All three wore lime green bowling shirts with black cuffs and black thread embroidered on the left breast pocket that spelled out their names. “Hey, guys. This is Charlie Heggensford, a friend of mine from down in L.A. Charlie, this is the team.” “Hi everyone,” Charlie said and gave a small wave. One man, tall with a full beard and thick, dark hair flashed a bright smile. “Welcome, Charlie. I’m Robert Carlson.” The other man, sporting red hair and a mustache, introduced himself as Mark Robichaux and reached out to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, Charlie.” The woman, Heather Slocumb, smiled as she shook his hand. “Brent’s told us about you. It’s nice to put a face with the name.” Brent pulled off his jacket and Charlie was amused to see that he wore a similar lime green shirt, then wondered when he had had a chance to change clothes. When Brent turned Charlie could read the name of

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the team spelled out across the back in bold black script: Vancouver Vixens. He let out a laugh that turned into a scream as someone came up from behind and grabbed him in a bear hug, startling him. He blushed in embarrassment as heads turned all the way down the alley to investigate the source of his nelly scream. “Pet Shop Boy!” a rough voice said in his ear and he felt the scratch of whiskers on the side of his face. “Who is that?” Charlie squirmed out of the man’s grasp and turned to find Derrick Peterman, the deliveryman from Brent’s store, beaming at him. “Oh! Hi there.” “Hi again,” Derrick said and winked. “Find all your hamsters?” “Uh,” Heather said, raising a finger from where she sat pulling on her bowling shoes. “If this involves a Richard Gere rumor or any attempt to try and recreate that rumor, I would like to object to overhearing it.” Derrick laughed at her. “You know, you’re pretty squeamish for a lesbian.” Heather’s expression darkened and she stood up, one shoe on her foot and the other in her hand. “What did you say?” “Cool it, Derrick,” someone said and Charlie turned to look at the new arrival. The man had long, greasy hair, small dark eyes and a thin, pointy nose. Charlie felt uncomfortable just looking at him. The man ran his beady eyes over Charlie’s body, then glanced at Heather. “Sorry about Derrick. He’s already had a couple.” “He’s gonna get a couple more if he’s not careful,” Heather said. She sat back down and resumed putting on her shoe. Derrick leaned in close to Charlie, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized his face. “Glad to see you got all the hamster shit off.” He slugged Charlie’s shoulder just enough to nearly topple him over, then walked around the scoring table to sit with his team. Robert, Brent’s chipper teammate, helped Charlie regain his balance and said, “So, Charlie, what do you do in L.A.?” Charlie hesitated and looked around for Brent but the man was at the bar buying a pitcher of beer. He wasn’t sure what Brent had told his friends about his life in L.A., but he figured a gay bowling league would be pretty accepting. “Um, I’m a fluffer.”

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Mark and Robert exchanged an amused look. “Really?” Robert said, his eyebrows going up. “Uh huh,” Charlie replied, suddenly nervous and wondering if he had made a terrible mistake. “Fluffer?” a voice said from over his shoulder and Charlie turned to find Derrick standing behind him once again, blue eyes mischievous. “Well, well, well. Life just gets more and more interesting.” Charlie looked down at the name Uncle Fister embroidered over the pocket of Derrick’s shirt. “Yes, doesn’t it, Uncle Fister.” He reached out to tap the words sewn over Derrick’s firm chest. “I can only imagine the reasoning behind that nickname.” Robert, Mark and Derrick laughed and, Charlie noticed, Heather even cracked a smile. Brent walked up with the first pitcher of the afternoon and gave Charlie a quizzical look. “What’s funny?” Brent asked. “Your cute little friend here.” Derrick reached out to chuck Charlie under the chin. “Derrick,” the rodent-looking man from Derrick’s team snapped. “Get up here… now.” Derrick rolled his eyes to Charlie, then turned to walk off and Charlie took the opportunity to look over the opposing team’s shirts. Made from blood red rayon with black cuffs, they also sported the team name on the backs: The Perfect Tens. Charlie caught a glimpse of the rodent man’s name sewn over the breast pocket of his shirt and frowned as he read it to himself: Chug-a-lug. “So, I see you’ve met our opponents,” Brent said, handing Charlie a beer. “Yeah,” Charlie said. “What’s with the names?” “Ah, those.” Brent smiled and leaned in. “Chug-a-lug is into fluids: water sports, come-eating, all that shit. I think if there is karma and reincarnation he’s going to come back as a urinal. Derrick, or Uncle Fister, likes to take large items up his ass.” “Oh.” Charlie looked down at Brent’s name stitched on his shirt. “Why no nick names for your team?”

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Brent shrugged. “We’re a little more classy. They’re in first place ahead of us by just a few points. Competition is pretty stiff.” “Is that a play on words?” Charlie asked with a grin. Brent grinned back. “If you want it to be.” A static-ridden voice over the PA announced the beginning of league play and Charlie sat at a table at the back of the lanes to watch. Brent turned out to be quite a good bowler. The first game he scored 215 and Charlie’s cheers grew louder with each beer he finished. Heather sat and talked with Charlie and Brent between her turns to bowl. She told Charlie she owned the office below Brent’s pet store out of which she ran an accounting business. Charlie liked Heather right away, found her to be fun and outgoing despite her seemingly serious attitude at first. She did not have much love for any member of their opposing team, however, even Derrick whom Charlie watched with a smile each time he bowled. He liked how the man’s ass moved inside his jeans as he strode confidently to the line and released his ball. “I don’t like them,” Heather explained when Charlie asked her about the comments she kept muttering under her breath, “because they don’t play fair.” “How so?” “They make disrupting noises when we try to bowl. I’ve caught them adding up the scores wrong, in their favor, of course.” Heather shook her head. “The list goes on and on. But the main reason is …” She hesitated, then leaned in closer and said quietly, “Chug-a-lug gives me the creeps. When I look in his eyes, I don’t see any emotion, you know? He’s just a self-centered person who doesn’t care for any other living creature. Makes me wonder what he’s capable of and why the other members of his team hang out with him.” Heather noticed it was her turn to bowl and got up, leaving Charlie to look at Chug-a-lug with a different point of view. As he watched the rodent-like man, Chug-a-lug turned to stare back at him, a small, chilly smile on his narrow face. Charlie returned a nervous smile and turned away, suppressing a sudden urge to shudder. Heather, he decided, was a good judge of character.

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Halfway through the second game, Charlie wandered up to the bar and ordered another pitcher for the team. He leaned on the bar, and then immediately lifted his arms and wiped off his elbows. There was not a dry spot on the entire surface. “Pssst,” a voice hissed. Charlie looked around with a frown. The bartender, a pretty young girl with a ponytail and tight denim cutoffs, had her back to him as she filled his pitcher so she wasn’t the mysterious whisperer. “Pssst,” the voice hissed again. “Charlie!” Charlie turned to find Derrick Peterman with his head sticking out of a utility door to the side of the bar. Charlie frowned at him and asked, “What are you doing back there?” “I finished the second game already,” Derrick whispered. “Come on back here.” Intrigued, Charlie started to walk toward the door, then remembered the pitcher of beer. He paid the bartender, leaving her a generous tip, then crossed the floor to drop off the pitcher. Walking quickly, he crossed the bar and slipped through the utility door Derrick held open for him. Darkness squeezed in around them as Derrick let the door swing shut behind Charlie and claustrophobia gripped his chest. Clearing his throat, Charlie asked in a nervous voice, “What is this place?” “The entrance to Hell,” Derrick whispered from right beside him and slipped his tongue into Charlie’s ear. Charlie jumped and shrieked again, the sound drowned out by the thick door and the bowlers beyond it. “Wow, you scream like a girl, you know that?” Derrick said. Charlie could not see the man but he could smell the beer on his breath and feel the heat of his body nearby. “Come this way.” Derrick’s hand brushed against Charlie’s arm and he reached up to grab hold of it. Derrick led Charlie through a long tunnel, the sounds of bowling balls colliding with pins growing louder and louder. Moments later they stepped out into a long, narrow room with a high ceiling. They were standing behind the pinsetters at the end of each lane and Charlie watched with wide eyes as the balls slammed into the wooden pins, sending them spinning into the air before they came to rest and were pushed back

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out of the way by the mechanical sweep arms. The noise was terrific and thrilling in its power. He watched several more balls attack the pins before turning to find Derrick sitting with one ass cheek on a worktable cluttered with old pins, tools, rags, a huge pump dispenser of hand lotion, and spare parts for the pinsetters. Derrick’s shirt was unbuttoned, exposing his firm, hairy torso, and his zipper was spread wide as his hand slowly stroked his cock into a hardened rod. The man’s dick was bigger than Charlie had expected and he raised his eyebrows at the sight. It stood about nine inches high, straight up along his hairy belly, the cut head glistening with pre-come. “Wow,” Charlie said at the sight of Derrick’s cock. “You like that?” Derrick asked with a grin. “Fuck yeah,” Charlie replied and walked up, bending down to swallow the entire hot hunk of hardened meat with expertise. “Holy fucking shit,” Derrick gasped as Charlie’s lips pressed into his pubic hair. He tipped his head back and opened his mouth to groan. “Fuck! No one’s ever deep throated me on the first pass.” Charlie leaned back and grinned up at him. “That’s why I won Fluffer of the Year last year.” Bending back to his work, Charlie sucked Derrick’s thickening pole with fervor. The smell of the man’s sweat and the taste of his pre-come got Charlie hard in seconds. Derrick leaned back on his elbows across the worktable and his hand knocked over an old bowling pin with a chipped bottom. Looking at the pin as Charlie moved his mouth down to his exposed, shaved balls, Derrick got an idea and grinned. Another two balls slammed into a set of pins nearby and the pin action, the combined effect of the velocity of the ball and the scattering of the pins colliding with those the ball missed, knocked the remainder flat. Charlie jumped at he sound as he ran his tongue over the smooth surface of Derrick’s sweaty, low hanging balls and reached down to unzip his jeans and release his own hard-on. “Hey, Charlie,” Derrick said and Charlie looked up. “Try this.” He held up the damaged bowling pin and Charlie frowned. “Try that how?” Charlie asked.

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Derrick stood up and pushed his jeans down to his ankles, kicking off his boots and stripping the pants off his legs. He lay back on the table and raised his legs, then reached back with his thick, hairy fingers to spread his ass cheeks and expose his glistening, pink asshole. “Up there.” Charlie’s eyebrows went up. “You want the bowling pin up your ass?” “Oh yeah,” Derrick said. “There’s lotion here, but first loosen up my hole with your tongue.” “Okay,” Charlie said. He tipped Derrick’s legs up higher, exposing the man’s sweet hole, and then set to lapping at it. He could taste the salt of Derrick’s sweat and groaned, digging into the soft hole with the tip of his tongue. As he milked the pre-come from his own cock, Charlie reached up with his free hand to slip a finger inside Derrick’s tight, wet asshole. “Oh yeah,” Derrick gasped. He began working his cock with his right hand while his left held his ass cheek open to allow Charlie better access to his hot, hungry hole. “Get another finger up in that asshole. Oh, that’s it. Work them up in there.” After working three fingers into Derrick’s ass, Charlie reached out and picked up the bowling pin. The thick base of the pin had been chipped, but the smaller, bulbous tip was smooth and clean. Charlie pumped a generous amount of hand lotion into his palm and smeared it over the top of the pin. He held the wide, wooden tip of the bowling pin up to Derrick’s twitching hole and twisted it slowly against the widening wrinkle of muscle. “Oh yeah,” Derrick said and raised his head. “Fill that hole up, baby. I want that thing up my ass.” “Okay,” Charlie said, flinching as he assessed the width of the bowling pin. “Are you sure?” “Fuck yeah,” Derrick replied. “Slide it in, nice and slow.” Still spinning the pin, Charlie eased the rounded white wooden tip up into Derrick’s anus. He watched as the sphincter widened, stretching and expanding to accommodate the girth of the bulbous bowling pin. Derrick gasped and his legs wavered in the air as his grip tightened on his ass cheek, his fingers leaving red marks in the pale skin. Charlie pressed the bowling pin steadily onward, widening Derrick’s asshole.

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“Oh fuck! Oh, fuck yeah!” Derrick cried out. “Get that thing in there. Get it up my ass!” Charlie pushed the pin deeper, watching as the red stripe disappeared beneath the sphincter muscle and the pin began to narrow once again. He slid it up into Derrick to the point where the narrow neck widened out to form the body of the pin, and then he began to pull it out and slip it in again, fucking Derrick’s ass with the top of it. “Oh, get that ass!” Derrick said. “Yeah, get it up there! Fuck that ass!” He jerked his cock furiously with his right hand while his left hand curled tight around the base of his cock and his balls. “That’s pretty fucking hot, Derrick,” Charlie said and stood up. He leaned forward and took Derrick’s cock in his mouth, sucking him in time with the rhythm of the bowling pin as he fucked Derrick’s ass. “Oh, fuck yeah,” Derrick said. “Give me that big wooden cock. Yeah! Suck my dick, take it deep, baby.” All around them bowling balls continued to drive into the pins, touching off explosions of wood that ricocheted around the room. The mechanics of the pinsetters whirled and clanked and creaked along with the knocking of the pins as chains carried them out of the lane and up into the shadows to be recycled once again in the pinsetters. “Oh fuck,” Derrick gasped. “I’m going to come. Oh yeah! I’m coming.” Charlie raised his head and watched as Derrick gripped his spit slick red cock and jerked himself off. The hot, white load shot up to Derrick’s chin and throat, coating him with puddles of come as he moaned and writhed on the workbench. Charlie eased the bowling pin out of Derrick’s ass and stepped back to eye the man’s gaping hole. The sphincter was slowly closing up but for a moment he had a glimpse up into the dark regions of Derrick’s hot ass. He stroked his cock as he watched Derrick’s asshole gasp and twitch, imagining slipping his cock into the man and pumping his building load deep inside that hot, wet tunnel. After a few moments to catch his breath, Derrick got up and pushed Charlie face down on the workbench. Spreading Charlie’s legs, he knelt behind him and pressed his face into Charlie’s ass, slurping and licking as

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Charlie moaned. Derrick spread Charlie’s cheeks wide and slid his tongue deep into the steamy, hot hole before him. “Fuck, your ass tastes so good,” Derrick said, his words muffled against Charlie’s hairy cheeks. “Nice, sweet ass.” “Get that tongue up there,” Charlie said. “Yeah, tongue fuck my hole.” After several minutes of slurping and sucking Charlie’s asshole, Derrick got up and retrieved his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. He pulled out a condom, tore open the package and slipped it over his cock, which was once again hard and ready to go. “Oh yeah,” Charlie said when he turned his head and saw Derrick rolling the condom down over his cock. “Get that cock up my ass. Fuck that ass good.” Derrick spit into his hand and spread it on Charlie’s ass, getting his fingers up inside as far as they could go. He spit on the condom as well, then stepped up and pressed the head of his cock against Charlie’s slippery, twitching hole. Moving slowly, Derrick eased into Charlie and pushed until he was fully inserted inside him. “Oh fuck, Derrick!” Charlie gasped. “Goddamn, how big is that fucker?” “Nine inches, baby,” Derrick replied and pumped into Charlie with a steady rhythm. “Take it all, come on. Open up and let me in that hot ass of yours.” “Get it in there. Yeah, that’s it. Fuck my ass. Oh, God!” Charlie eased away from the workbench and bent over to grab his ankles. His blond hair hung down over his face and he watched Derrick’s hairy, muscular calves bunch and release from between his legs as the man fucked him. Charlie’s round, firm ass was positioned just right for Derrick to pound his cock into him over and over again. As Derrick picked up momentum, Charlie suddenly straightened up and grabbed his throbbing dick to jerk himself off onto the surface of the workbench, leaving puddles of come on the scarred wooden top. “Oh shit,” Derrick gasped and pushed Charlie forward so he was leaning over the workbench once again. “I’m coming. Oh fuck, I’m going to come.” Derrick grunted as he shot his load into the condom buried up

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Charlie’s ass, then collapsed across Charlie’s sweaty back and wrapped his arms around him. “Oh, God, that was great,” he breathed into Charlie’s ear. “It was fucking great,” Charlie whispered back. Derrick eased himself out of Charlie and pulled the condom off, tossing it into the garbage can beside the workbench. It was then they noticed the irritated, bitchy voice over the intercom. “Derrick Peterman, get your slutty fucking ass back to your lane right fucking now!” the voice snapped through static and the pounding of bowling balls and pins. “You are fucking up!” “He’s got that right,” Derrick said as his breathing slowed. Charlie grinned as they got dressed. “I thought you had finished your game?” “They probably started the third one already.” Derrick shrugged as he buckled his belt. “Who gives a shit? Chug-a-lug can fuckin’ blow me. Come on.” Charlie followed Derrick back along the dark hallway and out the door they had entered from the bar. A small crowd of people stood in the bar waiting for them, arms crossed and faces tight. “What the fuck?” Derrick snapped. “Don’t you people have something to do?” Chug-a-lug, the captain of The Perfect Tens, stepped forward and glared at him. “Yeah, asshole, we’re trying to finish a bowling game so we can all go the fuck home, okay? Get your well used ass up there and bowl and stop fucking twinks behind the pinsetters, do want our team to get fined again?” Charlie raised a hand, intending to point out that, technically, he was not a twink, but then he caught sight of Inspector Jeannotte standing beside Brent off to the side of the crowd and he quickly lowered his hand. Brent looked tense as Charlie made his way up to the two men and Derrick stomped off to the lane followed by his team. “Sir,” Charlie said without even attempting to get the man’s title correct. He was still a little too drunk to trust what he might say.

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“Inspecting the pin setters?” Jeannotte asked with narrowed eyes. The inspector had removed his suit coat and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and for a moment Charlie thought the man may have joined the league. “Um, no, I, uh …” Charlie stammered. “He’s new to the building,” Brent broke in. “He thought that was the door to the bathroom.” “Ah, I see.” Jeannotte stared at Brent, then looked around. “So, this is a gay social event, is it? Interesting.” “Care to play?” Brent said with a tight smile. “You can throw my ball if you like.” Jeannotte gave Brent an assessing look. “No, Monsieur Harrington. I prefer to use my own balls, thank you.” Charlie snorted a laugh and Brent’s face creased into a smile. Inspector Jeannotte realized what he had said and, with a red face, pressed his lips tight together. Without another word the man turned and stomped off, shouldering his way through the crowd and banging out the exit. “That was pretty funny,” Charlie said. “Thanks.” Brent said with a satisfied smirk. “What was he doing here?” Charlie asked. “Claimed he had some more questions for me.” Brent shrugged and looked away, wincing as his teammate, Mark, left two pins standing. “I think he was just letting me know he’s keeping an eye on me.” “Jeez, what an asshole,” Charlie grumbled. “Yeah,” Brent agreed and turned back to give him a slow smile. “So, speaking of assholes … Bowling pin, right?” Charlie gasped. “How’d you know?” “I did him myself at the beginning of the season.” Brent shrugged and they headed back toward the lane. “He’s hot, but kind of secretive. He’ll hang with the bar crowd and might do someone in the bar or in his truck or something but never takes someone home with him. I want you to be careful around any member of that team, Charlie. I think they’re a little rougher than you’re used to.” “Hey, I can handle myself,” Charlie said and turned just in time to walk into a support column that made him sit back hard on his ass. His teeth clicked together, just missing his tongue, and he felt the beginnings

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of a dull headache form at the base of his skull as laughter erupted all around him. Brent leaned down and lifted him to his feet, helping him walk the remainder of the way back to the table where he helped him sit down. “Here, sit still for a minute and I’ll get some ice for your head.” A moment later Brent returned with a bar towel filled with ice. He handed it to Charlie and left him sitting at the table as he moved up to bowl. Toward the end of the third and final game, Brent got him more ice and sat beside him, watching as Heather left two pins standing with her second ball. Brent sighed. “Dammit. Unless I get three strikes in this last frame we’ve lost the game. You going to be okay while I throw my last ball?” Charlie glared at him around the ice pack. “Yes.” He watched Brent step up to the ball return and dry his hands over the blower. Charlie held his breath as Brent threw the ball then let it out with a groan as the man left a 7-10 split. The Vancouver Vixens had been vanquished.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Triple Play

F

rom the bowling alley, Brent drove them to that week’s league sponsor bar, a place called Hardflip that Brent explained catered to a younger crowd made up mostly of skateboarders and bikers. “Skateboarders and bikers?” Charlie said with a frown. “That’s an unusual mix, isn’t it? I mean, bikers are usually a lot tougher and older than skaters.” Brent smiled as he pulled into the bar parking lot. “Not bikers as in leather daddies, Farm Boy. Bikers as in motocross bicyclers and trick bikers.” He nodded out the passenger side window and Charlie turned to see a group of slender young men taking turns riding their bikes up and down a rounded wooden ramp that curved up perpendicular at both ends and ended at the top in smooth platforms where other young men and some women stood watching or waiting in line. “Oh,” Charlie said, feeling stupid. “Those kinds of bikers.” “Yeah, those kind.” They got out of the truck and watched the riders perform tricks for a few moments. “The bar’s doing really good business. Remember, the drinking age in Canada is nineteen, so these kids can 89

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drink. Not a lot of them own cars yet, but they can buy alcohol. The half pipe was a great idea, but I hear the insurance alone is costing the owner more than it’s worth.” “Half pipe?” Charlie said. “The ramps, Charlie,” Brent replied. “Haven’t you ever seen the X Games or played a video game now and then?” Charlie shrugged. “I’m not very coordinated, you know that. I’ve always stayed away from skateboards and trick bikes.” Brent nodded. “Yeah, I see your point. Come on, I’ll buy you a drink. How’s your head feel?” “Fine,” Charlie said as Brent put an arm around his shoulders and led him to the door behind several women who were singing a drunken, off key version of “I Kissed A Girl.” Charlie noticed three bike racks out front, every spot occupied by small bikes with raised seats. “You’re kidding,” he said, turning to smile at Brent. Brent gave his shoulders a squeeze. “Parking’s never a problem at the Hardflip.” Loud techno music pulsed in the dimly lit bar and lights flashed and zapped over a crowded dance floor set off in a corner. The majority of the dancers were young men and all had their shirts off, tucked into the waistbands of their baggy jeans and shorts. Charlie and Brent shook their heads at the sight of a line of older men standing around the dance floor staring at the young dancers with lust-filled eyes: human chicken hawks. After Brent had bought beers for Charlie and himself, a group of three skinny young men walked in the bar. They hung their skateboards on pegs by the door, adjusted their backwards baseball caps, then approached the bar, walking slowly because of their low riding jeans. The new arrivals leaned on the bar next to Brent and each of the younger men took a moment to look him over. Standing on the opposite side of Brent, Charlie raised his eyebrows at the blatant ogling and leaned forward to shout over the music into Brent’s ear. “I think you have some fans.” “Oh yeah?” Brent turned to look at the trio beside him. “How you guys doing?”

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“Real good,” one of the men said, moving in closer and resting his forearm on the bar next to Brent’s. “Buy us a drink?” Brent grinned and turned to the bartender. “Another round for my friend and myself, and get these guys a drink.” The new arrivals showed their IDs to the bartender and Charlie stepped around Brent to join in whatever conversation might ensue. He looked the men over and decided they were attractive, though not his type. He liked older men with stocky, hairy bodies and these three were young and slender, their chests smooth and hairless. The one speaking to Brent had dyed his hair platinum blond but the other two sported brown hair cut long and shaggy. Brent leaned into the blond and Charlie heard him say over the music, “Are you a natural blond?” “Be nice and you may find out,” the kid replied with a smile and sat back, then turned his attention to Charlie, looking him over for a moment before turning back to Brent and asking, “Who’s the old guy with you?” Charlie’s mouth dropped open. “Old guy?” He looked at Brent who had started to laugh. “I’m younger than him by, like, eight years!” The skater had turned to his shaggy haired buddies and ignored Charlie’s small outburst, but Brent dropped a big, hairy hand on Charlie’s shoulder and pulled him in to say in his ear, “I’m old enough to be in, you know what I mean? Guys my age are considered retro and cool, whereas guys your age are … not.” Charlie shook his head as he straightened up. Brent was older and therefore in style, while Charlie himself, though younger, wasn’t worthy of attention. What a generation! After several more minutes of flirting, Brent and his trio of young fans stood in unison. The three men ambled off to grab their skateboards as Brent paid the bar tab. He turned to Charlie and winked. “Don’t wait up.” “Enjoy yourself,” Charlie said with a roll of his eyes. “You know how to get home, right?” Brent asked. “We’re just up the street here about five blocks.” “Yeah, yeah. Better get a move on before the streetlights come on they have to go home.” Brent laughed and turned to the men behind him just as the outer door opened to admit Derrick Peterman. The deliveryman nodded to Charlie, then stopped as Brent’s three fans turned to him.

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“Hey, delivery dude,” Charlie heard one of the skaters say to Derrick. “Find someone to take that yappy puppy off your hands?” Charlie and Brent both stood up, their ears alert as they turned to watch the interaction between Derrick and the three younger men. The deliveryman shot a nervous glance toward Brent and Charlie before turning his back and leaning into the three men to reply to the question. The skaters all nodded and Derrick walked off without another look at Brent or Charlie. “What was that all about?” Charlie said. “I don’t know, but maybe I can find out with my powers of sexual persuasion,” Brent replied and walked up to the door. Charlie watched as the three skaters put their arms around Brent and each other and they walked out the door as a group. With a shake of his head, Charlie turned to face the dance floor, looking for Derrick, and leaned back to rest his elbows on the bar. He misjudged the distance, however, and fell to the floor, pin wheeling his arms and scattering bar stools. Charlie jumped to his feet and looked around in embarrassment to see if anyone had noticed. The bartender, a thin, pale young man, stared at him for a moment before slowly reaching out to remove the beers abandoned by Brent’s young friends and wipe down the bar. Charlie took a breath and righted the fallen bar stools. “You okay?” someone said from over his shoulder and Charlie turned. Heather Slocumb, Brent’s bowling teammate, stood behind him with a beer in her hand and an expression of amused concern on her face. “That looked like a hard fall.” Charlie blushed and shook his head as he carefully sat on a stool. “I’m okay. I’m used to it. I fall down a lot.” “Oh!” Heather said and her face lit up as she gestured at him with her beer. “You’re the friend Brent keeps telling us about: the one who gets in trouble and falls down and is cursed with bad luck.” “Yeah,” Charlie admitted. “That’s me. I didn’t realize I was known internationally.” Heather laughed and pulled out a stool for herself. “Well, I’ll sit here next to you and we can be ignored together.”

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Charlie threw his hands in the air and turned to her with wide eyes. “I know, right? What is up with that? They think I’m too old but then they go off with Brent? I don’t get it.” Heather shrugged. “Men. That’s why I gave them up. Give me a sturdy woman with a head for business and a passion for landscaping any day of the week.” They shared a laugh and drank for a few moments in silence as they watched the kids on the dance floor pump and grind. Charlie searched the place for Derrick but the man had disappeared into the crowd around the dance floor. He gave up trying to find him and asked Heather about her accounting business and she explained that she had been working for a large accounting firm when she realized she hated it and left to start her own business. She and Brent had started their businesses a week apart and on weekends and some days when she had no clients, she helped him out in the store and he helped her out by recommending her services to people. Brent had talked her into joining the bowling league, claiming she needed a social outlet after breaking up with her lover of ten years. “Wow, ten years?” Charlie said. “Ten years,” Heather repeated with a sigh. “As a lesbian, that’s just a drop in the bucket, trust me. I’ve got friends who’ve been together twenty, thirty years.” “That long?” Charlie shook his head. “I didn’t know they had lesbians back that far.” Heather laughed and punched him in the arm before turning to order them another round. When Heather turned away, Charlie winced and rubbed at his arm, wondering if he would bruise. “Hey,” Heather said, leaning in and handing him a fresh beer. “What do you think about these robberies happening all over town?” “Yeah, Brent told me about them,” Charlie replied. “And what’s with that detective who thinks Brent has something to do with them?” “I don’t know.” Heather shook her head. “The guy is as uptight as my aunt Ruth during menopause. Inspector Jeannotte is suspicious because the other store owners are somehow involved with the bowling league and they found Brent’s fingerprints at two of the crime scenes.” Heather shrugged and drank from her beer.

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“Wait a minute,” Charlie said. “They found Brent’s fingerprints at the crime scenes?” “Oh, he didn’t tell you that?” Heather said and looked guilty. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.” “Did Brent have an excuse why his fingerprints were at these places?” Charlie asked. “Well, yeah. He had gone around to talk to the other pet store owners about security after the first two robberies. I guess Jeannotte accused Brent of casing the places.” “Wow, what did Brent say to that?” Charlie wondered. “He was pretty pissed, griping about how every time he tries to do something positive it blows up in his face. I think this Jeannotte really wants to get this case closed and off his desk. I heard he hates animals and hopes they’re all sold for food to some starving country.” Charlie screwed up his face. “That’s awful.” “It is.” Heather nodded. “And someone’s really got Brent’s balls in a vise. Word’s gotten out about Jeannotte’s suspicions and now I think the real thieves are going to use Brent as a scapegoat.” “I can’t believe they suspect Brent,” Charlie said. “He loves those animals. You can tell just by the way he treats them.” “Yeah, I know,” Heather said, her voice low. “Brent and I both think it’s someone from the bowling league, but we can’t prove anything. I tell you, I have two dogs and a cat myself and if I ever find out who’s responsible for stealing these animals and selling them to dog fighting gangs –” A woman wearing a football helmet stumbled up, throwing her arm around Heather’s shoulders and interrupting her threat. She plunked her helmeted head against Heather’s skull and gave them a drunken smile. Heather laughed and turned to Charlie. “Charlie, this is Joan Wilcox,” Heather said. “She’s an old friend of mine. Joan, this is Charlie Heggensford.” “Wha’ tha’ fuck?” Joan slurred and squinted at him. “Haggis for dinner? What the fuck kind of name is that?” Charlie laughed. “That’s one I’ve never heard before. I like it.”

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Joan looked at Heather and smiled again, then reached out to plop a hand against her cheek. “You’re pretty.” Heather lifted Joan’s hand away from her face, chugged the rest of her beer and jumped down off the barstool. “Okay big girl, time to get you home.” Joan smiled and put her arms around Heather and hugged her tight. “All right! She’s finally seen the light! She loves me! I knew it would happen one day.” Heather bugged her eyes out at Charlie over Joan’s shoulder as the woman hugged her and Charlie laughed. “Well, it’s not quite what you’re expecting, hon, but if it will get you out the door, okay then. Let’s get you home and pump some aspirin and water into you.” Joan smiled and turned to Charlie. “Ooo, sounds kinky!” “Yeah, yeah,” Heather said with good humor. “Come on.” Charlie watched the two women head out the door, Joan’s solid body weaving them both back and forth across the floor. He finished his beer, took one more look around for Derrick with no luck, then walked out the door himself. The sun was warm on his shoulders as he walked through a neighborhood of red brick townhouses on his way back to Brent’s apartment. His mind was whirling with the idea of Brent as a suspect in the pet store robberies and the question the skaters had asked Derrick in the bar. Find someone to take that yappy puppy off your hands? Could Derrick have approached the three men at some point and tried to sell them a puppy he had stolen? Charlie shook his head to try and clear it of all his confusing thoughts. He could not picture Derrick as a thief, the man was into some heavy ass play, but he didn’t think Derrick was a bad person. Then again, Charlie had only met him a day ago, so maybe he should reserve judgment. Charlie took a breath and, to distract himself from his heavy thinking, looked over the three story townhouses he was walking past. He thought of his studio apartment back in L.A. and wondered what it would be like to live in a place with more than one room, imagining all the furniture he would put in his own townhouse, if he could afford it, and what colors he would paint each room, if he could afford paint.

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Thus distracted, Charlie did not notice the man bent over to tie his shoe until he had almost walked right into his raised ass. He stopped just before contact and stepped to the side, jumping as a tiny dog on a leash gave a high yelp and stood shaking on the concrete, growling up at him. Charlie chuckled at the tiny, nearly hairless animal until the man stood up and glared at him, stopping Charlie’s breath. It was, of course, Cedric Wilmington. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Cedric snapped. “These are respectable streets, not the usual red light districts you tend to favor.” Charlie sneered at him. “Then you’d better get your ass back inside.” Cedric narrowed his eyes. “You know, you’re nothing but a cheap thrill. You’ll never keep him.” “Well then, you and I will have something in common, won’t we?” Charlie shot back, the beer giving him courage. Before Cedric could reply, his tiny dog lifted a thin, hairless leg to let out a narrow stream of piss across Charlie’s shoes. The dog shuddered in the chilly wind as it peed, its large, bat ears shaking. Charlie let out a cry and jumped back, startling the dog so much it darted behind Cedric’s thick ankles. Cedric laughed and picked up the dog, kissing its head and whispering, “Good job, Henry,” as he stepped around the piss on the sidewalk and walked up a brick path to one of the townhouses. He called over his shoulder, “That’ll teach you to stare at a dog when he pees. Watching animals take a piss may have been a common past time back on that little patch of dirt you call a farm, but here in the city animals are a little more modest.” Henry yipped in agreement over Cedric’s shoulder and the two disappeared inside a townhouse. Charlie cursed the mangy mutt as he shook the pee off his shoes, then turned to continue on his way, arriving at Brent’s building just fifteen minutes later. He stopped at the soda machine to deposit change, smirking as he sorted through his American change for Canadian coins. Taking his diet soda, he mounted the remaining stairs and let himself into the apartment, kicking off his shoes at the door and stopping in the living room at the sound of voices. He could hear Brent’s voice and a couple of younger men. Gasps and groans followed by deep grunts leaked out the

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half open door to the bedroom. Charlie hesitated, then moved to sit on the arm of the couch with a direct sightline into the bedroom. Brent lay on his back across the bed with his ass positioned at the edge of the mattress. His legs were raised in the air, his feet held up by one of the brunettes who sat with his ass on Brent’s face. The brunette’s body was slim and smooth and his hair hung down over his clean-shaven face. The kid’s balls hung low and sagged over Brent’s goatee as his cock stood straight up along his flat stomach. His navel and both nipples were pierced. The other brunette, this one with a tattoo that read SK8R across the upper area of his back in Old Century lettering, knelt on the floor and spread Brent’s hairy ass cheeks apart as he rimmed him. The blond, his hair hanging down over his face, sucked furiously at Brent’s thick, stout cock, his pale fingers wrapped around Brent’s shaved balls and the base of his dick which glistened with saliva every time he drew his mouth up along the shaft. As Charlie watched, the brunette sitting on Brent’s face reached down and began to twist the bear’s nipples. Brent grunted with pleasure into the kid’s asshole and moved his hand up to begin stroking the hard length of the upright cock above his chest. The tattooed SK8R moved his tongue up to Brent’s balls and took the heavy, shaved sack into his mouth. The blond continued to suck Brent’s dick as SK8R sucked his balls and slipped his index finger into Brent’s wet, spit-slicked asshole. “Oh yeah,” the brunette on Brent’s face moaned as Brent’s hand began to move faster along his cock. “Stroke that dick, man. Work it hard.” The blond slowed his sucking and clamped his lips around the head of Brent’s purpling cock. He sat up to toss the hair back from his face and looked down at the stiff prick in his fist. “That’s a nice poker you’re sportin’ there, big guy,” the blond said. “My asshole’s twitching pretty hard. Mind if I sit on it, eh?” The brunette moved off Brent’s face and the bear looked down at the toned and smooth skinned blond. “Brady, I would be honored if you would sit on my dick.”

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“How’s that finger feel, Brent?” SK8R said with a grin. “Want anything bigger up there?” He had reached down and started stroking himself, a monster of a dick at least two inches in diameter and eight inches long. “Holy fuck,” Brent said as he caught sight of SK8R’s cock. “Where do you put that thing when you skate?” SK8R laughed. “Don’t wear underwear, dude. And I’m half hard all day long, keeps me stabilized.” He smirked and slapped the bulging head of his long, thick cock against Brent’s spit slippery hole. “Just do it slow, Trent,” Brent said. “I want to be able to keep from shitting myself when you’re done, okay?” “Nice image, dude,” Trent said and laughed as he fished a long string of condom packets out of his cargo pants. “What about Mikey?” Trent tipped his head toward the pierced brunette who had moved back into position over Brent’s face. “What are you gonna do, Mikey?” Mikey grinned at Trent from beneath his hair. “I kind of like where I am, Trent.” Brady, the blond, grinned as he rolled a condom along Brent’s dick. “Ride that big bear face, Mikey. Let Brent tongue fuck you till you blow your fuckin’ wad on his furry chest.” Brent groaned as Brady’s hands gripped and stroked and positioned the condom along his cock. Sitting back to assess his work, Brady checked the packet he had just torn open and smiled. “Pre-lubed, cool.” “Only way to travel, dude,” Trent said as he struggled to fit the condom over his mammoth dick. “Fuck, man. Should have bought the extra large. Memo to self, next trip to store buy extra large condoms, eh?” Charlie nearly laughed at Trent’s self-memo but managed to keep quiet. He shifted slightly on the couch and reached down to carefully ease his zipper open and release his erection. As he watched the action in the bedroom, Charlie began to stroke himself. Trent managed to get the condom over his cock and stepped up between Brent’s raised legs. He leaned down and spat generously into Brent’s hole, working his saliva into the man to provide more lubrication. He spit down onto his sheathed cock and stroked it as Brady straddled

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Brent’s groin with his back to Trent and reached behind him for Brent’s cock. “Allow me,” Trent said and took hold of Brent’s dick to aim it into Brady’s willing hole. “Bull’s eye!” “Oh yeah,” Brady said as he lowered himself onto Brent. “Uh,” Brent grunted, his voice muffled by Mikey’s asshole. “Yeah.” Brady sat fully impaled on Brent’s dick for a moment with his eyes closed, then began to bounce, slowly building up speed. When Brady had found his rhythm, Trent stepped up between Brent’s legs and directed his prick at the waiting hole. The wide, rounded head of Trent’s dick eased Brent’s sphincter open and disappeared inside him. “Oh fuck!” Brent grunted. “Yeah, that’s it.” He moved Mikey off his face for a look down his body where Brady bounced up and down along his dick and Trent stood between his raised legs, his long, thin fingers on Brady’s shoulders as he pressed deeper into Brent’s asshole. “Oh, shit, Trent. You’re a fuckin’ mutant! Goddamn.” Mikey pushed Brent’s head back down and resumed his position. “Eat my fuckin’ ass, dude.” Brent reached up to spread Mikey’s smooth, hairless ass cheeks and resumed licking and sucking at his pink, flexing hole. He ran the soft fur of his goatee over the surface of Mikey’s sphincter every so often, making the kid groan and tip his head back. Mikey’s fingers moved to Brent’s nipples, twisting and pulling them hard. Trent stopped with his cock halfway inside Brent and eased back out. He paused a moment, then pressed forward, spearing his way to the hilt as Brady’s momentum increased. Trent watched the shaft of Brent’s cock slide in and out of Brady’s reddened asshole and reached up to take hold of Brent’s ankles. With his eyes on the action before him, Trent began fucking Brent with long, slow strokes. “Oh, fuck me,” Brent groaned. “Stuff that big cock up my hole. Yeah, get it in there. Oh, fuck yeah. Sit on my cock, Brady, tighten your ass on my dick.” Brady clenched the muscles in his rectum around the length of Brent’s dick as he bounced up and down. Brent groaned and started to eat Mikey’s ass harder, pressing his tongue deeper into the man above him.

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“Oh fuck,” Trent said as Brent tightened and released his ass muscles around his cock. “Bite down on that big fuckin’ dick. Squeeze my cock. Oh, fuck yeah!” Mikey reached down and started jerking himself off, his head thrown back and his shaggy hair hanging down along his back. As he stroked himself with his right hand he twisted and tugged at Brent’s nipples with his left. Moving his hips back and forth across Brent’s goatee and mouth, his lips parted and he let out a loud, surprisingly deep grunt for such a skinny kid. “I’m coming,” he said and moved to the side of Brent’s face. Leaning over Brent’s head, Mikey shot a thick, heavy load of come across his nose and goatee. Brent opened his mouth and sucked down the last few shots, then took Mikey’s cock in his mouth to suck it clean. Mikey groaned and twitched as Brent sucked hard on his sensitive dick. Taking Mikey’s cock out of his mouth, Brent looked down at Brady where the man bounced over his groin. Trent’s fucking had picked up speed and his huge cock pummeled Brent’s asshole. “Oh, fuckin’ shit,” Brent groaned. “Ride that ass and cock. Yeah, do me hard and fast. Oh, fuck yeah.” Trent increased the thrust of his hips even more, banging harder at Brent’s hole. Brady rode Brent’s dick faster as well, his hands raised to twist at his own nipples. “Jerk me off,” Brady gasped. “Grab my cock, Brent.” Brent reached down and grabbed Brady’s circumcised dick, his large, furry hand engulfing the man’s penis. Brent stroked him quickly and soon Brady let out a choked gasp. “I’m gonna shoot it. Oh fuck. Oh yeah!” Mikey moved in and put his open mouth directly over the suddenly spewing head of Brady’s smooth, pale cock. Come shot into his mouth and across his face and Mikey licked the rest off Brent’s hairy stomach. He ran his tongue over the hard length of Brady’s come smeared cock and took his friend’s dick down his throat to suck him clean. “I’m gonna come,” Brent said. “Stuff that dick up my ass. Yeah, that’s it.” His hands rested on Brady’s hips and he grunted through his orgasm as he shot his wad into the condom buried in Brady’s asshole.

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“Oh fuck,” Trent gasped. “I’m coming. Oh yeah.” He pulled his big dick out of Brent’s asshole and stripped off the condom then stroked himself to climax all over Brady’s back. Shot after shot of thick, hot come splattered across Brady’s pale skin and ran down to pool in the hair on Brent’s legs and groin. Trent leaned down and ran his tongue through the runners of come, tasting his own spunk. Charlie watched the finale of come shots as he stroked himself, his hand gliding faster along his cock. As he came he let out what he thought was a quiet gasp but it managed to attract the attention of everyone in the bedroom. The four men turned in time to watch as his come shoot up from the swollen head of his dick and spatter over his T-shirt and the legs of his jeans. “Oh, gross,” Trent said with a sneer. “That old dude’s been watching us fuck. Jesus, man, get a life.” “Sorry,” Charlie said with a sheepish smile. Brent grinned as he caught Charlie’s eye. “Hey there, Farm Boy. When did you get home?” “About half an hour ago.” “Been watching the whole time?” Brent asked as the trio of younger men began to get dressed. They used their T-shirts to wipe the come off themselves, then pulled on their baggy pants and shorts and planted their baseball hats backwards on their heads. “Later, Brent,” Brady said and gave him a finger sign. “See ya around, Brady,” Brent replied. The three ignored Charlie as they passed him in the living room, and then they were gone. He listened to them clomp down the stairs and heard the sound of their skateboards on the sidewalk as they rode off. Turning back to the bedroom, he smirked at Brent who had turned to lie on his side. The bear was still sticky with come and his cock flopped full and soft over his thick, hairy thigh. “I take it you had a good time?” Charlie asked. “Amazing what you can learn from the younger generation,” Brent said and got up to pad into the living room. He stopped before the couch and leaned down to give Charlie a quick kiss on the mouth and tug on his sticky, deflating cock.

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“Did you ask about Derrick trying to give them a puppy?” Charlie asked. “Yep, I did.” Brent headed toward the bathroom, his hairy ass cheeks jiggling with each step. “And?” Charlie said. Brent stopped in the doorway to the bathroom and turned to face him. “They were skating in some vacant lot on the edge of town and Derrick pulled up in his truck and called them over. He had a puppy in a box that was barking constantly and he told them he had found it in an alley and wondered if they were interested in taking it off his hands.” “Oh, really?” Charlie stood up and stepped out of his jeans. “That’s interesting.” “Yeah, I thought so, too.” Brent smirked. “I’m going to take a shower, are you interested in cleaning up with me?” Charlie nodded and grinned. “Yeah, a good long shower sounds nice.” He joined Brent in the bathroom and they cleaned up together, lathering each other’s bodies and slipping soapy fingers into crevices and orifices. Afterwards, they headed off to bed, talking about how to approach Derrick before falling asleep in a nude tangle of arms and legs.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Uncut Above the Rest

C

harlie had been in Vancouver for two weeks and was beginning to feel at home. Brent had taken him to see places like Stanley Park, the Wall Tower with its combination of smoked and clear glass skin, and the VanDusen Botanical Gardens where they managed a couple of quiet blowjobs in the large hedge maze. One sunny afternoon Brent closed the shop early and drove Charlie across the Lion’s Gate Bridge to West Vancouver where they browsed the shops and walked along Ambleside Beach, the mountains hovering in the background like watchful parents as the gulls spun overhead. On the way home, they stopped and ate at an Italian restaurant near the steam clock in Gastown which, Brent confided, actually ran on electricity rather than steam. Charlie also accompanied Brent to the bowling alley each week, and had been asked to step in and sub for Brent’s teammate Robert who seemed to have an attendance problem. Charlie had averaged 176 for all six games he played, pretty well considering he had not thrown a bowling ball since his junior high school prom. He sighed at the memory of the local bowling alley decorated with streamers in the school colors and his 103

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date, Debbie Fortenau, trying to bowl while wearing the oversized wrist corsage he had bought for her. Sometimes he missed Idaho. The Vancouver Vixens were still in second place behind The Perfect Tens and it looked as if the final games, to be held in two weeks, were going to be too close to call. Charlie tried to ask Derrick about the barking puppy he had attempted to give to the skaterboarders, but the one time he managed to get the man away from his team, Derrick’s cell phone clipped to his belt began to buzz. The man looked surprised at the number displayed, then excused himself and stepped out into the parking lot in his bowling shoes, a definite faux pas to any serious bowler. With a frown, Charlie returned to the alley where the Vixens were bowling just as his turn came up. One morning, Charlie sat yawning behind the front counter of Canadian Critters and watched Endora glare at him from her perch across the room. Brent had awakened just long enough to ask Charlie to walk down and open the shop before going back to sleep, claiming he was worn out from bar hopping the night before to get out of bed. Charlie doodled on a scratch pad as the animals around him paced and panted. The phone rang, prompting a few barks from the puppies, and Charlie picked it up, saying in a bored voice, “Canadian Critters, this is Charlie.” “You’re not serious,” said a familiar voice. “That’s actually the name of his fucking store?” Charlie frowned. “Who is this?” “Christ, you’re kidding me, right?” A deep sigh. “You’ve been gone, what, three weeks, and already you’ve forgotten the voice of your dearest, most trusted friend? You Iowans, I don’t know about you.” Charlie smiled as he recognized Billy Ransom’s bitchy whine. “Billy! I’m from Idaho, not Iowa.” “Same fucking difference,” Billy said. “Flat, farmland, Midwest.” “Well, not really, but I’ll just agree with you to shut you up,” Charlie replied. “How’re things down in L.A.?” “Yeah, well, things are fine,” Billy said, then sighed dramatically. “Well, okay, they’re not so fine. Kinitia told me to stay away from the new office until they’re done working on it.”

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Charlie laughed. “And why is that?” “She said I was distracting the construction workers!” Billy exclaimed. “Can you imagine that? How could I distract professional construction workers? Just because I wore an old jockstrap to strip off that nasty old wall paper and paint the walls and help with plaster.” “A jockstrap?” Charlie repeated. “That’s it?” “No!” Billy said defensively, then quietly added. “I wore work boots too.” “Well, I can understand why Kinitia would kick you out. What are you doing now? Is the strike still going on?” Billy sighed. “Yes, GAPPY is still on strike so there’s no work and no fluffing and I’m getting bored. Oh, by the way, Rock’s called for you like a hundred and twelve times.” “What?” Charlie said and sat up straight on the stool. “Called for me where? At the office?” “No, here at your apartment,” Billy replied. “He keeps leaving long messages on your answering machine.” “My –?” Charlie stopped. “Billy, what the hell are you doing in my apartment?” “Oh, didn’t I clear this with you?” Billy said with over-rehearsed innocence. “I thought you told me it would be all right for me to stay here while you were away. Didn’t you say that?” Charlie sighed. “What happened?” “I couldn’t afford the rent at my place since we haven’t been working and I sort of got myself, well …” “Evicted?” “Ugh!” Billy grumbled. “That’s such an ugly word. Anyway, I remembered where you hid your spare key just in case you got locked out and I let myself in and, well, Rock’s been calling and I thought you’d want to know. Are you mad?” “No,” Charlie said, and was surprised to find he wasn’t. “You’re welcome to stay there until I get back. But you’d better start looking for a place of your own. My apartment’s not big enough for me let alone the both of us.”

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“Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that,” Billy said breezily. “Could you make sure your next place has, like, a spare room or at least enough space for a pull out couch?” Charlie closed his eyes and said in as calm a voice as he could muster, “Billy, what did Rock say in his messages?” “Oh, those. Well, he started off saying that he really, really missed you. That was the first, like, fifty messages. Then it sounds like he might be getting worried because he hasn’t been able to get in touch with you. Don’t you have a number where you can reach him over in Taiwan?” “He’s in The Netherlands, and no, I don’t have a number,” Charlie replied. “He keeps moving around for these appearances he’s making.” The bell over the door sounded, setting off a round of barking and meowing, and Charlie’s stomach clenched as Cedric Wilmington stomped into the shop followed by two hunky policemen. Cedric was wearing chartreuse painter’s coveralls and purple jellie sandals. “Um, Billy, I have to go now.” “What?” Billy said. “Why? I was just going to tell you about my celebrity sightings!” “Look, two cops just came in,” Charlie whispered. “I have to go. If that person calls again, give him the number to the store here.” “Cops? Are they hot?” Billy asked. Charlie hung up the phone and smiled nervously at the new arrivals. “Cedric, how are you?” “Arrest him!” Cedric shrieked, pointing at Charlie, his eyes wide. “Arrest him right this fucking minute!” “What?” Charlie exclaimed and looked at the two cops. “Why? What did I do?” “You stole my baby!” Cedric said. “All right now, Mr. Wilmington,” one of the cops said, trying to hide a smile. “Just calm down. We’re only here to ask him some questions, remember?” Cedric clamped his lips together so tight his mouth resembled a long, straight paper cut across his face. He folded his arms across his sagging chest and glared at Charlie as the cop who had spoken stepped forward. The cop was short and stocky with close cropped, thinning blond hair

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and a square jaw. Dark blond hair stuck up from beneath the bright white collar of his undershirt. “Are you Charlie Heggensford?” the officer asked. “Yes,” Charlie replied quietly. “What’s this about, officer?” “It would appear that Mr. Wilmington’s dog has disappeared and he suspects you may have had something to do with it.” The officer fixed his blue eyes on Charlie’s face. “Would you know anything about this?” “What? His dog?” Charlie looked at Cedric. “How could you think I would do that, Cedric? I mean, come on!” “He’s stolen many other things from me in the past,” Cedric said. “My precious Rock, the respect of my peers, my own self worth, and now he’s stolen Henry from me too! And you’re just going to let him get away with it!” “Sir, you need to calm down right now, do you understand?” the other cop stepped up beside Cedric, towering over him and staring down at the director. “We’re doing all we can to find your dog, but your outbursts are not helping us at all.” “Fine,” Cedric snapped and turned away, finding himself facing Endora who hissed at him. Cedric jumped back then, with a huff, stomped off down the aisle of the store. Charlie mentally applauded Endora and turned his attention back to the cops. “Officers, I don’t have any idea what he’s talking about.” “We understand,” the stocky cop said with a smile that Charlie found sexy. “We just want to ask you some questions. Okay?” Charlie nodded and looked at the officer’s nametag. “Of course, Officer Richards.” “Thanks.” He gestured to his taller partner. “This is Officer Barton.” The other cop nodded at Charlie with a smile of his own. He was just over six feet tall and broad shouldered with dark red hair and brown eyes. His hairy forearms were muscular and the short sleeves of his uniform shirt fit tight over his biceps. The telephone rang, pulling Charlie’s attention from Officer Barton’s muscles, and he apologized as he picked up the receiver. “Canadian Critters, this is Charlie.”

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“What’s going on up there?” Billy said. “Are you being arrested? Do the cops have handcuffs?” “Not now, Billy,” Charlie mumbled into the phone. “I’m busy.” “With what?” Billy asked. “Do they have big dicks?” “Goodbye, Billy.” Charlie hung up and blushed. “Sorry. A friend from L.A.” “Another no good fluffer, no doubt!” Cedric piped up from down the aisle. “Mr. Wilmington,” Officer Richards said as the muscles in his jaw bunched. “Please keep quiet while we talk with Mr. Heggensford.” “Please call me Charlie,” Charlie said. “Now, why does he think I stole his dog?” Officer Richards cleared his throat. “He claims two weeks ago he ran into you while you were casing the neighborhood where he is staying. He also claims you broke in last night after he had gone out for the evening and abducted his dog. Do you have an alibi for last night?” “Up until 10:00 p.m. when Brent Harrington went out to the bars,” Charlie said. “I didn’t feel like going out last night so I stayed home. Brent’s the owner of the pet store.” “Don’t trust that one! He’ll lie for him!” Cedric shouted from the back of the store. Officer Barton rolled his eyes and walked off down the aisle. A moment later he reappeared towing Cedric by the arm and the two stepped out the door, Cedric calling over his shoulder, “I know it was you, you fluffing bitch! You and that fucking Harrington! I’ll be watching you!” “Sorry about that,” Officer Richards said. “It would seem he’s a little excitable.” “Yes, I’m quite familiar with Cedric,” Charlie replied. “So this could be a case of him simply wanting to get you in trouble,” Officer Richards said. “I believe so,” Charlie said. “His dog may have been stolen, but I had nothing to do with it. I can go wake up Brent if you don’t believe me.” “No need,” Officer Richards said. “Let me go down and confer with my partner. I’ll be right back.”

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Officer Richards stepped outside and Charlie let out his breath. Damn that fucking Cedric Wilmington to hell. No matter where he went in this world he had a feeling that Cedric was always going to be there to make his life miserable, or at least more complicated. The telephone rang again and Charlie sighed. He snapped up the receiver and said, “Stop calling, dammit! I’ll call you later.” “But I need to know right now!” Billy whined. “What’s going on?” Charlie sighed. The only way to get rid of Billy would be to tell him what was going on. “All right, but I only have a minute. Cedric’s here in Vancouver.” “What?” Billy said. “Cedric Wilmington is in Vancouver? Why?” “I don’t know,” Charlie said, speaking fast. “But he owns this weird little dog he calls Henry.” “Henry?” Billy repeated. “Yes, Henry. Looks like a hairless rat.” “Ewww.” “Yeah, you have no idea. Anyway, Henry has been stolen and Cedric is blaming me for it and he walked in here with two cops …” “Hot cops?” Billy asked. Charlie took a breath, struggling to remain patient. “Yes, they are very hot cops, Billy. Could I finish please?” Billy sighed. “Continue.” “So Cedric walks in with these cops and accuses me of taking his damn dog! Can you believe it?” “The rat dog? That’s it?” Billy said with disappointment. “That’s all you’ve been doing? Dodging Cedric Wilmington and stealing his dog?” “I didn’t steal his dog!” Charlie snapped. “You could have done all that down here in L.A. and saved yourself a trip north. You disappoint me, Charlie.” “You know, for someone who is staying in my apartment without my permission, you’re being kind of an asshole right now,” Charlie pointed out. “Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you more about Rock!” Billy said.

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“More?” Charlie looked up as the bell over the door jangled and the dogs began barking again. Cedric stood before him, his chest heaving and sweat standing out on his forehead. “Uh oh.” “What?” Billy said. “Something wrong? Are the hot cops back? Are they naked?” “Billy, I need to go,” Charlie said. “It’s that bitch Cedric again, isn’t it?” Billy screamed and Charlie winced, holding the phone away from his ear. “You tell that diseased cunt to get the fuck out of that country and get back to the States!” “Cunt?!” Cedric shrieked. “He called me a cunt?” “Holy shit,” Billy said. “Did he hear me?” “The whole fucking neighborhood heard you, Billy,” Charlie told him. “Gotta go.” “Wait!” Billy shouted again. “Don’t hang up! I need to tell you about Rock!” “Rock?” Cedric said and fisted his hands. “What about Rock?” “Really have to go now, Billy,” Charlie said and stepped back from the counter as Cedric leaped forward to try and grab the phone out of his hand. “Let me talk to him!” Cedric shouted. He grasped the phone cord and began pulling Charlie toward him. “I want to speak to him! Let me talk to that little slut fluffer. What does he know about Rock?” “I have to go Billy,” Charlie said quickly. “I’ll talk to you later. Bye!” He reached out and pressed the disconnect button. Cedric snarled at him. “You bitch.” The door opened and Officers Barton and Richards walked in, both a little out of breath. Richards put his hands on his hips and glared at Cedric. “Mr. Wilmington, you need to leave, right now.” “Fine!” Cedric threw the phone cord at Charlie and turned away. “I’ll leave, but I know this bitch took my dog. I’ll be watching you.” He pointed a pudgy finger at Charlie, then stomped by the officers to the door. Before he could leave they heard a loud pop and Cedric stumbled and cried out. Charlie and the officers looked down to where Cedric’s left jellie sandal had blown out. Clear goo oozed from the ruptured purple heel of the shoe. “Might want to get that patched up,” Charlie said with a grin.

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“Fuck off!” Cedric snapped and walked unevenly out the door. “Is that guy for real?” Officer Richards asked. “Unfortunately, he thinks he is,” Charlie replied. “Too bad he’s such a good director.” “Him?” Officer Barton asked. “What’s he direct?” “Um,” Charlie said, suddenly embarrassed. “Well, documentary type movies.” Officer Richards laughed and backhanded his partner in the chest. “You big dope. That was Cedric Wilmington, the porn director.” Charlie’s eyes widened. “You know him?” “I’ve got all his movies at home,” Office Richards said. “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize his name.” “Yeah, me too,” Officer Barton said. “You’re always thinking about porn.” “Yeah, yeah,” Richards said and turned to Charlie. “So, Charlie. How do you know Cedric?” “I’m a fluffer down in L.A.,” Charlie replied. “I’ve worked on some of his sets.” “Fluffer, huh?” Barton said with a grin. “And how’s that treating you?” Charlie shrugged and blushed. “Not too bad. I won an award last year.” “For?” Richards asked. “Best Fluffer of the Year.” “Really?” Barton looked around. “Care to prove it?” “I’d like to,” Charlie said. “But I have to watch the store.” The officers looked around the empty aisles. “No one’s come in since we got here, Charlie,” Barton said as he walked up to the door and flipped the lock. “I think you could take a bit of a break to demonstrate your talents. Don’t you think so, Officer Richards?” “I think that would be considered being an upstanding citizen,” Officer Richards replied. “How about we go into the back room?” Charlie looked the men over, his eyes focusing on their crotches and, with a smile, tipped his head toward the back. “Come on back here.”

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Once they had gathered in the back room, Charlie sat on a low stack of dog food bags and the two officers stood before him, their arms around each other’s shoulders. He unzipped their pants and slipped his hands inside to grab the stiffening cocks. To his surprise Officer Richards, the shorter of the two men, had a longer cock. It was nearly eight inches long, uncut, and thick. Officer Barton’s cock was also uncut, about seven inches long, but thicker than Richards’. Charlie stroked both of the dicks before him and licked his lips as he watched them harden. “Oh that feels really good,” Barton said. “Stroke that thick dick.” “You’ve both got really nice dicks,” Charlie said. “I like uncut cocks.” He moved in and ran his tongue down the length of Officer Richards’ dick and the man moaned. He moved over to Officer Barton and repeated the gesture from the base of his cock to the swollen, hidden head. As he reached the end of the man’s dick Charlie opened his mouth and swallowed it down to the root. “Oh fuck!” Officer Barton gasped. “Swallow that fuckin’ thing whole. Oh shit.” “Yeah,” Officer Richards said, stroking himself as he watched Charlie sucking his partner. “Suck that fat cock. Take it down your throat.” Charlie worked Officer Barton’s dick for a while, then shifted position and turned to Officer Richards. He peeled back the foreskin covering the man’s bulging head and pursed his lips around the smooth, slick skin. Pre-come bubbled out of the slit and Charlie slurped it up. He released the loose foreskin and pulled it over the head of Officer Richards’ dick, then slipped his tongue into the opening and ran it over the inside of his foreskin. “Oh yeah,” Officer Richards said. “That feels so fuckin’ good.” He reached up to unbutton his shirt and pulled his T-shirt up to expose his flat, hairy belly and muscular chest. “God you are so fuckin’ hot,” Officer Barton said and reached over to run his large hands over his partner’s chest. He tweaked and tugged at Officer Richards’ nipples and squeezed his firm pecs. The two men kissed, their tongues wallowing back and forth as Charlie moved from one cock to the other.

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After sucking each of them fully erect, Charlie turned the men to face each other and positioned their cocks head to head. He pulled Officer Barton’s foreskin up over his partner’s cock, covering the head of Officer Richards’ dick with Barton’s foreskin, then repeated the process using Officer Richards’ foreskin. Officer Barton broke the kiss to look down and watch as his cock was swallowed by his partner’s foreskin. “Oh yeah, dock those big dicks,” Barton said. “Let me fuck his foreskin.” “God that feels so fucking good,” Richards said and lowered his head to his partner’s bare chest. He ran his tongue over the thin line of hair that started between Barton’s pecs and traveled down over his ripped abs to disappear beneath his belt. Moving across the man’s chest he sucked and licked Barton’s small, brown nipples, bringing them up to hard points he then took between his teeth. Barton groaned and pressed his hand against the back of his partner’s head, pushing him harder against his chest. “Oh yeah. Bite those tits, man. Suck my nipples.” Charlie moved in and ran his mouth along both shafts, his lips caressing the top and bottom of each cock as they remained docked together. He moved back and forth from one patch of pubic hair to the other, his mouth surrounding the solid shafts as his tongue pressed against the hot flesh. He closed his eyes and began moving his mouth faster as he reached down to pull out his own erection. Pre-come drizzled down the length of his dick and his fingers spread the fluid along the shaft. “Fuck, that feels good,” Barton grunted. Both men had straightened up and stood with their eyes closed, fingers reaching out to twist and tug at each other’s nipples. “Run that hot mouth over our cocks. Yeah, that’s it.” “Oh man,” Richards groaned. “I’m getting close.” “Me too,” Barton said. “Really close.” Richards suddenly reached down and disengaged his cock from Barton’s foreskin. As the man pulled his dick away, Charlie took his partner’s dick in his mouth and sucked it with abandon. Richards grunted and Charlie felt the hot, wet slap of come on his face as the man blew his load. The smell of semen burst into his nostrils and Charlie snorted a grunt as his balls pulled up and his own load of come blasted out. It shot across the floor of the back room, some dripping over Barton’s shoes, and then

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the cock in his mouth erupted. Semen filled his mouth and ran out over his lips and chin as Barton gasped his way through his own orgasm. “Oh fuck! Suck me dry, fluffer. Yeah, that’s it.” Barton looked down at Charlie and grinned. “Okay, Charlie. You deserved that award.” “I’ll say,” Richards added. “You’ve got a hot mouth.” The three men cleaned up in the bathroom, then the officers took their leave. They promised Charlie they would be in touch about Cedric’s complaint against him, thanked him once more, then unlocked the door and headed down the stairs. When Charlie rounded the corner from the bathroom to the front counter he saw Nicky, the hot soda machine man, standing outside, his brown shirt tight across his hairy chest and his handsome face pressed to the glass in the door, hands cupped around his eyes to cut the glare. The soda machine door hung open behind him, his dolly for carting up the soda bottles standing off to the side. The man jumped at the sight of Charlie, then he smiled and winked before turning to close the soda machine and carry his dolly down the steps. A small thrill worked its way through Charlie and he moved behind the counter, stopping at the sight of Endora perched on the stool. The cat fixed him with a cool look and he waved his hands to chase her off the stool, then used a damp paper towel from the bathroom to wipe away any cat hair or dander before he sat down. A moment later, he heard Brent’s heavy tread as the man descended the stairs from his apartment. The door opened, the bell making the dogs bark again, and Brent leaned in with a serious expression. “Watch the shop, Charlie,” he said. “There’s been another robbery.”

CHAPTER NINE

Plumber’s Helper

C

harlie paced the shop, avoiding Endora as the cat prowled the aisles. He handled the customers who came in and even sold a puppy to an attractive young father and his daughter. Things were going well: he had not broken anything or lost any animals. Derrick Peterman stopped by with a delivery of dog food, griping about traffic and being behind on his route. He lingered for a few minutes though, beads of sweat on his forehead and a glimmer in his eye as he flirted with Charlie, trying to convince him to meet for another hot fuck session. But Charlie remembered what the young skater had said about Derrick asking if he and his friends wanted a puppy and did not commit to a date. He liked Derrick and hoped he wasn’t involved in the robberies. Before Charlie could think of a way to ask Derrick about trying to give away the puppy, a young woman entered the shop and interrupted their conversation. Derrick smiled and gave a Charlie a wink before walking out the door, his dolly bumping down the steps behind him. Charlie sighed and turned to help the woman find a chew toy for her new puppy.

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Just after noon, with no customers in the store, Charlie stepped into the bathroom to pee. After shaking off the last few drops, he reached down to flush the toilet, an old industrial model with no tank but a junction that disappeared into the tile wall. The toilet flushed, then a loud rattling started deep within the wall. It seemed to move lower, coming closer almost, and a fountain of water suddenly exploded from the plumbing junction. It shot the top plate and bolt holding it in place into the air and instantly soaked Charlie with freezing cold water that sprayed up to the ceiling. “Ah!” Charlie screamed and tried to stem the flow by holding his hands over the erupting pipes. “No! No! Stop! Oh God! No!” Water collected quickly on the floor and began to wash out the door and across the wood planks of the shop. Charlie watched with horror as the water advanced on the lower cages near the bathroom, causing the animals contained within to cry and whimper nervously. “Oh my God!” Charlie ran into the shop just as the bell over the door tinkled. He whirled, eyes and mouth wide as water flew from his hair. Heather Slocumb stood in the door, her hair and conservative business pantsuit completely drenched. “What the hell are you doing?” Heather screamed. “There’s water pouring through the ceiling of my office downstairs!” “The toilet!” Charlie gasped and pointed. “It just … exploded!” Heather looked into the bathroom and jumped. “Jesus Christ! What the hell did you do?” “I flushed it and it just blew up!” Charlie said. “It won’t stop!” “Did you try to turn off the water?” Heather shouted. “How?” Charlie shouted back. Heather turned to run out the door and down the steps. Charlie stood in the spreading water and tried not to cry as he looked around at the mess. Everything had been going so well! The geyser of water behind the toilet diminished and fell in on itself. The roar of the eruption faded, leaving him standing in the midst of a volley of excited barking and meowing. Water stood an inch deep in the front half of the shop. It lapped at the front counter and splashed into the lower cages as he walked back and forth, unsure where to begin cleaning up the mess.

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Heather opened the front door, sending a small wave across the floor to break on Charlie’s shins and soak two Jack Russells and a handful of kittens in their cages. The kittens began to mewl louder and climbed on top of each other in a vain attempt to find a dry spot. “Oh my God,” Heather said and turned to Charlie. “How did this happen?” “I don’t know,” Charlie replied as he fought back tears. “I just went to the bathroom and flushed the toilet. It made some clunking sounds and then it just erupted like a water volcano. Oh God, Brent’s going to kill me. How am I going to clean this up?” “Well, the first thing we have to do is get these animals to higher cages,” Heather said and pushed up the dripping sleeves of her blouse. “Come on.” As they located empty cages set off the floor and began transferring the animals, Charlie asked, “Is there a lot of water in your office?” Heather grabbed two ferrets and sloshed her way over to an empty cage across the aisle. “Let me put it this way: I was sitting at my desk talking with a client when what felt like a tub full of cold water splashed down right on top of me.” She closed the cage on the ferrets twining around each other, then turned to give Charlie a look. “I’m so sorry,” Charlie said. “I really do think I was cursed by gypsies at birth. I am really, really sorry.” Heather sighed and shook her head. “Well, it’s a good thing my client has a sense of humor. He rescheduled his appointment and my insurance agent happens to be a good friend.” She gave him a critical look. “But I’m sure Brent will have something to say about this.” “Oh God.” Charlie shook his head and reached down to open the next cage in line. Just as the door swung open he realized it was full of kittens and let out a gasp. Before he could get it shut, the tiny beasts had swarmed out of the cage and up his legs and arms. They mewled and cried as they clawed their way across his shoulders, over his face and around each other. “Ah!” he cried and stumbled backwards. “Get them off! Get them off!”

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“What the hell is wrong?” Heather said. “They’re just kittens! Stop it, you’re scaring them!” “I’m allergic to cats!” Charlie shouted and began swinging his arms, kittens dangling from his sleeves and swaying in the air over the water. The kittens, all different breeds and colors, began to mewl louder and dug their claws in deeper to keep from falling in the water. “Over here,” Heather directed and guided him to a cage. “Hold your breath or something and I’ll pull them off you.” “Ow!” Charlie said as his hair caught in the claws of the first one she plucked off his head. A gray tabby climbed down over his face and he tasted wet fur. He tried to spit out the tufts of hair that caught on his tongue as the kitten rubbed against the underside of his chin and over his lips, purring with affection. “Blech!” he gasped. “Get this one!” He lifted his head away from the kitten with his eyes squeezed shut. “Aww,” Heather said and plucked the tiny bundle of fur off his chest. “She loves you.” “I don’t care,” Charlie replied. “I like being able to breathe.” Heather finished harvesting the kittens from his body and they both stepped back from the cage. Charlie wiped as much cat hair from his face as he could, then stood still, wincing as he waited for his eyes to begin itching and his throat to close up. “You okay?” Heather asked, watching him closely. “I seem to be,” Charlie looked up at her with a frown. “Weird. I had an allergic reaction to Endora but not to the kittens. Huh.” “That is strange.” Heather looked around the lower cages. “Well, we’ve cleared out the wet ones. Now all you have to do is mop up the water. I’d stay and help but I have to make some calls. I’ll give you the number for the plumber I use. He knows where the water shutoff is for the building and he’s family.” “Oh, you’re related to him?” Charlie said. Heather stopped and gave him a look. “You can’t be serious.” “What?” Charlie thought about it, then nodded. “Oh, he’s gay. Right, right. Sorry, it’s been a hectic day.”

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“Uh huh.” Heather gave him an unconvinced look and went downstairs to get the plumber’s card. After he had placed a call to the plumber, Charlie propped the shop door open and began to mop up the water. The animals had just begun to calm down when Nicky, the soda machine man, arrived with his dolly full of plastic soda bottles and they began to bark and meow again. Nicky stepped through the puddles of standing water out on the wooden landing and looked in the door, grinning at Charlie. He looked attractive in his tan shorts, tan work boots, and short sleeve, tight fitting tan shirt. The crotch of his shorts hugged the outline of his cock where it lay down his left leg and Charlie wondered if he wore any underwear. “Plumbing problems?” Nicky asked with a grin. Charlie shrugged as indifferently as possible. “Just some spring cleaning.” “Ah. Well, would a free soda make the “cleaning” go any better?” Nicky offered. “Yeah, actually, it would. Thanks.” Charlie accepted a plastic bottle and leaned back against the counter. He tried to look as sexy as possible though he was sure his hair was a mess and he probably still had cat fur stuck to his face. He twisted the cap and the shaken soda shot a spray of dark, sticky liquid out of the bottle to douse his face and chest. “Oh my God!” Nicky said. “I’m so sorry. Here, let me help you.” He stepped into the bathroom and tried to turn on the faucets. “The water doesn’t work.” Charlie sighed. “We had to turn it off.” He crouched down by the bucket he had been using to wring out his mop and splashed his face with water. He managed to get most of the soda off his face and stood to smile at Nicky who was watching him with an expression of amusement and slight disgust. “I usually don’t wash up in buckets of old water.” “Yeah, well, I usually don’t hand over soda bombs, sorry,” Nicky said. He was standing by Jane’s perch and the bird leaned out to nip at his arm but Nicky saw her coming and dodged her beak. “Yikes, she’s pretty vicious.” Charlie shrugged. “Yeah, you gotta keep an eye on her.”

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“Holy shit,” a deep voice said from outside the door. “Someone did a job on this place!” A man stepped in the door wearing dark blue coveralls unzipped to the middle of his broad chest, a nametag reading Malcolm over the left breast. He was black, in his mid-thirties with short hair and soft, dark eyes. His right hand curled around the handle of a large tool chest and his eyes sparkled as he took in the puddles of water on the floor of the shop. He looked up at Charlie and grinned. “You call for a plumber?” Charlie grinned back. “Yeah.” With one more look around the shop, Nicky winked at Charlie and stepped back through the door to the landing. “Sorry again about the soda. Good luck with the clean up.” “Thanks,” Charlie said and turned to where the plumber stood in the door to the bathroom. The man shook his head and looked back at Charlie, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “A small business can be costly, eh?” the plumber said and extended his hand. “Malcolm Bestermac, masters in plumbing.” Charlie shook the man’s hand, enjoying his firm grip and the warm, smooth feel of his palm. “Charlie Heggensford, master at fucking things up.” Malcolm laughed and set his tool chest down in the bathroom. “First we’ll need to find the plate and bolt for this beauty.” Charlie opened his mouth to say something, then snapped it shut as another man stepped through the door. This man was attractive as well, wearing navy coveralls and carrying his own, albeit smaller, tool chest. He had a square jaw, shaved head and blond goatee. His nametag read Brewster and he grinned at the sight of Charlie. “Oh, hi there,” Brewster said with a surprised smile. “I didn’t know you worked here.” “I, uh, don’t usually,” Charlie stammered, then frowned and asked, “Do I know you? Cause if I do, I think I would remember someone that looks like, well, like the way you look.” He blushed and mentally cursed himself for never knowing when to shut up. “I’ve seen you at the bowling alley,” Brewster said. “You’re on Brent’s team, right?”

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“Oh yeah,” Charlie replied. “I’ve been subbing for his team. I’m from L.A., just up here for a while helping Brent out with his store.” Brewster looked around the flooded store. “Yeah, I can see that.” Charlie blushed and looked down at his sodden shoes. “I must look awful.” “There you are, Brewster,” Malcolm said as he stepped out of the bathroom. “Let me have that tool box. I’m going to need your help in here.” Brewster crowded into the small bathroom with Malcolm and Charlie leaned in the doorway to watch the two big men work. The coveralls clung to both of their asses with maximum effect, showing off the curves and swells of their buttocks. Charlie sighed as his eyes moved slowly down one body and then the other. Maybe the day wasn’t a total waste. First he had met the two cops that morning and now this. After he had helped Malcolm replace the plate and bolt, Brewster clomped down the steps to turn the water back on. The toilet immediately began to flush continuously and the animals in the shop started to howl, meow, and chirp along with it. “Ah, now we have a bit of a valve problem,” Malcolm called over the rush of water and reached around to fiddle with something behind the porcelain curve of the bowl. Brewster walked up behind Charlie and leaned over his shoulder, the heat from his body warming Charlie’s shoulder and making his cock take notice. Charlie took a deep breath and inhaled the man’s smell, some kind of deodorant that made him think of locker rooms and jocks and quickened the flow of blood to his dick. A series of beeps sounded from Brewster’s tool belt and the man pulled out a cell phone, standing near Jane Doe’s perch as he read the screen. Malcolm looked up from his adjustments, his face contorted in concentration, and asked, “Is it a client?” “Yeah,” Brewster said. “Sorry, Malcolm.” “S’all right,” Malcolm said and gave a final twist that stopped the flushing altogether. “There we go.” He sat up and let out his breath, then nodded to Brewster. “Go on then, it’s our arrangement. What time do you think you’ll be done?”

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Brewster shrugged. “Couple of hours. I’ll meet you back at the office.” He turned his blue eyes down to Charlie and smiled. “Good to see you again. Will you be at the bowling alley again this week?” “Definitely,” Charlie sighed with a smile. “Bye.” Malcolm shook his head as he got to his feet and caught Charlie watching Brewster walk out the door. “Good looking kid, that one, eh?” “Huh?” Charlie turned back to Malcolm and grinned. “Oh. Yeah, he is. He’s got clients? Like a hair stylist or a masseuse or something?” Malcolm gave him an assessing look before he replied, “Brewster’s an escort.” Charlie blinked. “An escort? Oh. Like a …” “Man who gets paid to have sex with other men,” Malcolm said with a smile. “Yeah, like that.” He wiped his hands on a rag. “How do you know him?” “Um, I guess he’s seen me at the bowling alley,” Charlie replied. Malcolm nodded. “You on the league?” “I’ve been subbing for a friend’s team.” “Brent Harrington?” Malcolm asked with a smile. “Yeah,” Charlie replied. “You know him?” Malcolm nodded as he wiped down his wrench and flushed the toilet a few times to test it. “I know Brent very well, if you catch my drift.” Charlie smiled at Malcolm. “I think a lot of guys know Brent very well.” “Yourself included?” “Myself included,” Charlie said. Malcolm looked at him for a moment, then crouched by his toolbox and rummaged around. Turning, Malcolm held up a plunger, the handle of which was shaped like a long, thick, black dildo. He stroked the latex handle and grinned at Charlie. “Care to meet my plumber’s helper?” “Wow,” Charlie said as he eyed the foot-long dildo. “That’s impressive.” “And it sticks to the floor,” Malcolm said. “Have you finished your mopping?” “Fuck the mopping,” Charlie replied and locked the door. “Let’s go back here.” He led Malcolm to the back storeroom where the plumber

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grabbed him in a tight bear hug and kissed him hard. Malcolm’s tongue pushed into Charlie’s mouth and the man’s day old growth of beard scratched pleasantly along his lips. Malcolm ground the length of his erection against Charlie’s crotch as his hands slid down to cup Charlie’s ass. “Whew,” Charlie gasped after Malcolm had broken the embrace. “Just wait,” Malcolm said and slowly lowered the zipper of his coveralls, exposing a firm chest covered with hair. Charlie’s eyes moved with Malcolm’s thick fingers as he lowered the zipper and the material parted to reveal his flat, hairy stomach and the top of a thick patch of dark pubic hair before it stopped. “We don’t have plumbers like you back home,” Charlie said. “You’re amazing.” “I bet you say that to all the plumbers.” Malcolm dropped to his knees before Charlie and pressed his mouth against the damp crotch of his jeans, clamping his teeth over the steadily lengthening outline of Charlie’s hard-on. Charlie closed his eyes and pressed his hands against the back of Malcolm’s head as he ground his crotch against the man’s mouth. Malcolm unzipped Charlie’s jeans and slid them down his legs to puddle around his ankles. The plumber ran his tongue over the damp cotton crotch of Charlie’s briefs, tracing the contours of the erection trapped beneath. Charlie bent his legs and reached down to pull and twist Malcolm’s hard nipples as the plumber groaned against his crotch. Malcolm grabbed the waistband of Charlie’s briefs in his teeth and pulled them out and down, releasing the full length of his cock and allowing Charlie’s balls to swing free. “You got a nice sized dick on you, Charlie,” Malcolm said and licked the tip of the throbbing shaft. “Thanks,” Charlie said as Malcolm ran his tongue slowly along the length of his cock. “Oh, that feels good. Yeah, get it all wet.” Malcolm opened his mouth and took half of Charlie’s dick down his throat. He slowly pulled back, his lips pressed hard against the tight skin, and swirled his tongue around the smooth head. He took hold of the loose skin of Charlie’s testicles and pulled down, tugging them away from his groin.

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“Oh fuck,” Charlie twisted Malcolm’s nipples harder as the plumber increased the pull on his balls. “That feels really good. Pull on my balls.” With his mouth opened wide, Malcolm swallowed the entire hardened shaft of Charlie’s cock. The head brushed up against the roof of his mouth and lodged deep in his throat. He held it there for several moments, his tongue caressing the underside, and then he began to suck it, his lips tight around the hot, wet dick as he picked up speed. He kept a steady tug on Charlie’s balls with one hand and wrapped the other around the base of his dick, stroking it as he sucked. “Goddamn,” Charlie gasped. “Oh, suck my dick. That’s it. Yeah, oh yeah.” After sucking Charlie for several minutes, Malcolm slowed to a stop and smiled up at him, his lips wet and swollen. Malcolm stood up, his hard-on tenting out his coveralls and pre-come forming a damp spot on the material. The men kissed passionately, their tongues slipping back and forth from one mouth to the next as their hands moved over each other’s chests. Charlie reached down inside the coveralls and grabbed hold of the root of Malcolm’s cock. It bucked at his touched, then lay still, thick and hot in his hand. Charlie broke the kiss and knelt before Malcolm. The plumber shrugged out of the coveralls and let them fall to the floor at his feet, revealing his nude body beneath. His dark skin glistened with sweat and bulged with muscle. His cock stood straight out from his body, over eight inches long and cut. The head, a light pink color like the palms of Malcolm’s hands, glistened and drooled pre-come. Charlie licked his lips and opened his mouth wide to take it all in the first choking gulp. “Holy fuck, Charlie,” Malcolm gasped. “Save some for later, baby.” Charlie backed off Malcolm’s dick and flashed him a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I get carried away sometimes.” He sucked the man’s dick more slowly, easing his mouth along the length and relishing the taste. “That’s it,” Malcolm said and placed a gentle hand alongside Charlie’s cheek. “Suck it nice and slow. Oh yeah. Take it easy, baby. Nice and slow.”

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Charlie took hold of Malcolm’s balls, wrapping his thumb and forefinger around the spot where they met his body and pulling the sac down away from his groin. “Oh, shit,” Malcolm said. “You ever milk a cow, Charlie?” “As a matter of fact, I have,” Charlie replied and went back to his sucking. “You’ve got a nice technique there. You had some lucky cows stand before you.” Malcolm lifted his feet out of his coveralls and spread his legs further apart. “Finger my asshole, Charlie. Work a finger up inside me.” Charlie moved his free hand down and felt along Malcolm’s smoothly shaved perineum to his sphincter. He gently rubbed the twitching muscle, moving his finger in circular motions, then dipping just the tip into the soft center of the opening. As he fingered Malcolm’s hole, Charlie kept pulling on the plumber’s balls and increased the speed of his sucking. His lips were locked tight around Malcolm’s dark skinned shaft, pulling and sucking as his tongue pressed against the veined surface. “You gotta stop,” Malcolm gasped and reached down to hold Charlie’s head still. The plumber took several deep breaths, then smiled down at him. “I nearly came.” “I don’t care,” Charlie said with a smile. “But I don’t want to yet,” Malcolm explained. “We haven’t used my helper yet.” He turned to look at the plunger with the dildo handle. “Want to give it a try?” Charlie reached out to grab the latex shaft and smiled. “Yeah, I’d like that.” Malcolm stuck the plunger to the floor of the storeroom and retrieved a tube of lube from the pocket of his coveralls. He rolled a condom on the dildo handle, then lubed it up and turned himself around, reaching back to spread the cheeks of his ass and expose the dark ring of his anus. “Now, Charlie,” Malcolm explained. “Kneel behind me and watch as I sit on this bad boy. It takes some work, but I think you’ll be able to take it if you go slow.” Charlie knelt on the floor and watched Malcolm slowly impale himself on the long, thick handle. The bulbous head of the dildo spread

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the furrowed opening of the plumber’s asshole, the lube helping the tool glide past the threshold of his sphincter. Malcolm took half the dildo on his first try, eased himself off, and then lowered his hips once again. The entire shaft of black latex slid into him and Malcolm let out a deep groan as Charlie’s cock began to throb in earnest. “That is really hot, Malcolm,” Charlie said. He rubbed the edges of Malcolm’s widened anus and moaned. “God, that is so fucking hot.” Malcolm stroked his dick and began to move up and down along the plunger’s handle until he let out a grunt. “Get over here and suck my balls, Charlie. I want to blow my load all over your pretty face.” Charlie moved to kneel between Malcolm’s legs and took the man’s balls in his mouth. The sac was shaved smooth and tasted of the plumber’s sweat. A moment later, Malcolm let out a deep groan and looked down at him. “I’m going to come, Charlie.” The hot, sticky load splashed over Charlie’s face, running off his chin and down his chest. He closed his eyes, keeping Malcolm’s balls firmly inside his mouth as the man fucked himself with the plunger and jerked off on his face. “Oh fuck,” Malcolm panted. “You look so hot covered with my spunk.” Malcolm eased himself off the plunger and used a rag to wipe it clean. He handed Charlie a clean rag to wipe off his face, then brought out the lube once again. “Ready to try it yourself?” Charlie nodded. “More than ready.” Malcolm rolled a fresh condom on the handle followed by a generous amount of lube, then had Charlie turn around and bend over. The plumber spread lube around Charlie’s asshole, slipping quick fingers inside him as he did. “You’ve got a hot asshole, Charlie.” “It’s pretty hungry right now,” Charlie said and stepped back as Malcolm guided him to the plunger. “Just ease down on it slow,” Malcolm instructed. “Let it just sit there for a minute when it gets in.” Charlie felt the wide head slip up through his clenching sphincter and stopped with a groan. He lifted his hips, then settled more firmly onto the

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plunger. The tip of the dildo slid into him and burrowed deep into his anal tract, spreading muscle and sending shock waves throughout his body. “Jesus Christ,” Malcolm said with a grin. “You just sucked that fuckin’ thing up there like it was nothing! That was so hot I’m getting hard again.” Charlie began to pump his hips up and down, groaning as the dildo speared in and out. The ribbed length of the condom rubbed against his prostate and sent shudders rippling down into his balls. “Oh God,” Charlie gasped. “This thing is fucking huge!” “Ride that big black cock,” Malcolm said. “Oh, fuck yeah.” He moved around to stand in front of Charlie and stroked his cock faster. Charlie’s hand fastened around his own dick and he jerked himself as well. “Fuck, Charlie,” Malcolm said. “You’re going to make me come again. Oh, shit.” Malcolm moved up and blew a second load across Charlie’s dick. The come dripped off the shaft and head as Charlie’s hand quickened its pace, smearing the fluid along his length. “I’m coming,” Charlie gasped. “Oh yeah.” Malcolm knelt before him and raised his face, taking the full brunt of Charlie’s orgasm across his forehead, cheeks, and chin. He turned his head from side to side, allowing the gush of semen to evenly coat his face. When Charlie had finished he slapped the dripping head of his cock against Malcolm’s come slick cheeks and chin, then eased himself off the plunger. Malcolm got to his feet and leaned down to kiss Charlie hard on the mouth. “That was really hot, Charlie.” “Yeah it was,” Charlie said and reached out to grasp the slick handle of the plunger. “I’ve always wanted to learn the basics of plumbing.” “Lesson one is finished,” Malcolm said with a grin. “Come on, let’s clean up.” The man walked up the aisle, his bubble butt clenching and releasing with each step. “Thank God the water’s back on,” Charlie said and tried to pull up on the plunger handle, but his fingers slid off the slick surface. Chuckling to himself, he picked up his T-shirt to wrap around the dildo, then moved the handle back and forth to work the plunger loose.

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“Damn!” Charlie grunted. “Did you superglue this thing to the floor, or what?” A loud crack shot through the room and Charlie stumbled back, the plunger handle in his hands. At first he feared he had broken Malcolm’s plunger, but then he saw that the round black suction base was still affixed to the bottom of the handle. He breathed a short-lived sigh of relief that stopped when he noticed a large chunk of the floor had come up with the plunger; the suction base still clung to the surface of the smooth wooden plank. Charlie leaned forward and grimaced at the sight of the gaping hole in the floor that looked down into Heather’s office below. He sighed and fell onto his back, his arms falling to his sides as he stared up at the ceiling. What had he done to deserve this kind of day?

CHAPTER TEN

Comfort Food

C

harlie stood in deep, dimly lit woods, the air cool on his bare skin. He looked down to find he was naked and sporting a massive erection and began to feel anxious. Why was he naked and aroused in the woods? The faraway sound of barking came to him and his pulse jumped. Dogs were out there, and they might bite him. He began to run, his hard-on bobbing before him as branches lashed his arms and legs. The barking followed him and he began to panic, then sat bolt upright in bed, sweating and breathing hard. His bladder was full and he had sprouted a painful piss hard-on. Brent slept beside him, undisturbed by Charlie’s reaction to his nightmare. Charlie slipped out of bed and padded to the bathroom where he sighed quietly at the pleasure of a long, steady stream of release. When he finished, he flushed the toilet, flinching at the memory of flooding the shop two days ago, and washed his hands. The sound of breaking glass startled him and he turned in the dark bathroom, eyes wide as he looked out into the living room. A large shape darted past the bathroom and he sucked in his breath as his heart jumped 129

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until he realized it had been Brent heading for the front door. Charlie ran into the living room and out the open apartment door onto the third floor landing. Moonlight illuminated the wooden steps as he ran down to the second floor and through the open door of Canadian Critters. The large tank of feeder fish that sat on the front counter lay in pieces on the floor, the fish flopping and flailing about on the wood planks. Charlie crouched down and began to pick the fish up, mindful of the shards of glass and his bare feet. “Brent?” he called. “Do we have another tank for the fish?” Brent did not answer and, with his cupped hands full of gasping goldfish, Charlie walked around the broken glass to the main aisle. Brent stood nude before an open and empty cage, his shoulders slumped and his chin on his chest. “What is it? Are they gone?” Charlie whispered. “Did we get robbed?” “Not all of them,” Brent said. “Just the rottweiler puppies.” “Oh no,” Charlie whispered. “They’re both gone?” He stepped into the aisle and swept his eyes over the empty cage. “Why? How?” Charlie turned and caught sight of an aquarium on the middle shelf behind him and reached out, intending to dump the quickly fading fish into it. “Those are piranha,” Brent said without moving. “Use the next tank down.” “Huh?” Charlie looked more closely at the tank he had been about to drop the fish in and saw that Brent was right: several piranhas swam through the dim water, their pointy teeth exposed. Charlie shuddered and moved down to the next tank where he dropped the fish in with another supply of goldfish, then turned back to Brent. “You okay?” “I just don’t know what to do,” Brent said. “We have to call the police!” Charlie said. “Come on. They can’t have gone far, we heard them break the fish tank just a few minutes ago.” Charlie started toward the door only to turn back when Brent did not follow him. “What’s wrong?” “I know who will come out to take the report,” Brent said, shaking his head and crossing his arms over his big, hairy chest. “Inspector Jeannotte. And he’ll make some stupid accusations about how I probably did this to make myself look innocent. I mean, the fuckers only took two dogs,

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Charlie. Two! All the other stores lost their entire inventories! Fuck!” Brent stomped past Charlie, around the glass shards and few remaining goldfish flopping on the floor, and out the door. Charlie picked up the remaining goldfish and dumped them in the tank along with the others, then went upstairs just as Brent was hanging up the phone. The man had pulled on a pair of flannel boxer shorts and Charlie felt his cock twitch at the sight of the head of Brent’s dick peeking out through the loose fly. He mentally scolded himself for thinking of sex at a time like this and pulled on jeans, a sweatshirt and shoes. Charlie headed back downstairs to sweep up the remains of the fish tank and the fish he had not been able to save. He dumped everything in the trash just as Brent ran through the door wearing jeans, a T-shirt, tennis shoes, and a panicked expression. “What?” Charlie asked in alarm. “What is it?” “Endora,” Brent ran to the back of the store, calling the cat’s name. Charlie began calling to her as well and helped Brent search the entire store until they both ended up in the back room. Charlie tried not to look at the new board Brent had hammered into the floor two nights ago, all the while swearing he would never leave Charlie alone in the shop again. “She’s gone,” Brent moaned. “Oh, God. They took her too.” “Maybe she got out and is in the yard?” Charlie suggested, heading for the door. “She could be sitting in the parking lot.” They looked all around the building but there was no sign of the cat. “Oh God,” Brent moaned. “She’s not an outdoor cat, she doesn’t know how to act outdoors.” “It’ll be okay, Brent,” Charlie said soothingly just as a car pulled up to the curb. They both turned to watch as Inspector Jeannotte stepped out of the car and walked slowly toward them across the parking lot. “Don’t you ever go home?” Brent asked gruffly. “It would seem not,” Jeannotte replied. He reached into his sport coat pocket and produced his notepad and pen. “Usually I have the patrol officers take the reports, but I heard your name and wanted to come down to see for myself.” The man gave Brent a wry smile. “I bet,” Brent muttered. “Come on.” He led the inspector up the steps and into the shop where Charlie and Brent leaned against the front

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counter. Jane Doe, the blue feathered parrot, climbed up Brent’s arm to sit on his shoulder and preen the man’s goatee as Jeannotte looked over everything, jotting notes and muttering to himself. “What’s he saying?” Charlie whispered to Brent. “Probably that he really wishes he’d just stop fooling himself and go down on some guy in lockup and be done with it,” Brent whispered back. Charlie snorted a laugh which he stifled quickly as the inspector approached them. Charlie noticed the man had not shaved for a couple of days and the scruff along his jaw matched the salt and pepper of his goatee. His brush cut, however, was perfectly trimmed and a swatch of dark chest hair struggled up from beneath the collar of his white undershirt. The man was very sexy, it was a shame he was such an asshole. “Just the two rottweiler pups were taken?” Jeannotte asked Brent. “Yeah, just them. And my cat is missing.” Jeannotte’s eyebrows went up. “Stolen?” Brent shrugged. “Maybe. That or she ran out the door when they broke in.” “I see.” Jeannotte made a quick note, then looked back up at Brent, his eyes flicking over to the parrot on his shoulder before he took a breath. “It is unusual, no, that they would take only two animals, possibly three, from you and dozens from all the other establishments?” Brent shot Charlie a look as if to say, See? I told you so, then turned back to the man. “Yeah, I thought that was odd, too. I even said that to Charlie when we first found the place had been broken into.” “Ah, but it really is not a break in, is it?” Jeannotte said as he stepped to the door and worked the lock. “See? The door is still operational. If they did break in, they were much more considerate of your store than the others as they did not damage your door in the least. The others, sadly, were not so fortunate.” Brent pressed his lips together and shook his head, turning away from the inspector to stroke Jane’s head as she sat on his shoulder. Charlie turned to the inspector and asked, “Are you trying to infer that Brent set all this up to look like a robbery?” Jeannotte stood before Charlie, narrowing his eyes and looking him over. “Do you believe that is what I am inferring?”

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Charlie opened his mouth, then decided it might be best for him to remain silent and dropped his eyes from the man’s pointed gaze. “I am wondering,” Jeannotte said as he turned away from Charlie and moved to stand once again before Brent, nodding to the bird on his shoulder. “What type of bird is this again?” Brent frowned at him. “Jane Doe? She’s a Hyacinth parrot, why?” “Ah, yes. Very rare?” Jeannotte said. “Yeah, pretty hard to get,” Brent replied. “I got her after the police raided a crack house. Why are you asking about Jane?” “Well, it would seem we have found something that may belong to lovely Jane here,” Jeannotte said and fished in his sport jacket pocket to produce a plastic bag with the word EVIDENCE stamped on it, a date, time, location and several names. Sealed inside the bag was a single, dark blue feather. “This feather was found at the site of the last robbery. I had it analyzed at the university and do you know what I learned? It comes from a Hyacinth parrot like your Jane Doe here. And the pet store owner who was robbed did not have a Hyacinth parrot in his inventory. How do you think this feather, coming from a rare and exquisite bird such as her, came to be in his shop, Mr. Harrington?” Brent’s face clouded over. He reached back and slid a finger beneath Jane’s feet then walked across the shop to place her on her perch. The bird bobbed her head and raised her foot to be picked up once again but Brent turned away to face Jeannotte. “You know, I’ve had about enough of this. You are really starting to piss me off.” “Oh, I am so sorry.” Jeannotte raised his hands and stuffed the evidence bag in his pocket along with his notepad and pen. “I would never want to let my investigation tread on your feelings of right and wrong.” He moved suddenly to stand inches from Brent, both men glaring into the other’s eyes. Charlie felt himself grow tense, afraid they were going to come to blows. “Get off my back, Jeannotte,” Brent hissed. “You are wasting your time trying to prove I’m the one responsible for these robberies.” “Ah, but there is the beauty of it,” Jeannotte hissed back. “I do not have to do very much at all to be able to take you in and have you arrested

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for these crimes. Your fingerprints and now this feather are leading me right here to your door.” “Yeah? Did you ever think someone may be setting me up?” Brent said. “Why the fuck would I leave the feather from the rarest bird in town at the scene of a crime? Have you considered that?” Jeannotte shrugged and stepped away from Brent, allowing Charlie to take a breath and relax … a little. “Perhaps it had become stuck to the bottom of your shoe and you did not know it. How should I know? All I know is what the evidence is telling me, and so far it seems to be screaming your name.” The man went to leave, but stopped and turned at the door. “I’m watching you.” “Yeah, you do that,” Brent called as the inspector walked out of the store and made his way down the steps. He strode across the room to slam the door behind Jeannotte, then stomped through the store, cursing and snarling as the animals around him barked and mewled. Charlie waited anxiously at the front counter until Brent seemed to have exhausted his anger, then he stepped up to where Brent stood heaving and clenching his fists by the front door and put his arms around the man’s neck. Charlie hugged him tight, pulling Brent’s face down into his shoulder and holding back a moan at the moist feeling of the man’s hot breath on his neck. “You okay?” Charlie asked quietly. Brent sighed and finally moved his arms around Charlie to hold him tight. “I’m fine. Just fucking irritated.” “I know. I’m sorry. It’s going to be okay, Brent,” Charlie said. “We’ll figure all this out.” Brent pulled away from Charlie and looked at the clock above the front counter. “It’s too early now, but as soon as they open I’m going to call all the pet store owners and set up a meeting. They all know me from the bowling league, I’m sure they know I’m being framed. Maybe together we can come up with something.” “Are you really going to try to figure this out on your own?” Charlie asked. “Don’t you think you should let the police handle it?” Brent shook his head and walked out the door to head upstairs, Charlie right behind him. “You heard what that fuck stick Jeannotte said, I’m his prime suspect. And who knows what the fuck will turn up at the next crime

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scene. Probably a condom filled with my semen.” Brent stepped into the apartment and began to pace. “Whoever planted that feather had to have been in the store to take it. There’s no other way it could have happened. Have you noticed anyone paying an unusual amount of attention to Jane’s perch?” Charlie shrugged. “Not that I can think of. But there have been a number of people in and out of the store the last few weeks. Hell, even Cedric …” Charlie’s voice faded out and he and Brent stared at one another until both screwed up their faces and said, “Nah,” at the same time and laughed. Brent took a breath and asked, “Are you hungry?” Charlie shrugged. “Yeah, I could eat something.” “Good, cause I need some comfort food. Let’s check out the fridge.” Charlie followed him into the kitchen where they searched through the refrigerator and pulled out a jar of peanut butter, bread, stalks of celery, and butter. As Brent began preparing sandwiches at the counter, Charlie cut up celery. He stuck one long stalk in his mouth and sucked it deep into his throat as he chopped. “You know,” Brent said as he eyed Charlie sucking the celery, “we could have a lot of fun with this stuff.” Charlie grinned at him and removed the celery from his mouth. “Really? How?” Brent pulled a long piece of celery from the stalk and slid the cool, rough length of it down the front of Charlie’s jeans. Charlie smiled and resumed sucking his piece of celery as Brent rubbed the edges of his stalk against Charlie’s dick and balls, reaching down to squeeze his own thickening cock. A few moments later both men stood nude in the kitchen, their clothes heaped on the floor. Brent knelt before Charlie and used his fingers to scoop out a great glob of peanut butter to spread over the hard length of Charlie’s dick. “Oh wow,” Charlie said. “That feels really good.” “Just wait,” Brent replied, then leaned in to start licking off the peanut butter, his tongue making long, slow passes up the sticky shaft of Charlie’s cock. Brent opened wide and took in as much of Charlie as

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possible before closing his lips over the erection and dragging his mouth up, sucking off the peanut butter as he went. “Fuck, man,” Charlie sighed. “That’s hot.” Brent swallowed the peanut butter with difficulty and drank some water to clear his throat. As Brent stood at the sink, Charlie knelt behind him and, with butter coated fingers, reached up to grease his asshole. Brent moaned and leaned forward, spreading his legs as Charlie worked on his ass. Charlie’s slippery fingers slid in and out of Brent’s anus, the butter matting down Brent’s hair and cooling his sphincter. “You’re pretty good at this, Farm Boy,” Brent said and sighed as Charlie’s fingers moved deep into him. “Oh yeah. Butter up that asshole.” Charlie pressed his mouth against Brent’s slick anus and wiggled the tip of his tongue up into him. The butter tasted salty and left shiny, greasy spots on his chin and cheeks. “You know, I’ve got just the thing,” Brent said and reached over to open the refrigerator. “Down in the crisper.” “You use the crisper?” Charlie asked with a grin and dodged Brent’s playful swat. He found a few cucumbers in the drawer and selected the longest and thickest of the bunch. Charlie ran his hand over the smooth green skin, then scooped up more butter to rub on the surface. Brent’s cock bobbed in anticipation and pre-come leaked from the tip as he watched Charlie grease up the cucumber. When Charlie knelt behind him once again, Brent spread his legs further apart and reached down to stroke himself. Charlie pressed the cool, wide tip of the cucumber against Brent’s sphincter and pressed firmly. The rumpled muscle of Brent’s anus widened in admittance and Charlie slid half the length of the cucumber into him. “Oh shit!” Brent groaned. “How big is that fucker?” Charlie cocked his head to evaluate the cucumber as he pulled it slowly out of Brent’s ass. He put a hand around the slick center of the vegetable and said, “Probably about ten inches long and more than two inches around.” “Jesus Christ,” Brent said. “I’m going to be burping up cucumber the rest of the week!”

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Charlie laughed and pressed the buttery cucumber back into Brent’s slippery hole. The green end slid easily into him and Charlie worked it in even deeper. Brent groaned and lifted a foot up onto the counter as he closed his eyes. The cucumber dug deep, burrowing into him until Charlie stopped with just a small portion of the opposite rounded end poking out. “Man, that is really hot,” Charlie said as he stroked himself. “You took that whole fuckin’ thing.” “Oh, God,” Brent moaned. “I want your cock in me.” Charlie eased the cucumber out of Brent’s ass and retrieved a condom from the bedroom. Brent knelt on the floor, lowering his head to the linoleum as Charlie got on his knees behind him. Charlie unrolled the condom over his dick, greased it up with butter, then plunged deep into Brent’s ass with a single stroke. “Uh!” Brent grunted. “Fuck that ass. Oh yeah, drive that fuckin’ thing deep.” Charlie pumped his hips fast, his thighs banging against Brent’s ass cheeks as he mercilessly fucked the man. He was on the edge of orgasm when Brent pulled away from him and turned to tell him to lie on the floor. Charlie did as instructed and Brent held his legs in the air as he spread butter on a fresh cucumber. Brent slid the cuke into Charlie’s ass and began to spin it inside him. “Holy shit,” Charlie gasped, closing his eyes and dropping his head back on the floor. “Oh, God. That thing is fuckin’ huge!” “See what I meant?” Brent said as he pulled the cucumber out and slid it back in once again. He began to fuck Charlie’s ass with it, pumping it in and out quickly as Charlie stroked his cock and writhed beneath him. “Okay, we need something else,” Brent said and got up to open the refrigerator, leaving the cucumber buried in Charlie’s ass. He grabbed a spray container of whipped cream and an ear of corn. Shaking up the whipped cream, he crossed back to where Charlie lay fucking himself with the cucumber. Brent took a moment to quickly strip the husk off the corn and ran cold water over it to remove the silky hairs trapped among the nuggets. He knelt beside Charlie and sprayed whipped cream along the buttery length of Charlie’s throbbing cock.

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“A little dessert?” Brent said with a grin. He sat on the floor between Charlie’s legs and removed the cucumber to replace it with the tip of the whipped cream container, slipping it just inside his sphincter. Brent triggered the release and, with a cold spray of air, whipped cream spurted into Charlie’s ass. “Oh!” Charlie gasped as he grabbed onto his cream covered cock. “That’s fucking cold!” “Do me now,” Brent said and stood up to squat above Charlie’s face, handing over the can. Charlie pointed the can up into Brent’s anus and pressed the nozzle. Whipped cream shot into Brent’s greasy asshole, some of it drifting down onto Charlie’s chest, and Brent groaned then lowered himself down onto Charlie’s face where the man eagerly rimmed him. Whipped cream smeared over Charlie’s face and filled his mouth as he pushed his tongue up into Brent’s well-worked hole. Brent leaned over to suck Charlie’s dick, licking off the whipped cream, some left over peanut butter, and the remains of the butter. He grabbed the corncob from the counter and rubbed butter along its ridged length. When he was ready, Brent sat up and pressed his ass more firmly against Charlie’s mouth, then lifted the man’s legs to tuck them beneath his arms. “Okay, Farm Boy,” Brent said as he placed the corn cob against Charlie’s creamy, buttery anus, “you ever been corn holed?” Charlie pulled his mouth off Brent’s sphincter and said, “Wait a minute, corn holed? Like with a corncob? How big is that thing?” In response to Charlie’s question Brent slid the corncob up his hole and planted his ass back on Charlie’s face. Charlie groaned around his mouthful of Brent’s asshole as the corncob burrowed deep into him. The ridges of kernels bumped along his anus and he grunted and moaned as each row sank into him. Brent paused with the fat corncob buried more than halfway in Charlie’s hole, then began to fuck him with it, the buttery ear of corn making wet, sucking sounds as it pulled out and pushed back in. Brent pumped his arm faster and faster, fucking Charlie harder with each stroke and leaned down to resume sucking his creamy, buttery cock. “Oh yeah,” Charlie said. “Fuck me hard and suck my cock. That’s it.”

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A moment later Charlie grunted and pumped his load into Brent’s mouth. Brent swallowed Charlie’s come and sat up, stroking his cock until he blew his own load onto Charlie’s sweaty, buttery torso. As they caught their breath, Brent leaned back against the cabinets and ran a buttery cucumber under his nose, inhaling the smell. “You want salad for dinner?” Charlie laughed and carefully stood up, trying not slip on the butter and whipped cream coated floor. “I never got corn holed back home and there was always so much corn! I could have had a good time with that. I had to come to Canada before I got corn holed. Go figure!” He looked around the kitchen and sighed. “We made a mess.” Brent shrugged. “It’ll clean up. Let’s get a shower and after we mop up in here I’ll call the storeowners.” They carefully made their way to the bathroom where they showered together, soaping each other up. Afterwards Brent mopped the floor as Charlie wiped down the counters and washed the veggies, returning them to the refrigerator and chuckling as he imagined serving the food to the storeowners as appetizers. That would just be in bad taste.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Jock of All Trades

T

he group of pet storeowners mumbled quietly as Charlie circulated within their ranks with coffee and cookies. His ass got a lot of attention from the men as he made his way through the small crowd, and by the time he had finished distributing the refreshments he had an erection. “Jesus, were they checking you for weapons or what?” Heather asked where she leaned against the counter in Brent’s kitchen. “They all grabbed your ass or patted your crotch.” “I know,” Charlie said with a grin. “Isn’t it great?” Heather rolled her eyes, then stepped forward with Charlie to lean in the doorway to the living room as Brent brought the meeting to order. He explained about the robbery the night before at Canadian Critters and asked for each storeowner who had been robbed to give details of his or her experience. After each owner had spoken and Brent had made notes on a large pad of paper on an easel, he turned to look out over the dozen people seated around his living room.

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“All right, you’ve all lost your entire inventories of animals,” Brent said and Charlie saw the man swallow nervously. “Last night only two animals were taken from my store.” The group of shop owners mumbled among themselves until one of them, an older man wearing a baseball cap, stood up and said, “What are you trying to tell us, Brent? Why didn’t they take more animals from you?” Brent sighed. “I think I’m being framed for the robberies.” More mumbling, a little louder, which Brent quieted down by motioning for silence. “I know it sounds paranoid, but Inspector Jeannotte has been riding my ass about these robberies since they began.” “You wish he would ride your ass,” one of the store owners called out and everyone laughed as Brent blushed. Ignoring the remark, Brent continued. “They found some evidence at one of the stores that may implicate me, but I want to assure you I am not a thief. I have not broken into your stores and stolen your animals. I do think there is a definite link connecting each of these break-ins, but I am not it.” “What’s your idea, Brent?” a woman in the middle of the group asked. “Well, all six of the robberies have taken place in gay owned pet stores,” Brent said. “And out of all those stores, five of them have some kind of connection to the local gay bowling league.” “What?” Charlie and Heather said simultaneously and looked at each other as the store owners began to murmur again. “Three of you sponsor teams on the league,” Brent continued. “One of the stores, Joyce’s, does not sponsor a team but she is a member of a team.” Brent looked at a woman who had gentle blue eyes and soft silver hair framing a tan face and she nodded back at him. “And the last one is me, and I sponsor and am captain of one of the teams.” “What about me?” a man said from the back. “I’m not involved in the bowling league at all. How does that explain the robbery at my store?” “Marshall, I’m not sure yet,” Brent replied. “But the link is pretty strong. I think this gang of robbers either works out of the bowling league or one or two of them are team members. You are, however, gay and a pet store owner.”

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More talk and overrunning suggestions filled the living room until suddenly, the apartment door behind the group suddenly burst open. Everyone in the apartment jumped and several of the men shrieked, including Charlie. Everyone turned to see who the new arrival was, Charlie and Heather leaning out around the kitchen doorway. Billy Ransom stepped through the door with a duffle bag on his shoulder, oversized sunglasses on his face, and a large, straw sunhat complete with a rainbow ribbon on his head. “Get in line, boys! The party starts here!” He surveyed the serious faces staring at him and put his hands on his hips. “Jesus Christ, who the fuck died in here?” “Billy?” Charlie moved quickly through the seated store owners and ducked beneath Billy’s sunhat to give his friend a quick hug. “What are you doing here?” Billy pursed his lips and Charlie could see his eyes narrow behind the lenses of his sunglasses. “Yeah, good to see you too, Charlie.” “Sorry,” Charlie said and flashed a nervous smile at Brent before hustling Billy out the door and down to the shop. “They’re having a pretty serious meeting up there.” “Yeah, no shit. What was that, a support group for people who just had humorectomies?” Billy dropped his duffle bag on the floor of the shop and pulled off his sunglasses as he walked up and down the aisles. He stopped outside the two empty cages where the rottweiler pups had been, then looked around again. “This is it?” He turned to Charlie. “I was expecting something a little bigger, with tile floors and fluorescent lights and, I don’t know, a play area roped off for rabbits or something.” Before Charlie could respond the door opened, the bell sending the animals into their usual frenzied greeting. Billy looked around in horror, hands pressed over his ears to try and block the racket, then both men turned to the new arrival. Ming Ho, Kinitia’s realtor, stood just inside the door. She looked disheveled, wearing a rumpled, bright orange jump suit, wide black leather belt, and black Prada heels. Her hair was static ridden on one side as if she had slept on it. Her eyes, wild and bloodshot, darted from Charlie to Billy and back again. “Ming?” Charlie said in surprise. “Wh – what are you doing here?”

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“Huh?” Ming blinked and looked around the shop. “Oh, uh … I look for toy. For my nephew.” “In a pet shop?” Billy said as he folded his arms and cocked his hip. “I don’t buy it. You were following Ken when he dropped me off in San Francisco and you thought I was him when I got into Canyon’s truck to come here. You’ve been stalking Ken for the last few weeks and he’s a little tired of it, sister.” “Ach, Billy Ransom,” Ming said with menace. She pointed an orange tipped nail at him. “Don’t mess with me, little man. And I’m not stalking Ken Carlton, gay porn superstar. I just run into him quite a bit. We shop at same stores.” “Uh huh,” Billy said and turned to tap on the glass of the piranha tank. “Thanks for making sure I got up here all safe and stuff, Ming the Merciless. You can go on back to L.A. now.” Ming squared her shoulders, tossed her fly away hair over her shoulder, then turned to Charlie. “You have hot gay man sex up here in Canada?” “Um,” Charlie said, glancing from Billy back to Ming. “No, not really.” “Shoot.” Ming took a breath and raised her head. “Okay then, buh bye. Good to see you.” She opened the door and walked out. Charlie stood staring at where she had been, listening to the sound of her heels on the steps. He stepped out on the landing and carefully leaned over the rail to watch Ming sashay down the sidewalk and climb into the passenger seat of her old El Camino. He could hear the woman’s grunt as she hauled the door shut and watched her slide across to the driver’s side. A moment later the car rumbled off down the street. Shaking his head, Charlie stepped back into the shop and gave Billy a stunned look. “Seriously?” “Thank you,” Billy said and threw his hands in the air. “Ken Carlton, of all people to have a thing for, right? Crazy doesn’t begin to describe it.” “She drove all the way up here thinking she was following Ken?” Billy nodded. “Yep. Thought I had lost her just outside Portland when her tire blew out, but man, that girl can move fast when she’s motivated. She could work in the pit at the Indy 500, let me tell you.” Billy wiggled

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his fingers at some ferrets. “So, tell me what’s going on here? Who were the stuffed shirts upstairs?” Charlie pushed thoughts of Ming Ho out of his head and explained about the robberies. Just as he finished telling Billy about the possible connection to the bowling league the group of store owners trooped down the steps outside the window of the shop and a few moments later Heather and Brent walked in the door. “Billy Ransom,” Brent said with a smile and grabbed the young man in a hug. “As I live and breathe, it’s good to see you.” “Now that is a greeting,” Billy said, giving Charlie a look. “You could learn a lot from this man.” Brent grinned at Charlie. “I believe he’s learned a lot already.” “Oh, stories!” Billy smiled, then leaned around Brent to eye Heather. “Who’s the fish?” Heather scowled at him. “Excuse me?” “Uh, Billy Ransom, this is Heather Slocumb,” Charlie said quickly. “Heather, my friend Billy.” “Slocumb?” Billy said with a grin. “Sounds like you could use longer fingers or a better partner.” “Charming,” Heather muttered. Billy curtsied to Heather, then popped back up and boosted himself onto the front counter, his feet swinging beneath him. “So, what’s up? Where are we going to have drinks and who’s buying?” “How’d you get to Vancouver?” Brent asked. “A friend,” Billy said and smiled at Charlie. “Canyon Collingwood, the one and only.” He leaned down and whispered to Charlie, “He’s made a doll just for me, and he was generous with the proportions, if you know what I mean.” Charlie shook his head and looked at Brent. “What was the outcome of the meeting?” Brent shrugged and sighed. “Nothing. A lot of talk but no decisions. They see the possibility that there is a connection within the bowling league, but no one’s willing to do anything about it. They’re all just waiting for their insurance checks to clear and then they’ll restock. They’ve given up on the animals that were taken, written them off as a loss.”

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“Well, I say we work your angle, Brent,” Heather said. “I think your suspicions are dead on.” “I’m sorry,” Billy said as he raised his hand. “Suspicions and death? What kind of fucked up bowling league is this?” “My thought,” Brent said, ignoring Billy, “is that at least one person in this gang is a member of our bowling league. And I think I know who it is.” “Who?” Charlie and Billy said together, then glared at each other. Brent glanced at Heather who nodded her encouragement. “I think it’s someone from The Perfect Tens.” “Nice name,” Billy said after a moment. “Does that refer to length or looks?” “The Perfect Tens?” Charlie repeated. “You mean Derrick’s team.” He took a breath and nodded. “You think Derrick’s mixed up in this because of what those skater kids told you.” “It makes sense, Charlie,” Heather said. “He delivers stock to all the stores and he was trying to unload a puppy in an abandoned lot for God’s sake.” Charlie shook his head. “I don’t know. It sounds bad, and I know the circumstantial evidence is there, but I don’t get that vibe from him. I’m finding it hard to believe that Derrick could do something like this. Maybe he did find the puppy during his rounds, you know?” “Charlie,” Brent said and stepped forward. “Whatever you believe, we all have to be careful and treat everyone like normal, The Perfect Tens especially. If they think we suspect them, they may close up shop, take off, and we’d never be able to rescue those animals.” “Or clear Brent’s name,” Heather added. Charlie sighed. “I know. But I still have to say that I don’t think Derrick is involved.” “Who’s this Derrick person and how many times have you fucked him?” Billy asked impatiently. “What?” Charlie said. “Obviously you’ve had sex with him or you wouldn’t be defending him so much,” Billy said. “So, how big is his dick and what’s he look like?”

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“Look Billy, that’s not the point –” The bell over the door jangled and Derrick Peterman backed into the shop pulling a dolly full of kitty litter bags behind him. “Delivery!” “Derrick!” Charlie practically shouted and everyone jumped, Derrick included. Derrick turned and looked at the four people staring at him. “Whoa. Sorry. Did I interrupt a company meeting or something?” “No,” Heather said quickly, then tried to pass off her nervousness with a wide, false smile. “We were just talking about …” “Stocks,” Brent jumped in. “Stocks, investments, that kind of thing.” “Yeah. Stocks.” Heather nodded and turned to Brent. “How many shares of, um, stocks do you own, Brent?” “Sixty,” Brent said. “Yep, sixty shares of …” He glanced at the stacks of food across the store. “Purina. That’s right, good old Purina. Going to make me rich someday.” “Uh huh.” Derrick raised his eyebrows and turned back to his delivery. “I’ll just put these in back with the rest, Brent.” He started to head through the store but stopped when he saw the empty cages. “Hey, you sold the rottweiler puppies. I hope you got a good price.” “Um, actually, they were stolen last night,” Brent said. “Oh.” Derrick looked uncomfortable. “Sorry about that.” He looked around the store at the other animals. “Just the rottweilers were taken?” “That’s it,” Brent replied. “That’s good anyway, right?” They were all silent a long moment, then Derrick said, “Well, I hope you get ‘em back,” and started for the back room again. Billy jumped off the counter and walked up to him. “Hello, gorgeous,” he whispered and circled Derrick, looking him over thoroughly before sticking out his hand. “Billy Ransom, professional.” Derrick adjusted the dolly and, grinning, shook Billy’s hand. “Professional what?” “Whatever you want me to be, tiger,” Billy said and growled. Charlie pulled Billy away from Derrick and laughed. “Billy’s from out of town.”

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“Oh yeah?” Derrick nodded and looked at them all nervously. “Okay then. I’m just going to drop off this kitty litter and get out of your hair.” He pulled the dolly down the aisle to the back room. Brent looked at Charlie and jerked his head toward the back of the store as he whispered, “Go help him. See if you can learn something.” “Why me?” Charlie whispered back. “He likes you,” Heather hissed. “I’ll go,” Billy said and started off down the aisle. Charlie grabbed the back of Billy’s shirt and yanked him back, then walked to the store room where Derrick stood bent over his dolly moving bags of kitty litter. “Hi there.” Derrick looked up and smiled as he wiped sweat off his forehead. “Hi yourself. Everything okay out there?” Charlie shrugged. “Yeah, it’s fine. We’re just jumpy after the break in, you know. Do you need a hand with that?” “Sure,” Derrick said and handed Charlie a bag of kitty litter. “It’s been a long day.” “Oh yeah?” Charlie turned to stack the fifty-pound bags of litter. “Been to a lot of stores already?” “Every single one in the city, it feels like,” Derrick replied. “I’m wiped out. Hey,” Derrick said and leaned toward Charlie. “Want to meet for a drink later?” “Oh, I don’t know,” Charlie said nervously. “Billy just arrived from L.A. and I should spend some time with him.” “Seems to me he’d love the bar I’m thinking about,” Derrick said. “Come on. It’ll be fun.” “Well, let me check with Billy and see if he’s interested,” Charlie said. “Give me your phone number and I’ll call you later.” Derrick wrote his phone number on a business card and handed it to Charlie, then resumed handing off bags of kitty litter. “So, I heard those kids at the bar ask you about a puppy?” Charlie said as nonchalantly as possible. Derrick dropped the bag of kitty litter he was holding and the paper tore open, spilling litter across the floor. “Oh, shit. I, uh, lost my grip. Do you have a broom or something?”

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Charlie got a small broom and dustpan and began sweeping up the mess. As he cleaned up the litter, he tried again. “So, was that puppy you were trying to give away your own or something?” “Look,” Derrick said, his voice low and his back to Charlie. “Can I tell you something?” Charlie’s throat felt dry and he lowered his voice as he replied, “Sure, what is it?” “Okay, it’s like this,” Derrick began and turned to face Charlie, stopping in shock as he caught sight of Charlie’s face. “Holy shit, Charlie. You okay?” “What?” Charlie said. It was then he felt the burning in his eyes and noticed the swelling in his hands. His throat tightened and his tongue seemed to double in size. “Oh no, not again. Brent!” Brent, Billy, and Heather came running to the back room. Brent took one look at Charlie and grabbed him by the hand. “You’re not allergic to cats, Charlie. You’re allergic to that kitty litter! Come on upstairs.” “I can’t see!” Charlie moaned. His eyes had swelled completely shut. “It stings, Brent! Ugh!” “Ewww,” Billy said and backed away as Charlie stumbled past him. “Stop that, Charlie! That’s gross!” He turned to Derrick and said with a smile, “Only the best parts of me swell up.” Derrick grinned and wiped sweat from his face. “I’m sure they do.” After Brent had helped Charlie wash his face and hands, he applied Benadryl to his swollen hands, forearms, and parts of his face. He helped Charlie lie on the couch, then sat in one of the folding chairs still scattered about the living room from the meeting. Heather and Billy joined him, all three of them facing Charlie where he lay moaning on the couch. “Derrick left?” Brent asked Billy. “Yeah, he’s gone,” Billy replied. “You know, I have to agree with Charlie on this one. I don’t think that guy is a criminal.” “Oh, and what makes you think that?” Heather asked. “Your years of working with parolees?” Billy narrowed his eyes at her. “No. He seems like a nice guy.” “He asked me out on a date tonight and I was kind of so-so about it,” Charlie said. “Then I asked him about that puppy he tried to give

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away and he started to tell me something about it, but then he noticed my reaction to the kitty litter and never finished. If he stole that dog do you think he would actually confess to me, your good friend, while he was in your store?” “That is a good point,” Brent said before Heather could respond. “But someone in the bowling league has got to be involved. I still think Derrick’s involved somehow, but he’s probably not the leader. Most likely someone else on his team has assumed that role and my money would have to be on Chug-a-lug, he’s a nasty character.” “Someone has to get him to admit to it, though,” Heather said. “We have to set up some kind of trap for him, using someone he doesn’t know.” “What about Billy?” Charlie suggested, turning his red, swollen eyes to peer blearily at them. “Only Derrick knows Billy is our friend. What if Billy talks to Chug-a-lug without Derrick around?” Heather snorted a sarcastic laugh. “Oh yeah, that’s a good idea.” “Chug-a-lug?” Billy repeated. “What the hell kind of name is that?” “He’s into water sports,” Charlie said. “Diving?” Billy asked. “Peeing,” Heather explained. Billy screwed up his face. “Golden showers? Sorry, I don’t swing that way.” Brent stood up and circled the room. “Actually, that’s not a half bad idea.” “Huh?” Billy said and looked at Brent. “Golden showers? You expanding your sexual horizons, bear man?” “No, using you to trap Chug-a-lug. We could get it on tape or something and hand the evidence over to Inspector Jeannotte.” “What?” Heather shot to her feet. “Are you out of your mind?” “What if Billy starts up a conversation with Chug-a-lug about needing to find a rare breed of dog for his aging mother or something. If Chug is stealing these animals, he may take the bait and setup a meeting to try and make the sale. All we’d have to do is have Billy ask for a specific breed of dog, one of the ones that’s been stolen, and we could tape the meeting and have all the evidence we’d need.”

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“What about Cedric’s dog?” Charlie asked. “That way we could get him off my back and Inspector Jeannotte off yours.” “Cedric’s dog?” Billy looked at Charlie. “The hairless rat dog you told me about on the phone? The one Cedric accused you of stealing?” “Yeah, that one,” Charlie replied, impressed that Billy had both listened to him and remembered what he had said. “I don’t think anyone else had that kind of breed, did they?” He turned to Brent. “What kind of dog was it?” “A mixture of a Chinese Crested and a Chihuahua,” Brent replied, then tipped his head to the side and asked, “Charlie, what was Derrick saying to you in the backroom before you started to swell up?” Billy leaned forward and stage whispered, “When he says ‘swell up’ he’s talking about your nasty, bloated face, not your cock.” Charlie tossed a pillow in Billy’s direction but his swollen eyes and natural bad luck took the pillow into a lamp that went crashing to the floor. Charlie looked at Brent and said, “Sorry.” “Don’t worry about it,” Brent said, “Just a family heirloom.” “What?” Charlie said with a start. “I’m kidding,” Brent assured him. “What about Derrick? You said before he asked you out. Do you know where he wanted to take you?” Charlie settled back into the couch. “He said something about taking me out and I told him I should spend time with Billy since he just arrived …” Billy smiled and put a hand on his chest. “Oh, that’s so sweet. You’d give up a night with a hottie like him for little old me?” He turned to Heather and his smile died at the sight of her annoyed expression. “And he said Billy might like the bar he wanted to go to,” Charlie finished. “Oh really?” Brent smiled and rocked back on his heels. “If he was talking about the bar I’m thinking about, we could have Billy meet up with Chug-a-lug tonight.” Heather looked at Brent and shook her head with a grimace. “Oh, you’re not serious.”

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Brent shrugged. “It would make sense, wouldn’t it? Derrick likes extreme ass play and Chug-a-lug likes water sports. Where else can you find both of those fetishes in one place?” “God,” Heather said and made a face. “Fetishes. Whatever happened to good old fashioned sex?” Billy reached out and put his arm around Heather’s shoulders. “You should try to expand your horizons a little. You might surprise yourself. Do you use a strap on when you have sex?” Heather pushed Billy away from her and he toppled out of his chair and onto the floor. Charlie ignored the small fracas between Heather and Billy and looked at Brent who stood deep in thought. “What bar are you talking about?” Brent smiled. “The Dirty Jock.” “The Dirty Jock?” Billy said standing up and sneering at Heather as he moved to the couch. He lifted Charlie’s feet and sat down, holding Charlie’s feet across his lap. “Sounds like a dive.” “What kind of place is it, Brent?” Charlie asked. “It’s kind of rough, but I can watch over you two. If I’m right, Chuga-lug doesn’t miss a night there. It’s the perfect place for Billy to introduce himself.” Brent looked at them. “What do you say? You two up for it?” Charlie turned to him. “Both of us? But, Chug-a-lug knows me.” “Yeah, and so does Derrick. And Derrick knows you’re friends with Billy. So I need you to keep Derrick occupied in the fisting area while Billy meets up with Chug in the watersports area. Get it?” “Yeah,” Charlie said reluctantly, then held up his swollen hands. “But I can’t go looking like this.” “I’ve got something that’ll clear that right up,” Brent said with a casual wave. “It’s a pretty strong medication, but it’ll have you back to normal in no time.” “Or as close to normal as you get,” Billy said and grimaced when Charlie dug his heels into his thighs. Brent pulled a chair up to the sofa and motioned for Heather to move closer. He looked at them each in turn, then said, “Now, let’s get our plan figured out.”

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P A few hours later, Brent’s truck bounced along the rutted dirt track that led from the two-lane asphalt road to the gravel parking lot of The Dirty Jock. In the cab, seated between Brent and Billy, Charlie’s head bobbled loosely back and forth with the motion. He turned to look blearily at Brent, a slow, blissful smile crossing his face, then turned the other way and smiled at Billy. “You look stoned,” Billy said. “You’re pretty,” Charlie replied and reached out to slap a hand onto Billy’s cheek and let it slide down his face. Billy leaned forward and looked over at Brent. “Great job, Dr. Pharmacist. That allergy medicine you prescribed has him soaring with the satellites. He’s going to be too whacked out to do this right.” “He’ll be okay,” Brent said. “Just keep cool, both of you.” “Whatever.” Billy folded his arms and looked around the parking lot as Brent parked the truck. “What the fuck? Is this a mall or a gay bar? Look at all these fucking mini-vans! And they have car seats!” “Yeah,” Brent replied as he stepped out of the truck. “If their wives won’t piss on them, somebody here will do it instead.” “What’s a little piss between friends, huh?” Billy got out of the truck and helped Charlie step down to the gravel parking lot. Once he was on the ground, Charlie looked at Billy with wide, glazed eyes and giggled. “That was a great, big step,” he said, then took a breath and shouted, “One small step for fluffers, one giant step for gay porn!” Billy and Brent laughed and put their arms around Charlie’s shoulders to lead him to the door. They stepped into a dank, dark wooden cubicle that reeked of old sweat and hummed with the deep bass thump of bar music. A locked steel door faced them and a dirty Plexiglas window was set into a side wall behind which sat a thin, sallow man with a shaved head and multiple piercings in his lips. “How much for three of us?” Brent asked, raising his voice over the music. “For what?” the attendant asked in a monotone voice. Brent glanced at Billy, then looked back at the man. “To get inside.”

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The man rolled his eyes and leaned forward. “To get inside which level? There are four levels in the bar and each one has a separate entrance fee.” “What are the levels?” Billy asked. The man looked at the ceiling and counted the levels off on his fingers as he spoke, “Level one is strippers and lap dances, level two is fisting and slings, level three is water sports and enemas, level four is bondage and torture.” He gave them a bored smile. “What’s your pleasure?” “All of them!” Charlie exclaimed and spun around in the small space, his arms outstretched and barely missing Brent and Billy. He kept saying, “All of them!” over and over until he bounced off a wall and fell to the floor in a heap. Billy and Brent looked down at Charlie for a moment, then turned back to the man in the booth. “How much for all levels?” Brent asked. “Sixty bucks.” “Each?” Brent gasped. “Look, you don’t like it, go rent a couple movies and jerk each other off.” The outer door opened behind them and two men wearing leather chaps over leather jockstraps and motorcycle boots stepped over Charlie’s prone form without a second glance to stand directly behind Brent and Billy. The new arrivals had shaved heads, thick mustaches and reflective sunglasses and stood staring at them with their arms crossed. Their broad shoulders and huge biceps forced Billy and Brent to move closer to the plexi glass. Charlie stirred and climbed up Brent’s legs until he stood beside him with his head resting on Brent’s shoulder. “All right,” Brent said and pulled out a credit card. “You take credit cards?” The man leveled a cool look at him. “No.” He turned to inspect the new arrivals who flashed some kind of membership card. The attendant nodded and buzzed the men inside. “Bye,” Charlie said, turning to watch the large, bald men leave. “Nice asseseses.” He stretched the word out until his tongue hung out of his mouth and he almost fell over again.

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Brent sighed and pulled out all his cash. “I have a hundred and fifty bucks.” He looked at Billy. “You got any money?” Billy gave him an ‘oh please’ look and they both turned to look at Charlie who giggled at them. “Get his wallet,” Brent said and Billy moved toward Charlie who began to scream. A few minutes later, after Brent and Billy had forced Charlie out of his clothes, the three left their belongings in lockers and grabbed towels on their way out of the changing room. They proceeded down a dark, narrow hallway with the towels around their waists, color coded plastic passes and their locker keys jangling on wrist bracelets. Charlie hummed happily to himself as he plodded along behind Brent and Billy. “Eww,” Billy said, pausing to lean down and peer at what he had just stepped in. “I should have brought my aqua shoes.” “Come on, Billy,” Brent said. “We need to get Charlie up to the fisting level to make sure Derrick’s there alone.” They passed a bar filled with loud music and nude strippers performing lap dances and various sexual favors and paused to watch for a moment. The strippers were all well built and well hung, their cocks hard and bouncing before them as they danced on stage. Against the walls customers were receiving private dances that included more than just a simple bump and grind. They watched as the dancer closest to them turned his back on his customer and slowly lowered himself onto the man’s erection, impaling himself completely with a satisfied smile on his face. “Okay, let’s go,” Brent said, his voice hoarse with lust. “We’ve got to find Derrick before you can go looking for Chug-a-lug.” They turned away from the strippers and found a set of dimly lit stairs. They showed their passes to a nude attendant seated on a stool at the top of the steps slowly stroking his semi-erect penis and walked down another dark, narrow hallway to a room sealed with a black curtain. They spread the curtain open and leaned inside. Dozens of leather slings hung from the ceiling, lined up along each wall and down the middle of the room, all of them occupied. Men lay spread eagle in various stages of penetration as their partners greased up their hands, arms, or other implements. Billy’s eyes went wide and he looked at Brent. “That’s gotta hurt.”

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“Only for the first half hour,” Brent replied with a wink. “I bottomed in a fisting movie once.” He held up a finger. “Once.” “Oh, beds!” Charlie said and slipped around them to run into the room. “I love beds!” All fisting stopped and every head in the room turned to watch Charlie as he spun and danced down the aisle of slings. Brent pushed Billy back and hissed, “Get to Chug-a-lug, he’ll be up another level in the water sports area. I’ll watch out for Charlie.” “But I don’t know what Chug-a-lug looks like!” Billy said. “He looks like a rat who walks upright. Just ask around up there, they’ll know him. But be discrete! Good luck.” Brent ducked through the curtain and left him standing alone in the dark corridor. Billy took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then turned around and stepped in a puddle of something slimy. After using the edge of his towel to wipe off his foot, Billy gathered his courage and headed for the stairs.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Bottoms Up

C

harlie danced up the aisle among the fisting men and stopped behind a hairy man who was positioned between the legs of a man in a sling. Charlie quietly peered over the hairy man’s shoulder and narrowed his eyes in concentration. The man wore a long leather glove greased up to his elbow and slowly slid his fisted hand deep into his partner’s gaping asshole. Charlie drew in his breath with a hiss, startling the fister, and looked up at the man in the sling. “We’ve found the problem, Mr. Smith. You’ve got someone’s arm up your ass.” He laughed and danced away before Brent could get hold of him. “Dammit, Charlie,” Brent hissed. “Get back here.” “Charlie?” someone called from a corner of the room. Charlie stopped dancing and staggered into the darkened corner. Derrick Peterman lay in a sling, his legs spread wide and raised high in the air to expose his puckered and swollen asshole. Charlie smiled at the sight of him.

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“Derrick!” He turned and plopped himself down on Derrick’s stomach as if the man were a swing. Derrick let out a grunt and rattled the shackles keeping his wrists and ankles bound to the chains of his sling. Charlie grabbed the chains on either side of him and began to pump his legs, swinging Derrick side-to-side. “Wheeeee!” “Oh, Charlie,” Derrick groaned. “You’ve got to get off me. I’m going to puke if you don’t. I get motion sick really easy. Oh God, Charlie, please stop swinging.” Brent walked up and eased Derrick’s swinging body to a stop, then pulled Charlie off the man’s stomach. Turning to the men around them who were blatantly staring at Charlie’s antics, he waved and said, “Sorry. He’s a little drunk. Go about your business. Nothing to see here.” Brent looked around and found that Charlie had vanished. He sighed and leaned down to whisper in Derrick’s ear, “Sorry about that, Derrick. He’s high on allergy medication and doesn’t know what he’s doing.” Derrick looked up at Brent with a sick expression and nodded as he belched quietly. “It’s all right. I figured he was stoned or something.” “You okay?” Derrick nodded again. “I’m okay. Just waiting for some attention.” He smirked up at Brent. “Care to indulge me a little? It’s been a slow night. Gloves’re up there on the shelf.” Brent shook his head. “Not right now, sorry. I need to make sure Charlie isn’t beat up or worse. But I’ll bring him back over here and see what we can do, okay?” Brent walked off down the row of men in slings, looking back and forth for any sign of Charlie. Most of the men were being serviced either with hands, large dildos, or cocks, some with just one of the penetrating items, others with two or more. Groans and grunts filled the room along with the smell of lube, sweat, and come. On the other side of the room, Charlie bounced up to a man in a sling just as his partner pulled off the glove covering his arm and walked away. Charlie knelt before the man in the sling, positioning himself between the man’s spread legs, and blinked in surprise at the sight of the gaping asshole staring back at him. He cupped a hand over his ear and leaned forward until he was just an inch away from the glistening, red sphincter.

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“Wow! I can hear the ocean!” he said, then threw back his head and laughed as the man in the sling raised up to peer at him. “You going to fist me or what?” the man snapped. “Nope,” Charlie said happily. “But I will do this.” He pressed his face against the man’s slowly shrinking sphincter and gave him a long, wet raspberry. “Oh!” the man gasped, dropping his head back. “That feels good.” Brent grabbed Charlie’s arms and pulled him away from the man in the sling. Charlie laughed and turned to Brent, lube smeared all over his face. “Brent!” Charlie threw his arms around him. “I love you.” “Wait,” the man in the sling begged. “Bring him back. That felt good.” “He’ll be back,” Brent said as he moved Charlie off along the row. Behind them, a new man stepped up to the bottom in the sling and began greasing up his gloved hand. Brent led Charlie back to Derrick and pulled off each of their towels. “Brent!” Charlie giggled. “Why, I never!” He leaned in close and whispered, “But I hope to one day.” Brent wiped the lube off Charlie’s face with his towel, then lifted Charlie’s leg so he straddled Derrick’s chest. He eased Charlie back until his asshole had been planted firmly on Derrick’s face and stepped back, pulling on a latex glove as he rounded the deliveryman’s raised legs. “Derrick, here’s your order. A prime cut of fresh rump roast.” “Oh!” Charlie said and his eyes went wide as Derrick began rimming him. “That feels good.” “I thought you might like that,” Brent said with a grin. “You just sit there and let Derrick work on you while I work on Derrick.” Brent knelt between Derrick’s legs and took the man’s hard-on into his mouth as he fingered Derrick’s lubed up asshole. He thought if he could keep Derrick occupied for about an hour, Billy should be able to meet up with Chug-a-lug and try to arrange a meeting. Brent slid three fingers deep into Derrick’s ass and focused his suction on the plump, succulent head of the man’s cock, thinking there could be worse ways to waste an hour.

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P On the third floor, Billy peered nervously around the corner of the hall and into a long, wide room. Bar tables stood along the walls, surrounded by men who stood talking casually in the nude or with towels around their waists, shepherding flocks of bottles or pitchers of beer on each tabletop. Surprised by the normalcy of the scene, Billy walked into the room only to stop in his tracks. The middle of the room contained a slightly raised platform on which ran three long lengths of urinal troughs as well as several bathtubs. Men lay sprawled within the troughs and tubs, feet dangling over the sides and heads resting against the legs or back of the man behind. As Billy watched, several men chugged the last of their beer and broke away from their conversation groups to approach the line of waiting men. These men paced the length of tubs and troughs, critically reviewing the selection of recipients until they found one that appealed to them. The men stopped, parted the front of their towels and let loose a long, steady stream of piss that covered the man lying beneath. “Shit,” Billy whispered. “No scat in here,” someone said to his left. “That’s at Back Traxx across town.” Billy turned to the speaker and found a man seventy years old if he was a day sitting alone at a table surrounded by quite a few empty bottles of beer. “What?” Billy said. “No shit play in this place,” the old man said. “This is just water sports.” “Oh.” Billy stepped up to the table and turned to watch as a few more men paced the line of troughs. “I didn’t realize.” “You’re new here,” the man said and stuck out a thin, pale arm. “I’m Pete.” “Billy.” He shook the man’s hand. “How old are you, Pete?” Pete laughed. “Impertinent little cuss aren’t you?” Billy shrugged and turned back to the action. “I’ve been called worse.”

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“I bet.” Pete turned to follow Billy’s gaze. “You interested in getting in a tub?” “Huh?” Billy looked at him wide-eyed and shook his head. “No, I’m not really into being pissed on. Guess I’m trying to figure it out.” Pete shrugged. “To each his own, I say.” He chugged down the last of his beer and smacked his lips. “Ahh! Gotta pee.” Pete waddled off to the troughs and Billy watched as the old man slowly cruised the raised platform. If tubs full of men and piss weren’t stretched out before Pete, Billy could almost imagine him bending over vegetables at a town market trying to pick the best selections. Pete found a satisfactory specimen and came to a stop. He pulled his towel open and released a dribble of urine that pattered onto a hot young stud’s head. The stud raised his face into the pathetic stream and turned his head to get himself completely soaked. Pete finished up, shook the last few drops from his wrinkled, pale penis, then shuffled back up beside Billy. “Damn prostate,” Pete muttered as he climbed onto the stool. “I gotta drink a gallon before it’ll let me pee a drop.” He signaled a waiter dressed in leather chaps and looked at Billy. “Want a drink?” Billy nodded. “Beer please.” He and Pete watched the action a moment longer before Billy remembered he was on a mission. He looked around the room, surveying every face in an attempt to place a rat-like face with the name Chug-a-lug, but nobody stood out. He drank his beer and chatted with Pete about L.A. and Vancouver and how long Pete had been coming to the club. “I’ve been coming here since it opened in the fifties,” Pete said. “Before it was a gay club it was a country western bar.” Billy nodded along distractedly and wondered how he was going to bring up the subject of Chug-a-lug. He needed to talk to Chug soon so he could signal Brent and Charlie and they could leave. As he finished his beer, Billy leaned in to Pete and asked, “Where’s the bathroom?” Pete frowned at him. “What do you mean?” Billy frowned back. “What do you mean ‘what do I mean’? I gotta pee. Where’s the bathroom?” Pete pointed at the troughs. “The bathroom’s right there.”

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Billy turned to look at the men lying in wait and felt his bladder dry up. He did not think he could willfully pee on someone. Fucking someone and coming on them was one thing, but piss was altogether different. Maybe he had a hang up about it because of how he was raised by his Aunt Enid. She had always cautioned him about the dangers of urine: how it was dirty and nasty and he should never touch it as he peed. He had always thought Aunt Enid was a little cracked, which would explain why he had left her home at 2:30 in the morning two nights after graduating high school and made his way to Los Angeles. He shook memories of Aunt Enid from his mind and turned back to Pete. “I don’t know if I can do that, Pete.” Pete shrugged. “It’s easy. Just walk up, find someone pretty, and pee on ‘em.” Billy shook his head and wrinkled his nose. “I don’t pee on people!” “Well, no,” Pete agreed. “Not people on the street. But these guys want you to pee on them. They like it. That’s why they’re lying in old urinal troughs.” “But …” “Besides,” Pete continued, cutting him off. “There are no bathrooms on the upper floors.” Billy let out a breath and shifted uncomfortably. He could pee in a corner and probably get kicked out of the club, or he could just step up to a tub and pee like a man … on another man. He straightened his back, squared his shoulders, and walked decisively out to the first tub in line. He was about to step up and let go when an overweight Asian man moved in front of him and turned his back. A moment later Billy heard a long, strong stream of piss hitting the chest and groin of the man in the tub. Billy took a step back, glared at the Asian man’s back, and moved down the line. Each time Billy started to step up to the platform to pee, someone got in front of him. He kept moving around the tubs until he finally found an open space and quickly stepped up to fill it. He stood opposite a tall, well-built man with curly brown hair and two day’s growth of beard. The man smiled at him as he waved his penis side to side, his piss drenching the body of the man stretched out beneath them.

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“How you doing?” the peeing man asked Billy with a wink. Billy nodded. “Fine thanks.” He dropped his eyes to the man’s cock. “Nice hose.” “Thanks.” The man finished peeing and shook off the last few drops as he looked down into the tub. “Like that, Chug?” Billy blinked and looked down. A man with long hair, tiny rodent eyes, and a long, thin nose laid dripping with piss beneath him. He had a wiry, muscular body, a small patch of chest hair between his firm pecs, and long fingers that stroked his seven-inch dick. The piss covering him shimmered in the dim lights of the room. “Best I’ve had all night, Scott,” Chug said and reached out to tug on the pisser’s dick. “Hell of a lot better than that one guy who ate a pound of asparagus before coming up here tonight. What a fuck head. Hey, wanna meet up later for a drink?” “We’ll see.” Scott winked again at Billy before turning to walk back to his table. “Well?” Chug said as he looked up at Billy. “You here to pee or what? I got this tub for another forty minutes, so don’t get any ideas.” “Huh?” Billy replied. “Oh, no. I’m just, you know, new to the place and don’t really know the etiquette of …” Chug gave him a greasy, condescending smile. “Pissing on someone?” Billy nodded. “Yeah.” Chug waved his hand down the line of tubs. “Look around, buddy. You just walk up, choose what you like, and piss away. That’s all there is to it. Now, you going to pee on me or just take up space?” Billy took a breath and reached down to take hold of his dick. He closed his eyes and focused on his full bladder, trying to get the piss to come out and save him more embarrassment. “Hey, hurry it up,” a gruff voice snarled from over his shoulder. Billy jumped, his pee climbing back up, and he turned to glare at the man behind him. “Back off. I got here first.” “Just piss on him and get out,” the man snarled. Billy turned back to Chug, closed his eyes and thought about waterfalls and running water. A tiny trickle of piss dribbled out of his dick and ran along the side of the tub, missing Chug entirely.

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“Oh, save me,” Chug said with malicious glee. “I’m drowning. Throw me a life ring.” He shook his head and waved for Billy to step away. “Go home to your training potty, kid. Let the big boys play on their own.” Billy raised his chin and walked with as much dignity as possible in a room devoted to water sports back to the table where Pete stood drinking more beer. He put his head in his heads and stared glumly at the tabletop. He had failed. He had made contact with Chug-a-lug but failed to get any kind of information. Brent and Charlie were going to be very disappointed. Billy took a deep breath and felt a wave of indignant stubbornness come over him. What the hell was his problem? He had never been pee shy before, that was Charlie’s hang-up. By God, he was going to pee on someone tonight if it was the last thing he did. The waiter strolled by and Billy called out to him. “Bring me two beers and a large glass of water!”

P “Oh yeah!” Charlie shouted. He rode Derrick’s face like a penny pony, bucking and thrusting his hips so his asshole rubbed against the man’s unshaven face. He held his own erection in one hand and waved his free hand in the air like a rodeo star. “Eat that ass, baby,” Charlie said. “Get that fuckin’ tongue up there. Oh yeah.” Brent knelt between Derrick’s legs and tried not to laugh as Charlie bucked and bounced before him. He sucked Derrick’s cock and slipped his gloved fingers up Derrick’s greasy asshole. Brent came up for air from Derrick’s dick and glanced around, noticing that Charlie’s antics had attracted some attention from the other fisting participants. “Oh God,” Charlie moaned. “Work that hole. That’s it.” Brent smirked and turned back to his task at hand. He had four fingers inside Derrick and began to work his thumb into the man as well. Derrick groaned into Charlie’s jumping asshole, an action that elicited another volley of shouted encouragements from the fluffer. Brent had just managed to get his entire hand inside Derrick when the two men who had entered the club behind them stepped up to stand beside Derrick’s sweat-soaked body. The men had removed their leather

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jockstraps but still wore the leather chaps and motorcycle boots as well as their mirrored sunglasses. The new arrivals slowly stroked their cocks, switching their attention between Brent fisting Derrick and Charlie jerking off and rubbing his asshole across Derrick’s face. Brent leaned in and took Derrick’s balls in his mouth and the man groaned up into Charlie’s ass, setting him off on another round of supportive cheering. The two men standing beside them moaned and stroked their dicks faster. Brent noticed both of them wore metal cock rings that winked brightly behind their wagging hands. “Oh fuck!” Derrick gasped and Brent looked up to watch the man’s cock jerk. A hot, thick glob of come shot out of Derrick’s dick and landed on Charlie’s thigh. Brent sucked the man’s balls harder and moved his hand deeper into Derrick’s asshole, watching while the deliveryman sprayed load after load of spunk across his hairy, sweaty belly. “That was fuckin’ hot,” said one of the men standing alongside Derrick’s sling. “He didn’t even touch himself.” “I’m going to come,” the other man said and tipped back his head as he bent his knees. Come erupted from his cock and splattered down onto Derrick’s belly, mixing with the deliveryman’s sweat and puddles of his own semen. “Yeah, oh yeah,” his partner gasped and directed his load across Charlie’s hard-on, drenching the red, throbbing cock with come that dripped down the shaft and onto Derrick’s chest. Charlie used the come as lube and stroked himself faster, grinding his asshole against Derrick’s face as the deliveryman licked and sucked at his hole. “Oh fuck!” Charlie gasped. “I’m coming. Oh yeah, I’m going to come.” His strokes quickened and he stood up to spray his wad over Derrick’s chest and belly. A glob of spunk landed on Brent’s forehead and another in his hair. “Nice shot,” said one of the men and he reached out to milk the last few drops from Charlie’s dick. Brent stroked his own cock faster as he eased his gloved fist in and out of Derrick’s asshole. When he was ready he stood up and pressed himself against the V formed by Derrick’s spread legs to blow his wad all over Derrick’s belly and crotch.

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Derrick raised his head as Charlie stepped off his body and smiled at Brent. “That was fuckin’ hot, Brent.” Brent nodded back to him and peeled off the glove. “You’ve got a hot ass, Derrick.” “Maybe we can get a drink sometime?” Derrick wondered. Brent shrugged. “Maybe.” He wondered how Derrick fit into the pet store robberies and decided it would be a waste for him to go to prison. He did seem like a nice guy, and he had a hot ass, it would be a shame to waste it on just a prison population. He tried to think of a way to ask Derrick about the puppy he had been offering to the group of skateboarders when he turned to look for Charlie and found him gone again. Brent rolled his eyes and scanned the room, finally finding Charlie peering over the shoulder of a man in the middle of an intense fisting session. “Excuse me, Derrick. Gotta catch Charlie before he does something stupid.” He walked quickly down the aisle to escort Charlie out of the room but Charlie caught sight of him and slipped away, laughing and running off like a child eluding his father. “Charlie,” Brent growled. “Get back here. It’s time to go.” “No!” Charlie called out. “I like it here!” He ran around the corner, putting the middle rows of slings and fisters between them. He laughed at Brent over the grunting, sweating faces of the men in the sling, then looked up and down the row of fisting. “Look! They’re like Muppets!” Charlie began to sing the theme song to The Muppet Show and Brent closed his eyes and shook his head, hoping Billy was having better luck with his end of the plan.

P Billy chugged his fourth beer and turned to belch at Pete. The old man laughed and raised a bottle in salute. Billy stepped back from the table, staggered a bit, then adjusted his towel more firmly around his waist and moved up to get in line behind a tall, thin man with long red hair who currently stood relieving himself onto Chug-a-lug’s face. The thin red head finished up and moved away from the trough and Billy stepped forward. Chug-a-lug blinked up at him and rolled his eyes.

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“Are you back again?” Chug-a-lug whined. “Look, kid, stop wasting my time and go play somewhere else. These troughs aren’t cheap –” Billy slipped his dick out from beneath his towel and unleashed a torrent of urine that hit Chug-a-lug full in the face. The piss splashed off the man’s skull and sprayed up and over him and a few other trough loungers. Billy grinned down at Chug-a-lug as the man twisted his head to grab quick breaths before moving his face back into the stream. The beers and water had done the trick and it took Billy a full two minutes to empty his bladder. When the last few squirts of piss had run off Chug-a-lug’s face the man wiped urine from his eyes and smiled up at him. “Now that’s what I call a golden shower! Yeah!” Chug-a-lug raised both his arms in the air and let out a whoop of joy. “All right! Buy that boy another round of drinks, I’m signing up for another hour in the tub.” Billy dusted off his hands with satisfaction and turned to walk unsteadily back to the table where Pete sat amidst nearly a dozen empty bottles. The waiter wandered up to clear the empties and replaced them with a large pitcher of draft beer. He sneered a smile in Billy’s direction and said, “Compliments of Chug-a-lug.” “Who?” Billy said as innocently as possible. “The guy you just drenched.” The waiter tipped his head over his shoulder and moved off. Chug-a-lug walked up to the table, nude save for a towel around his neck. He clapped Billy on the shoulder and smiled at him. “What’s your name, kid?” “Billy.” “Nice to meet you, Billy, I’m Chug-a-lug.” They shook and, afterwards, Billy discretely wiped his hand off on his towel beneath the table as Chug poured out three beers. He asked, “So, Billy, you a friend of Pete’s?” “He is now,” Pete said with a smile. “He walked in here naïve as a newborn baby and I trained him good and proper, didn’t I?” “That’s right Pete,” Billy said. “You trained me good and proper. Now if you could just help me find a dog to replace the one my aunt had put to sleep, I’ll be all set.” He downed his glass of beer and belched with gusto.

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Chug-a-lug narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer to Billy. “You’re looking for a dog, eh?” Billy nodded as he refilled his glass. “Yep. Need me a pooch, a canine, one of man’s best friends.” Chug looked around and asked quietly, “What kind of dog are you looking for, Billy?”

P Brent finally caught Charlie and dragged him out of the fisting room and down the steps to the locker room. He held him in a tight, slippery embrace beneath the spray of a shower as he soaped them both up, then helped him dry off. Charlie’s eyes closed as Brent dressed him and afterwards Brent laid him back across the bench so he could get dressed himself. As he pulled his long sleeve T-shirt over his head, Brent caught himself humming the theme song to The Muppet Show and turned to glare down where Charlie lay quietly snoring. Billy rushed in the door and struggled to open his locker, his movements rushed, frantic. “How’d it go?” Brent asked. “Jesus,” Billy said and looked around Brent at Charlie. “Is he dead?” “No, he’s finally asleep,” Brent replied. “The allergy medication made him freak out in the fisting room and now he’s crashed. So, how’d it go? Did you find him?” “Oh, I found him all right,” Billy said with a drunken smile and a quiet belch. “And I need to get outside and take a serious piss. Move your ass.” “There’s a bathroom down the hall,” Brent said. Billy shook his head and, leaving his jeans unzipped, pulled his shirt on as he staggered out the door wearing one shoe and heading for the front door. “I’m not setting foot in a bathroom in this place, are you serious?” “Just piss in the shower,” Brent called after him. “Hey! That’s not allowed!” the attendant sitting across the room said. “Show some class.” Brent gave him a disbelieving look and shook his head before hefting Charlie to his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and walking outside. Billy stood swaying just around the corner of the building, eyes closed, head

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tipped back and mouth hanging open as a strong stream of piss arced up against the wall. “Nice distance,” Brent said. “You must have been popular up there.” “You have no fucking idea,” Billy replied. He finished and zipped up, then slowly climbed into the truck, Charlie sitting between them. “You sure he’s not dead?” “I’m sure,” Brent said. He started the truck and pulled out of the lot. “You going to tell me what happened or not?” Billy smiled at him. “I met Chug-a-lug. I got him talking about dogs and arranged to meet him Wednesday night to take a look at his selection.” “Wednesday night?” Brent exclaimed. “Fuck! What time?” “Nine o’clock,” Billy said. “I think you’ve missed the point here, Brent. I got it all set up, you see? We can bust him.” “Damn,” Brent whispered, shaking his head. “Wednesday night is our final bowling game. It’s the league playoffs and we’re slated to bowl against Chug-a-lug’s team.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Charlie Strikes Out

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ednesday evening, five days after their visit to The Dirty Jock, Charlie sat at the table behind Brent’s bowling team sipping a diet cola. He had slept until noon the day after they had gone to the bar and awoke with no memory of his antics the night before. His asshole had been raw from scratching it over Derrick’s whiskers for so long and he was embarrassed at the description Brent gave him about his actions. But he could breathe and the swelling around his eyes and on his hands had gone down and for that he thanked Brent and his miraculous, if not frighteningly powerful, Canadian allergy medication. Charlie watched Brent roll a practice ball and cheered when the man got a strike. Brent flashed him a smile, then turned to look at the entrance to the bowling alley with concern. Robert Carlson, one of the team’s members, was missing, again, and Brent was becoming agitated. Heather walked up with a pitcher of beer for the team and a fresh soda for Charlie. “He’s not here yet?” she asked with concern. “Not yet,” Charlie replied. “And Brent’s getting nervous.”

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“Getting?” Heather gave a quiet snort and poured herself a beer. “He’s been nervous since the beginning of the season.” She sipped her beer, looking around before asking in a quiet voice, “So, Billy’s meeting is still set for tonight at nine?” Charlie nodded and also looked around. Chug-a-lug and Derrick were on the other side of the alley talking to members of another team. “Yes, so far as we know.” “What address did Chug-a-lug give Billy?” “Some house way outside the city,” Charlie said. “Brent got a map off the Internet. We’re going out there after a quick stop at the apartment for the video camera. You’re coming along, right?” “Billy’s borrowing my car,” she said and sneered. “I want to make sure he doesn’t trash it.” The PA blurted that the league finals were ready to begin and Brent turned to look at Mark and Heather with a sigh. He bowed his head and approached the counter to speak to the league president. “Hey, where’s your other bowler?” Chug-a-lug asked Heather as he walked past their table. Charlie ignored Chug-a-lug as the man walked by, but he gave Derrick an embarrassed smile. “Hi Derrick.” “Hi yourself, you hot man,” Derrick said. He leaned down and whispered, “You were amazing the other night at the bar.” Charlie let out an embarrassed laugh. “Wish I could remember it.” “I could reenact it for you,” Derrick said. “I’ve been running it through my mind all week. My cock’s more chafed now than when I was thirteen.” He winked again and moved away to his team’s side of the lane. “Charlie,” Brent called from the counter. “Come up here a minute.” Charlie approached the counter in time to hear the league president say, “You’re sure he’s bowled here before?” “What?” Charlie asked and shot Brent a panicked look. “What are you talking about?” Brent nodded back to the league president. “Yeah, more than twice. So he’s official, right?”

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The man nodded and shrugged a shoulder. “If you’re down a player you can use your sub in the final game as long as he’s bowled at least twice during the season.” “Uh, Brent?” Charlie raised a finger, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?” “He needs a pair of shoes.” Brent turned to Charlie. “Size nine, right?” “Tens,” Charlie corrected automatically. “What’s going on?” “You’re subbing for us.” Brent took the shoes and started walking back to the lanes. “Brent, no! Not this game. This is the final game, the big one, and I’ll screw it up, you know I’ll screw it up!” Charlie said, following behind him. “I hook to the left and can’t catch the head pin, you know that.” Brent stopped and turned to him. “Charlie, do you remember anything about our visit to the bar the other night?” Charlie cleared his throat and looked away, folding his arms as he said quietly, “Um, no.” Brent leaned in and stuck a finger in his face. “Trust me, you owe me this.” He handed Charlie the shoes and said with more compassion, “Just do your best, okay? That’s all I’m asking. We need a bowler. I can’t afford to take Robert’s average less ten on this game.” Charlie sighed and took the shoes. “All right, I’ll try.” He sat down, slipping off his shoes as his stomach knotted up. He really did not want to do this. The Vancouver Vixens and The Perfect Tens were tied for first place. Whoever won these final three games would place first for the season, win $1,000.00, and the league trophy. Charlie had a sick feeling it would all come down to him, and he never did well under pressure.

P Just over two hours later, Charlie stood on the bowling lane holding a gaudy orange and white house ball before his face. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He had bowled well the first two games, maintaining his average of 176 or better for each. The Perfect Tens were four marks behind the Vancouver Vixens. Charlie knew he needed to get as many

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marks as possible this frame. Strikes were worth two marks and spares were worth one. He took another breath and willed himself to relax. “Just throw the fucking ball!” Chug-a-lug snapped from behind him and Charlie jumped. “Knock it off, asshole,” Brent growled at the man. Chug shot Brent a dirty look and stomped off, elbowing his way through the small crowd of bowlers who had gathered behind the lanes to watch the top two teams battle it out. Charlie glanced over at Derrick who nodded and gave him a tight smile. Derrick was up next and stood holding his ball against his leg as he practiced league etiquette and waited for Charlie to bowl. It was the final frame of the final game and Charlie’s stomach shrank as the importance of his score fell fully upon him. He needed a strike. With a surge of will power, Charlie took a step forward and swung his arm back, his eyes locked on the pins. His fingers released the ball at the right moment and it rolled smoothly from his hand, hooking to the left just enough to catch the head pin and topple the rest of the pins behind it. A cheer went up from the crowd and Brent jumped up to hug Charlie tight. “Good job,” Brent said. “I knew you could do it.” As Charlie waited for his ball to come back, Derrick stepped up and threw a strike as well. A few low-key cheers and scattered applause greeted his strike and Charlie patted Derrick playfully on the ass as the man stepped off the lane. He picked up his creamsicle-colored ball, held his hand over the dryer for a moment, and then took his place on the lane with the ball held before his face. After a few moments of careful aiming, Charlie moved forward and swung his arm back. His release was not quite as smooth this time; the ball bounced twice on the boards before plowing into the pins and Charlie flinched at the sight of five pins left standing. A low moan of disappointment oozed from the crowd. “Just pick up the stragglers, Charlie,” Brent told him. “It’s okay, you can do it.” Derrick waited for Charlie to throw his final ball and, when he only managed to knock down three, swatted his ass in sympathy. With smooth grace, Derrick finished off his game with two more strikes, earning himself

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a turkey. The man had picked up six marks for his team and Charlie had only managed two. The teams were now tied. Brent and Chug-a-lug were next, the final bowlers for either team. Both men sat and waited for the other to stand up, neither wanting to throw first. After a few tense moments, Brent finally sighed and got to his feet, taking his ball and adjusting his stance on the smooth wood of the lane. He locked his gaze on the pins, then moved forward and rolled a strike. As he stepped off the lane he could not resist shooting a smug look in Chug-a-lug’s direction. Chug ignored Brent’s look and threw his ball, a sickly neon green color that spun down the lane like a radioactive booger. The pins collapsed around the ball and it was Chug’s turn to smirk; the teams were still tied up. Brent dried his hand over the blower, squeezed his rosin bag, and stepped up on the lane. He hesitated, taking a few moments to adjust his stance and grip. He moved back and dried his hand again on the blower, then resumed his position, waiting another moment before finally rolling the ball. The ball hit the pins solidly, the crack of the impact echoing around the tense alley as the pins spun and toppled. A moment later only one pin remained standing, the seven off in the back corner, and Brent hung his head as the crowd behind them groaned. “Tough break, Bear Boy,” Chug said as he grabbed his ball. “Let’s see who’s got the better set of balls now.” “Just shut up and bowl, Chug,” Derrick said. “Cut the theatrics.” “Don’t smart mouth me, you fucking pet food jockey,” Chug snapped, his eyes glinting with malice. “You’re already on my list.” Derrick turned away from Chug and crossed his arms, bouncing his leg in annoyance. Chug glared at Derrick’s profile a moment, then turned to face the pins, twisting his head to ease the tension in his shoulders and neck. He took a deep breath and stepped up to the foul line. Charlie held his breath and tried to will Chug’s ball into the gutter. Beside him, Brent’s shoulders hunched with tension. This ball could decide the game. Chug’s ball sent the pins flying, another strike, and he spun in the air, punching his fist over his head as he let out a whoop of joy. The crowd

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sighed and most of them began to shuffle away. It was over. At best Brent could tie the two teams up and they would share first place. Brent threw his final ball and hung his head as he failed to pick up the spare. Chug-a-lug jumped around embracing his team, all of them excited except for Derrick who smiled and laughed a little less enthusiastically than his teammates. Chug-a-lug stuck out his tongue at the Vancouver Vixens, then turned to waggle his ass, dropping his pants and mooning them. Heather rolled her eyes and turned to hug each of her teammates, including Charlie. She picked up her bowling bag and headed toward the door, wanting to change before meeting them at Brent’s apartment. Lifting his chin, Brent shook hands with each member of The Perfect Tens, including Chug-a-lug, then sat heavily beside Charlie to change his shoes. “I shouldn’t have been so cocky after that strike,” Brent said. “Oh, come on,” Charlie told him. “You can’t be serious. We all bowled well. It just happened, that’s all.” “Yeah, whatever.” Brent stood up and smiled sadly down at him. “Come on. Let’s get back to the apartment and get Billy ready to go.” A large shape loomed before them and Charlie looked up to find Brewster, the plumber’s assistant, smiling down at him. The man wore a blue bowling shirt that emphasized the blue of his eyes. He smiled through his goatee and leaned down to give Charlie a hug, his big hands pulling Charlie close to his warm, muscular body. “Sorry you guys lost,” Brewster said, his strong arms tightening for a moment. Charlie breathed in the smell of Brewster’s sweat and deodorant as the rayon of the man’s bowling shirt caressed his cheek and sent goose bumps racing along his spine. “Wow,” Charlie said. “If this is what I get for losing, I’d really like to see what winners receive.” Brewster laughed and stepped back. “Did Malcolm get your plumbing problem taken care of?” Charlie blushed. “You could say that.” Brewster nodded and smirked. “He had to snake the drain, huh?”

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“In a manner of speaking.” Charlie reached out to touch Brewster’s strong, tan arm. “Thanks for the hug.” “There’s not enough time for anything else,” Brewster replied and gave Charlie a sexy smile. “Well, not tonight,” Charlie said. His cock had taken notice of Brewster’s tone and begun to harden. “Maybe you’ll have another plumbing emergency,” Brewster said. “I’m thinking of going home and stuffing a frozen turkey in the toilet right now.” Charlie laughed at himself. “Listen to me, I lose the game and my subtlety all in a matter of minutes.” Brewster laughed and took a step closer. “You know, if you’ve got some time, I don’t have anything going tonight.” His blue eyes burned into Charlie’s, the promise of wild, hot sex seething deep in his cobalt irises. Charlie caught his breath and returned Brewster’s look for a moment before he glimpsed Brent loitering behind the man. Charlie flicked his gaze over Brewster’s shoulder to see Brent glance pointedly at his watch. Charlie groaned and took a breath. “You know, I would love nothing more than to spend the whole night learning your different tricks of the plumbing trade, but I’ve got a prior engagement that I just can’t get out of.” Brewster stepped back, the look in his eyes fading but not vanishing. “I understand. It was short notice. I’m sure you want to be with your team tonight and cry about getting second place.” “Trust me,” Charlie replied. “I’d rather spend the time with you. I’ve just got something really important planned. I’m sorry.” “Not a problem. Have a good time wherever you’re going.” Brewster ran a large, warm hand down the length of Charlie’s arm, leaving behind a trail of gooseflesh. “I’ll see you around.” Charlie tried to speak but could not. He cleared his throat and managed to croak, “Yeah.” Brewster walked away and Charlie stood watching the man’s bubble butt, his cock hardening even more. When Brewster was finally out of sight, Charlie walked up to Brent and whimpered as he put his head on the man’s shoulder.

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“I’m in pain,” Charlie said. “He wanted me to spend the night with him.” “He’s a very attractive man,” Brent said, patting Charlie’s shoulder. “Oh for God’s sake, Brent,” Charlie said and raised his head. “He’ s fucking gorgeous! Okay?” He sighed. “All right. Let’s get going. It’s for the animals. And they’d better fucking appreciate this.” Brent laughed and put his arm around Charlie’s shoulders as they headed out the door. “Come on, you crazy fluffer. Billy’s waiting for us at the apartment.” On the drive back to Brent’s apartment Charlie fidgeted in his seat. His erection refused to back down and he needed to take care of it. He pressed his hand against his bulging crotch and glanced over at Brent. The man sat behind the wheel with his legs spread, one hand loosely gripping the steering wheel and the other lying on the seat between them. He looked tense but handsome in the fading daylight. “Nervous?” Charlie asked. Brent shrugged. “A little. Trying to decide if I should tell the cops about our plan.” “If we find out Chug-a-lug has the animals first, wouldn’t it be easier for the cops to get a warrant and all that?” Charlie said. “Billy’s just going to refuse to buy whatever dogs Chug shows him tonight, right? And we videotape it and then take the tape to the cops.” “That’s the plan,” Brent replied. “Let’s hope it works.” Charlie sat bouncing his leg for a moment, his cock struggling to break out of his underwear, then he reached out and put his hand on Brent’s thigh. “I could help you relax a little if you want. Sort of a sorrywe-lost-the-game consolation prize.” Brent grinned at him. “Oh yeah? And what did you have in mind?” Charlie lifted Brent’s left hand from the seat and stretched out across the bench to put his face in the man’s lap. He lifted Brent’s bowling shirt and unzipped his jeans. “Um, Charlie?” Brent said with a nervous laugh. “I’m kind of driving here.” “Oh, like you’ve never done this before,” Charlie said with a smile. “Actually …” Brent said. “I haven’t.”

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“Well, I’d say it’s about time you did.” Charlie reached up under the shirt to run his hand through the hair on Brent’s chest and pinch his nipples. Brent groaned and pressed his foot harder on the gas, then realized what he had done and eased off the accelerator. “Charlie …” “Shh,” Charlie said. “Watch the road, I’ll handle the shifting.” He pulled Brent’s hardening cock out through the fly of his briefs and parted his lips around the head, sliding his mouth slowly down over the half-erect dick. The shaft expanded in his mouth, filling it as Charlie caressed it with his tongue. “Oh, man,” Brent sighed. His foot tapped the accelerator again and he fought to keep his speed even. “God that feels good.” Charlie began to move his mouth up and down over Brent’s dick. His lips and tongue left a long, wet trail of saliva along the shaft so the exposed skin glistened in the passing streetlights. Charlie gripped the base of Brent’s cock and started to pump it in time with the motion of his mouth. With his free hand, Charlie pulled out his own hard-on and began to jerk himself off. “Fuck, Charlie,” Brent grunted. He kept his eyes on the road and pressed his left foot against the floorboard. “Oh fuck. You’ve got me close, man. Oh yeah.” Moving his mouth faster still, Charlie timed the stroking of his own cock to match the rate he used on Brent’s. Brent let out a deep groan and bucked his hips, slamming his dick deep into Charlie’s throat. The truck swerved over a lane and Brent moved it back in line just as come burst from his cock. Semen filled Charlie’s mouth and ran out over his lips, the smell and taste filling his nose and taking Charlie over the edge of his own orgasm. He grunted around his mouthful of Brent’s sticky dick as he shot his wad onto the floormat of his side of the truck. Charlie raised his head and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, grinning lazily at Brent. The bear struggled to catch his breath and watch the road, then grinned back at him. “That was amazing,” Brent said and glanced over as he turned a corner. “Have you ever done that before?”

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Charlie smiled. “Back home I used to volunteer to go to the supply store in town with the farm’s foreman. Nothing but twenty-five miles of open two lane blacktop and a pickup truck with a bench seat.” “He was hot?” Brent asked. “He was definitely hot.” Charlie nodded and glanced out his window as they came to a stop at a traffic light. A bakery truck idled beside them and the driver grinned at Charlie, then motioned to the corner of his mouth. Charlie wiped up a glob of come and smiled at the driver as he sucked it off his finger. The truck driver grinned again and nodded, then turned the corner as the light changed. A few minutes later Brent pulled to a stop at the curb in front of his building and they got out, climbing the steps to the apartment. Inside they found Heather and Billy sitting in silence at the dining table, a small video camera between them. Billy turned to look at them and shook his head before throwing his hands in the air. “He blew you in the truck,” Billy said and cocked an eyebrow at Brent. “What?” Brent replied with a surprised laugh. “What are you talking about?” “I can see it,” Billy pointed at Charlie. “He’s got his usual postorgasm glow.” Charlie looked at Brent. “I glow?” “Apparently.” Brent shrugged and went to the bedroom to change his clothes. While he was out of the room, Heather reluctantly handed Billy the keys to her car. “Relax,” Billy assured her. “I won’t scratch it. Chug can’t see me getting dropped off by you three, can he?” “No, he can’t.” Heather clasped her hands before her and stared sadly at her key ring where it hung from Billy’s fist. “Just be careful. It’s new.” “Hey, Heather, it’s me, okay?” Billy looked at Charlie. “I’m a good driver, Charlie’ll vouch for me.” Charlie gave him a blank look. “Do you even have a license?” “That’s it!” Heather said and tried to grab her keys from his hand.

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Billy dodged away from her and stuffed the keys down the front of his jeans. “Charlie’s kidding, he’s kidding! Right Charlie? See? Kidding, such a kidder.” Brent returned wearing a dark sweatshirt and black jeans and assessed the situation. “Heather, we really don’t have a choice. Billy needs an unfamiliar car.” Heather sighed, then whirled on Billy and jabbed a finger at his face. “If you put one scratch on my car I’m taking it out on your flesh, got it?” Billy nipped playfully at her finger before he ran out the door and down the steps. He unlocked her Toyota as Brent, Charlie and Heather got into the truck, Charlie carrying the video camera. They sat watching him work the gears for a moment, then the Toyota lurched out into the street and nearly stalled. The engine revved, the gears screamed in protest, and the car swerved off down the road as Heather held her hands over her face and tried not to hyperventilate. “It’s okay,” Brent said, pulling out behind Billy. “We can’t lose him, we’ll just follow the smell of burning clutch.” Heather moaned and kept her face in her hands. Behind Brent’s truck, the headlights of a small car parked at the curb flicked on and the tiny vehicle pulled out with a jerk to pursue them through traffic.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Champagne Enemas and Chug-a-lug Dreams

T

he house stood alone in the middle of an open field, surrounded by darkness and moonlight. A long, curving dirt driveway slithered up past the front porch and looped back around on itself. Scrub grass, weeds and pricker bushes advanced menacingly across the lawn that had long ago gone to wild. The house itself stared out across the corrupted lawn at the road through windows alternately boarded up or soaped over. The paint had peeled away from the outer walls years ago and left the dry, gray wood exposed to the elements. A sagging covered porch stumbled across the face of the house, barely supporting rusted patio furniture. Billy jerked Heather’s car to a stop in the road a quarter mile from the driveway and Brent pulled up alongside, both men rolling down their windows. When Billy looked up at the truck Heather tried to leap through Brent’s window to get at him, her face contorted with rage and fingers curled into claws at the treatment he had suffered upon her car. Brent and

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Charlie struggled with her for a moment before they managed to keep her restrained in her seat. “What’s her problem?” Billy asked as he pulled a handful of cheese puffs from a bag. “Hey, I found these in the backseat. I approve of your taste in snacks.” He absently wiped his cheese dusted fingers across the cushion of her passenger seat. “Asshole!” Heather shouted and Brent and Charlie both flinched, then shushed her. “Do you want Chug-a-lug to hear us out here?” Brent whispered. “You can kill Billy later, right now we need him to drive up to that house for this meeting.” “What?” Billy said, the sound of his name causing him to pause in his crunching. “What was that you said?” “Nothing,” Charlie called. “Just going over our part of the plan.” “I hate him,” Heather mumbled and crossed her arms. “He’s paying to have my car detailed.” Billy finished with the cheese puffs and tossed the empty bag into the backseat. “Okay, what’s the plan again? I drive up there and ask to see small dogs and he brings them to me and I’m hoping he has Cedric’s hairless rat dog and you videotape it all through the windows, right? When they bring the dog in I look him over, then say no, I’ve changed my mind, and come back out here and we go to the cops and show them the tape, right?” “That’s the plan,” Brent said. “Remember to ask for a Chinese Crested, that’s Cedric’s dog. If they have him we can clear Charlie’s name and bust these guys. While you’re talking to Chug we’ll be looking through whatever window is available and taping you so be sure you don’t block our view.” “Okay,” Billy said. “I need a Chinese Crawfish.” “Chinese Crested!” Brent, Charlie, and Heather said together, then all three loudly shushed each other. Billy jumped and rolled his eyes. “All right already, jeez!” He twisted the key in the ignition and the starter screamed in protest. “Ugh!” Heather shouted. “What are you doing to my car?”

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Billy smiled and shrugged. “Oops, the engine was already running.” He giggled, then, with his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration, ground the gears until he found first. “Wish me luck.” “Fuck off!” Heather called out but Billy had already puttered away and did not hear her. As Billy chugged up the long driveway, the car hitching every few yards, Brent backed his truck behind a group of sad looking trees and the three stepped out. They quietly closed the doors, then crouched down to make their way across the open expanse of weeds and brush, snagging their clothes and sometimes skin on the thorny branches. Upon reaching the house, they crept around the foundation and stopped beside the front porch to peer around the corner where they watched Billy sitting in the car in the driveway. He twisted the rearview mirror down to inspect his hair and teeth, picking a bit of cheese curl out of a back molar and flicking it to the floor of the car. “Just let me kill him,” Heather growled. “Please, that’s all I ask.” “Later,” Brent replied. “We need him for a little while longer.” Billy got out of the car and slammed the door with his hip, the seat belt hanging out. He paused for a moment, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths, then walked carefully up the rotting porch steps and knocked on the door. “You guys there?” he said quietly from the corner of his mouth. Before Brent could reply the front door creaked open and Billy jumped. He smiled and waggled his fingers at the person standing before him. “You startled me a little.” “Hey,” Chug-a-lug’s voice came to them. “Come in.” “Thanks.” Billy stepped in the door and they could hear him through the thin walls as he followed Chug-a-lug through the house. “Nice place you got here. And such a romantic setting with the oil lamps and candles.” “I haven’t had a chance to get the electric hooked up yet,” Chug grumbled back. Brent, Charlie, and Heather crept around the house, keeping pace with the men inside and listening from beneath the windows as they talked. Chug-a-lug led Billy into the kitchen situated in the back of the house and told him to sit down. The three knelt beneath a kitchen window

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that had been raised a couple of inches and Brent switched on the video camera. “I won’t be long,” Chug-a-lug said. A back door just around the corner from their position swung open, and they pressed themselves back against the house and listened to Chug’s heavy footsteps descend the back porch stairs. Leaning out from the side of the house, they watched Chuga-lug cross the moon-splashed tangle of backyard to a large barn in worse condition than the house. He pulled open the barn doors and a cacophony of barking, squawking, and meowing started up. “Shut the fuck up!” he screamed into the barn before stepping inside and pulling the door shut behind him. “The animals!” Brent whispered. “That’s where—” A twig snapped behind him and Brent turned, opening his mouth to call out a warning to Charlie and Heather only to have the words stopped by the firm press of a large, warm palm over his lips. A face materialized out of the shadows beside him and his eyes widened at the sight of Inspector Jeannotte. The Inspector held a finger to his lips and, when Brent nodded, the man removed his hand from Brent’s mouth. “What are you doing here?” Brent hissed. “Are you following me?” Jeannotte shrugged as Charlie and Heather stepped up and blinked at him in surprise. “Well,” the inspector said, “someone’s got to solve this case.” “Oh for God’s sake,” Brent said. “You still think I’m involved in all this, don’t you? You know, you’re the biggest asshole I’ve ever met, and I’ve worked in the porn industry in L.A., so I’ve met a lot of assholes!” “I would think the time you spent at the Dirty Jock the other night might have introduced you to some rather large assholes as well,” Jeannotte said and raised his eyebrows. “What?” Charlie squeaked in surprise. “You followed us there? Did you go in?” Before Jeannotte could answer, a hand dropped onto the inspector’s shoulder. Jeannotte turned and immediately swung his fist out, catching a tall, muscular man behind him on the chin. The man’s head snapped back but he remained standing, his face hidden by shadows.

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“Oh my God!” Charlie gasped as the tall, shadowy figure hit Jeannotte in the jaw. The inspector crumpled to the ground and the attacker, his face still in shadows, moved forward, his large hands curled into claws as he advanced on Brent, Charlie, and Heather. “Run!” Charlie cried and turned to flee across the back yard, Heather hot on his heels as his mind raced with the attacker’s possible identity. Could it be Derrick? Instead of following after Charlie and Heather, Brent jumped toward the attacker and started swinging. As he became aware of the sounds of struggle behind them, Charlie stopped and turned to go back, calling out, “Brent!” Heather ran up and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the struggling men. “Come on! We have to call the police! Around the barn and back to the truck!” Charlie reluctantly followed as Heather ran across the open ground toward the barn. Just as they approached the structure, one of the large front doors creaked open and Chug-a-lug appeared, holding Cedric’s dog Henry in one hand and a gun in the other. Charlie and Heather stuttered to a halt as heavy footsteps came running up behind them. They turned and Charlie gasped in surprise. “You!” he said. Nicky, the soda machine man, smirked at him. “What? You were expecting someone else?” “Well, this explains everything,” Heather said. “You’re the scout, aren’t you? You refill the soda bottles and case the shops. How did you get the vending machines placed near the stores?” Nicky shrugged. “I let the girl in the office suck me off now and then.” “Shut the fuck up,” Chug-a-lug snapped and waved his gun. “Get them into the barn and keep it quiet. I’ve got a potential sale going on in the house.” Charlie and Heather glanced at one another as Chug-a-lug handed Nicky his gun. “Take them upstairs in the loft and tie them up. We’ll figure out what to do with them later.” Chug-a-lug looked Charlie over, then said, “Was it just these two?”

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“No, Harrington and some older guy are over by the house,” Nicky said and shot Charlie a cocky smirk. “I knocked them both out.” “Harrington too, huh? Figures. Probably pissed his lame ass team didn’t come in first.” Chug thought for a moment. “Put the dyke in the holding room upstairs and strip down Harrington, the older guy, and pretty boy here and toss them in the slings. We can have some fun before we get rid of them.” Nicky smirked sadistically. “Sounds mighty good.” “And hurry it up,” Chug snapped. “The guys are due back soon with another haul.” Henry nipped at Chug’s fingers and the man let out a yelp and pulled back his fist. “If I didn’t have a customer waiting for you, I’d–” “No!” Heather and Charlie cried together, stepped toward Chug-alug, but Nicky stepped up and pushed them in the direction of the barn, the gun gripped in his hand. Before they stepped in the doors of the rundown barn, Charlie looked back to see Chug carrying Henry above his head in the palm of his hand, safely out of biting distance as he made his way to the house. In the moonlight, Charlie could see Henry riding up there quietly, almost royally, his eyes squinted in the breeze as the hair on his ears flowed behind. “Go on!” Nicky said and pushed them through the doors into the worst smell and noise they had ever encountered. Animal feces and urine mixed with the reek of frightened dogs and cats and the smell of dry rot and decay. Dogs, locked up dozens to a stall, barked and howled and pawed at the gates, chewing at the boards of the stables in desperate attempts to escape. Groups of cats crowded cages along one wall and rabbits and ferrets had been treated the same. A tall birdcage held no less than two dozen birds, all of varying breeds and all jostling for limited space on a few sagging perches. A trio of propane heaters stood in the middle of the barn between all the stables, radiating warmth. “Jesus Christ,” Heather gasped. “Don’t you have any fucking compassion? You’re abusing these animals!” Nicky shrugged. “They’re just stupid animals. That’s why they don’t run the world, right? Get upstairs.” He pushed them toward a steep, dangerous looking set of steps ascending to the loft of the barn. They carefully climbed the steps and at the top stood looking around a long,

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open room. Oil lamps lit the upper floor, heating the already still, heavy air that rose from the heaters below. Five leather slings hung from the rafters, support chains clinking quietly in a slight breeze coming through gaps in the walls. The far end of the loft contained a small room, its walls and door made of solid wood. Nicky pointed the gun at Charlie. “Strip.” “What if I refuse?” Charlie said. Nicky turned the gun on Heather. “I shoot her in the foot. And each time you refuse after that, I aim a little higher.” Heather and Charlie exchanged frightened looks and she nodded vigorously for him to comply. “It’s okay, Charlie,” she said. “The cops know we’re here.” “And that’s a lie,” Nicky said. He turned to look at her as Charlie started slowly removing his clothes. “No one has any idea you’re out here, so cut the bullshit.” “You don’t know that,” Heather snapped. “What if that older guy out there is a cop, huh? What if he told his captain where he was going and what he thought he was going to find out here? What about that?” “Well then, I guess we’d have to kill you all and torch the place, wouldn’t we? Shame to barbecue all those cute pooches and kitties.” He sneered at her. “Still want me to think he’s a cop?” Heather stared at him wide-eyed and slowly shook her head. Satisfied, Nicky snapped, “Lose the shorts. Now!” as he turned to Charlie who stood wearing only his Jockeys. Charlie pulled off his underwear and stood nude in the flickering lamplight with his hands cupped over his crotch. He fidgeted for a moment and nervously cleared his throat. Nicky turned away from Heather and ran his gaze looked Charlie’s body over, the oil lamps clearly showing the lust in his eyes. “You’ve got a good body, Charlie.” “Thanks,” Charlie said automatically, then cursed himself for it. Nicky gestured to the nearest sling. “Get in.” Charlie took a breath and climbed up into the sling, laying back and trying to convince himself everything was going to work out. The leather straps were warm against his skin and slick with old lube and sweat. He noticed handcuffs latched to the lengths of chain at each corner and, in

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a panic, tried to get up, but Nicky was quick. He snapped the cuffs on Charlie’s wrists and moved down to his ankles, securing him in place with his hands and feet spread in the air above him. The big man stepped back with a smile as he surveyed his work. “You look pretty hot all trussed up like that,” Nicky said, then turned his gun to Heather as she took a small step toward him. “Don’t get any ideas, Bowling Bitch. You go to the room at the other end. Go on. Now!” Heather glanced fearfully at Charlie before turning and walking carefully along the creaking and groaning floorboards to a small door at the end of the loft. Nicky opened the door to expose a dark, tiny room, then shoved her inside and slammed the door closed. He slid home a deadbolt, slipped the gun in the back of his jeans, and crossed back to Charlie as Heather began pounding on the door and shouting for help. “Chicks,” Nicky said and rolled his eyes. “Okay, I’m going to haul your big ass friend and the old guy up here and then we can have some fun.” He stuck a finger in his mouth, then reached down to slip it into Charlie’s anus. Charlie gasped at the sudden invasion and glared as Nicky slowly withdrew his finger and ran it under his nose, taking a deep breath. “Mmmm,” Nicky said. “Nice and fresh.” He winked and walked down the steps, the animals below starting up their noise again at the sight of him. As he lay in the sweltering stillness of the loft, Charlie pulled and twisted in the handcuffs and listened to Heather pound on the door at the end of the loft and the animal racket below. He gave up with a groan and lay still, sweat starting to form on his chest; it was no use, he wasn’t going to get free anytime soon. A few minutes later Charlie heard the barn doors creak open below and the animals started howling anew. Nicky screamed at them to shut up and started up the steps to the loft. Charlie raised his head, looking between his shackled feet to the top of the steps where Billy’s wide-eyed face rose into view. “Billy?” Charlie said in confusion. “What happened? Where’s Brent?” “Your stupid friend here foiled your plan by calling out to Harrington as I dragged him past the back door of the house,” Nicky said and poked Billy in the back with his gun. “Get naked.”

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Billy turned and crossed his arms. “And what if I say no?” Nicky took a menacing step forward and Billy quickly took off his clothes, leaving them in a pile by Charlie’s. He followed Nicky’s directions and soon lay in the sling beside Charlie, watching with wide eyes as Nicky clamped the cuffs around his wrists and ankles. “We’ll be back,” Nicky said with a grin. “Chug decided he wanted to have a little chat at the house with Harrington and the old guy first.” Nicky scooped up their clothes as he descended the steps, slamming the barn door behind him. Charlie turned to Billy and asked, “What the hell happened?” “Well, I was doing okay, you know,” Billy said as he tried to pull his hands through the cuffs. “I was playing the part and everything, better than Joan Crawford in any of her sad ass movies, even everybody’s favorite, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane—” “Billy …” Charlie growled. Billy sighed. “Fine. Chug-a-lug came in with what I’m assuming is Cedric’s sad idea of a dog and I looked at it and made ‘I don’t know’ kinds of sounds, and then through the back door I saw the hot guy who locked us up here dragging Brent to the barn. I couldn’t help myself, I gasped and said, ‘Brent!’ and that’s when Chug-a-lug grabbed me and took me outside and gave me to the hot guy with the gun and took Brent and the hot older guy with the gray hair and goatee inside the house. Who was that guy?” “That was Inspector Jeannotte,” Charlie replied. “He thinks Brent’s mixed up in all this and followed us out here. I thought it was a lucky break for us, but now I’m not so sure. Nicky said if Jeannotte is a cop they’ll kill us all and burn the place down. And now Chug-a-lug has them both in the house. I hope he doesn’t recognize Jeannotte from the day he showed up at the bowling alley.” “Chug-a-lug said he wanted to have a chat with them, and it didn’t sound like a nice one.” Billy gave him a frightened look. “We’re in deep shit, aren’t we?” “Yeah, we are. Come on, we have to get out of here,” Charlie said. He struggled against his handcuffs for several minutes but it was no use. They were trapped.

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“Hey, where’s Heather?” Billy turned his head and looked down along the row of empty slings. “Did they let her go because she’s a woman and a lesbian to boot?” “No,” Charlie said. “They locked her in that little room at the end of the loft.” Billy squinted into the darkness toward the far end of the loft. “Oh. Wow, it must be hot in there cause it’s pretty damn hot up here and we’re just lying here naked.” “Trying to get out of these handcuffs, remember?” Charlie reminded him. “Oh yeah,” Billy said and resumed squirming, the chains clinking and leather straps creaking as they both swayed back and forth. Several minutes later, the barn doors creaked open and two sets of footsteps mounted the stairs to the loft. Billy and Charlie raised their heads and peered at the top of the steps. Chug-a-lug and Nicky walked up and stood smiling at them with evil intent. “I love a good bondage scene,” Chug-a-lug said with a sigh. “Helpless victims, their bodies oozing adrenaline and fear.” He inhaled deeply and let out his breath with a satisfied, “Ah!” “What do you think, Chug?” Nicky asked. “How should we work them over?” “You know,” Chug-a-lug said as he began to pace. “I’ve always wanted to do something a bit different.” “Oh God,” Billy groaned. “Different than your visits to The Dirty Jock?” “Hey!” Chug snapped. “You got into it that night too, don’t even try to kid yourself.” Billy sneered at him, then turned his head to look away. “Yeah, I thought so.” Chug continued to pace, then said to Nicky, “Get that champagne we’ve got in the house.” Nicky frowned at him. “But that’s for our big sale celebration.” “Just get it,” Chug sighed and looked at Charlie and Billy. “We’re going to celebrate a little early.” Nicky clomped down the steps in his work boots as Chug-a-lug wheeled two hospital issue I.V. stands over from a dark corner of the loft.

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Enema bags hung from each stand, the hoses running to a Y-connector and then on down to a thin plastic wand about two inches long. Chug-a-lug removed the bags and filled all four with cold tap water from the first level of the barn. As he hung the bags and reattached the hoses he explained his plan to Charlie and Billy. “First, I’m going to clean you both out with water.” “Is it city water or well water?” Billy asked. “Cause city water really gives me a headache.” Chug-a-lug glared Billy into silence and continued. “First, I’m going to clean you out. Then, when nothing but nice clear water comes out, I’m going to fill you up with champagne and drink a toast from your assholes.” He reached down and adjusted his fattening bulge. “Gets me hard just thinkin’ about it. After the champagne is out we’re going to fuck your squeaky clean asses and then …” He shrugged. “Well, we’ll decide what to do about you when that time comes.” “What did you do with Brent and Jeannotte?” Charlie asked. “Jeannotte? Oh, the short, hairy guy with Harrington? They’re fine,” Chug replied, “for now.” He smiled and Charlie let out a breath. Chug did not seem to realize Jeannotte was a detective. “We got them tied up in the house. I wanted to ask them both a few questions without you little dicks around. I’ll drag their asses out here once I’m done with you two.” Nicky returned with the champagne and stopped as he saw the enema bags setup and ready to go. “All right! Enemas! I love giving enemas.” He set the champagne bottles down and began to remove his clothes. “Enemas make me really fucking horny.” Chug-a-lug stripped as well and soon both men stood nude before them with raging hard-ons. Charlie automatically checked out their bodies, his eyes sliding down over chests and bellies to the engorged erections that bobbed between their legs. Chug-a-lug had a thin but muscular body, a small patch of dark hair sprouting in the middle of his chest, and a seven-inch, cut dick. Nicky’s body, on the other hand, had been sculpted to perfection. Every muscle stood out beneath his smooth, bronze skin. His nipples were dark and popped out from his body, evidence to a fondness for nipple clamps or suction tubes. A barbed wire tattoo circled each biceps, and a tiny tattoo of the Superman “S” lay centered above his

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dark pubic hair. His cock was thick and long, eight inches at least, with a cut pink head that glistened with pre-come. His legs were a marvel of muscle and tanned skin. Charlie supposed if he was forcibly going to be given an enema, at least the guy doing it was hot. Billy apparently felt the same as he let his eyes travel over Nicky’s body, then turned to look at Charlie to say with a lack of conviction, “Oh no, please stop.” Chug-a-lug spit into his palm and, grinning, reached out to rub the saliva into Charlie’s asshole. “You’re gonna love this,” Chug promised, then slid the enema wand into Charlie’s anus as Nicky did the same with Billy. Charlie flinched at the invasion and, gritting his teeth, tried to prepare himself for what was to come. “Ready?” Chug said and flipped the catches open on the tubes, smiling at the shocked look on both their faces. “Nothing like a nice, cool enema on a warm spring evening, is there?” Charlie gasped and shuddered as the cold water filled him. He had never had an enema before and was surprised at his sudden urge to pee coupled with a forceful erection. The water filled his bowels, gurgling and bubbling through his body and he raised his head, looking down at his slowly bloating belly. He groaned and put his head back, struggling to hold his sphincter tight and keep the water from spewing out around the wand. Beside him, Billy groaned as well with his eyes squeezed shut. The first bag finished for both of them and Chug-a-lug wheeled over two janitor’s buckets, positioning them beneath Charlie and Billy with careful precision. He removed the wands and stepped back as both men released the water with moans and groans. Charlie felt the warm splash of water and bowel matter splash along the cheeks of his ass and tried to slow the force of his evacuation, but it was no use; his body wanted to purge itself of the water and seemingly all the contents of his intestines at the same time. When they had finished emptying themselves of the water from the first bag, Chug-a-lug and Nicky wiped their asses clean and started another round. The men descended the rickety steps to refill the first bags as the second ones emptied cold water into them and Billy and Charlie gasped and moaned.

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“Actually,” Billy said. “It’s not so bad. I felt a little lighter after the first one.” “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” Charlie replied. “I think there’s more to come.” Chug and Nicky clomped back up the steps and restrung the first bags, now filled with fresh water. Several bags later, Chug-a-lug stood off to the side as Charlie and Billy released the water in their bowels. He inspected the streams and passed his hand through the warm liquid, wriggling his fingers in the clear streams. Once Charlie and Billy had pushed the last of the water from their systems, Chug-a-lug and Nicky moved the I.V. stands aside and knelt between the men’s legs. Nicky chose Charlie and Chug-a-lug decided on Billy. They used antibacterial wipes to clean their captives’ skin and reddened sphincters, then flushed the soap away with cool, clean water. Both of the men moved in close to rim each of the tender, sensitive anuses. Charlie moaned as Nicky’s hot tongue pierced the cool, tightly closed muscle of his anus. The man licked and sucked at his hole, relaxing him as he reached up and began to stroke Charlie’s hard, oozing dick. Charlie gasped when Nicky wrapped his strong hand around the base of his cock and closed his eyes, willing himself to keep from coming and letting the man know just how much he was enjoying everything he was doing. He had to keep reminding himself he was being held against his will and not allow himself to get into the act too much. Beside Charlie, Billy was not so reserved. He bucked and flopped in his sling, rattling chains and sending himself swinging back and forth. He groaned and grunted and shouted encouragement to Chug-a-lug as the man rimmed him hard and deep. “Get that ass,” Billy said. “Oh yeah! Eat my hole. Get your tongue up there. Oh, that’s it. Yeah! Yeah!” Charlie looked over at Billy and said, “You know, they’re holding us hostage.” Billy sighed and smiled. “You deal with it your way, I’ll deal with it mine.”

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After several more minutes of ass eating and occasional blowjobs, Nicky and Chug-a-lug stood up to expose painfully hard erections. Nicky poked the head of his dick at Charlie’s red, wrinkled hole. “God, I would love to just fuck the hell out of you right now.” “First, we toast our big sale coming up tomorrow,” Chug-a-lug said. “Later we fuck them raw.” “Wait a minute,” Charlie said. “Big sale? What do you mean?” Chug-a-lug folded his arms and leveled a look at him. “Do you really think I’m going to tell you anything? Do you? I’m not stupid.” “But we’re tied up here, right?” Charlie rattled his handcuffs. “We can’t get out.” “Forget it.” Chug looked at Nicky. “Get the champagne.” “You know,” Billy spoke up. “I really don’t like champagne. It gives me a headache.” “You’re not drinking it,” Chug said. “I am.” “Well, that’s not very polite,” Billy sniffed. “You could have at least offered.” “Billy,” Charlie said as Chug and Nicky popped open the bottles. “I think we’re going to get champagne enemas.” Billy wrinkled his nose. “Really? That sounds kinda weird. I don’t even like to drink champagne let alone have it shot up my ass.” Charlie looked at him for a moment. “Billy, we’ve been handcuffed in slings at gun point in a broken down barn in the Canadian countryside with dozens of stolen animals locked in pens beneath us. We were just given enemas and then had our asses eaten, still handcuffed in slings, and you think getting a champagne enema is weird?” “All right,” Chug snapped. “Enough talking. Are you boys ready?” He raised the enema nozzle for Billy’s bag. “Here’s to us.” Nicky raised the nozzle and tubing attached to Charlie’s bag. “To us.” He grinned at the two captives. “And to you.” The nozzles slid easily into their anuses and Nicky and Chug opened the catches to release the champagne. Charlie felt a cold rush as the wine bubbled through his rectum and on into his bowels. He put his head back and closed his eyes, trying to keep himself from enjoying the feel of the champagne flooding his bowels and colon.

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“Oh, wow,” Billy groaned. “Champagne bubbles up my ass. Yeah!” “See?” Chug said with a smug smile. “It’s not so bad.” The bags deflated as the champagne drained into them and soon Chug pulled Billy’s nozzle from his fizzing asshole. He placed a hand gently on Billy’s bloated belly and smiled up at him. “Are you ready to get rid of that nasty champagne?” Billy smiled up at Chug with glazed eyes. “Okie dokie!” He relaxed his sphincter as Chug knelt between his legs and champagne gushed out of his pursed anus. The wine splashed across Chug’s face and the man opened his mouth to catch as much of it as he could. He laughed and swallowed, then opened his mouth again, drinking the warm champagne as it spewed out of Billy’s ass. The stream slowed to a trickle and then just a dribble which Chug leaned in to lick up, running his tongue from the crack of Billy’s ass near the small of his back all the way up to his champagne soaked balls. Billy groaned and writhed as Chug licked him clean. Charlie lay in his sling with his head spinning. The champagne had soaked into his system through his colon and made him drunk. He had heard about things like that happening but had never thought to try it himself. Wait until Rock heard about this! He rolled his head back and forth as the wine gurgled and bubbled in his bowels and colon. He started to feel bloated and uncomfortable and wished they would remove the enema nozzle so he could void his bowels of the intoxicating wine. “Next!” Chug said with a satisfied smack of his lips. He gave Billy’s asshole a final lick and stood up to kneel before Charlie’s anus. Chug wiped his face and took a breath, then removed the enema wand and closed his eyes. Charlie felt a glorious relief as his sphincter released the champagne from his body. The wine sprayed out over Chug’s face and the man once again opened his mouth. Nicky stood stroking his big cock off to the side, watching Chug-alug guzzle down the flushing champagne. His wide eyes were glazed with lust and his cock stood up hard and tight, pre-come glittering at the tip as his hand slowly rose and fell along his shaft. “That is really fuckin’ hot,” Nicky said. “Man, that is getting me so fuckin’ hard.”

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Charlie’s body pushed the last of the champagne out of his system and he gasped for breath. He was exhausted from all the enemas and drunk from the champagne. Beside him Billy hung limp and smiling in his sling, his head back and his eyes closed. “I gotta fuck him, Chug,” Nicky said. “I just want to stuff my cock right up that pretty ass of his.” “By all means,” Chug-a-lug said and stood up. “I believe I’ll do the same with his deceitful little friend over here. Let’s saddle up, though, Lord knows where these two have been selling their twats.” The two men rolled lubricated condoms over their hard dicks and stepped up between Charlie and Billy’s legs. Nicky took hold of Charlie’s ankles and Chug-a-lug grabbed Billy’s and both men looked down to position the reservoir tips of their condoms at the wine-soaked thresholds of their assholes. Nicky pressed steadily into Charlie’s anus, the wide head of his cock easily parting the wet, well-worked muscles. Charlie gasped and tipped his head back, groaning as he clenched his fists and curled his toes. He had to admit, it felt good to have Nicky’s hot dick sliding deep into his water and wine cooled ass. The man’s cock was thick and amazingly hard, parting his anal muscles with ease until Nicky stood fully inserted, his pubic hair brushing up against Charlie’s balls and the Superman tattoo just visible over the top of Charlie’s own hard-on. “Oh fuck!” Nicky groaned. He rested his forehead against Charlie’s leg and caught his breath. “You have got a fucking hot ass, Charlie.” “Try this,” Charlie said and clenched the muscles in his abdomen. They tightened around Nicky’s cock, squeezing the entire shaft in a hot, slick embrace, and the man let out a long, low moan. “Oh yeah. Bite down on that big dick, that’s it. Oh fuck!” Nicky pulled back slowly and pressed forward again, his hips beginning a rhythm that soon led to a hot, heavy fucking session. His hard cock slammed into Charlie’s ass faster and faster, plowing deep inside him and bouncing him back and forth within the sling. Charlie rode the man’s pounding dick with his eyes closed and his mouth open. Beside him, Chug-a-lug gave Billy the same forceful fucking. Billy’s sling swung back and forth, his head bobbing as he gasped and groaned

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against Chug’s pounding. Nicky and Chug-a-lug reached orgasm at the same time, both men dropping their mouths open and gasping as their thrusts slowed to a deep, penetrating rhythm. They shot their loads into the tips of the condoms and rested their sweaty foreheads against the calves of their captives. After a few moments to catch their breath, Nicky and Chug slowly pulled out and stripped the condoms off, tossing them into a corner. “Man, that was fuckin’ hot,” Nicky gasped. “We should definitely think about getting into the hostage business,” Chug agreed. “All right, let’s go have a chat with Harrington and our mystery guest.” The two men got dressed and slowly descended the steps, leaving Billy and Charlie hanging in the slings with unsatisfied erections. Several minutes after Nicky and Chug had left the barn, as Charlie’s head spun from the champagne and the amazing fuck he had just received, the sound of the barn door creaking open started off a volley of noise from the animals below. Heavy footsteps moved slowly up the steps and Charlie raised his head and opened his bleary eyes to peer at the figure at the top of the stairs. He frowned and squinted, struggling to see the shadowed figure more clearly. “Wha’ the fuck?” he slurred. “Who is that?” The figure stepped forward into the light and Charlie gasped. “Cedric?”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Slick Willie

B

rent and Inspector Jeannotte had been dragged into the dark, cold basement of the house and stripped nude, their clothes stuffed in a trash bag as they slowly regained consciousness. Nicky had tied the two men to kitchen chairs and left them facing one another in the damp, cold of the basement as he walked upstairs, taking the bag of clothes with him. Moonlight came in through a couple of broken windows across the room and illuminated them well enough to see each other. And from what he was seeing, Brent found himself impressed with Inspector Jeannotte. The man’s broad chest was covered with salt and pepper hair that traveled down over the small bulge of his belly to a wiry patch of graying black hair at his crotch. A thick, stout, uncut cock jutted defiantly from the two-tone crop of pubic hair, and on the wooden chair seat between the man’s big thighs rested a pair of large, hairy balls. Brent felt his cock twitch as he surveyed Jeannotte’s body and he forced himself to look away. Now was not the time to pop a boner. He tried to pull his hands free of the ropes that bound him, but his mind kept returning to the hair on Jeannotte’s chest and the thick, stubborn jaunt 201

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of his uncircumcised dick. He imagined the inspector’s big, hairy balls resting on his chin as he rimmed the man’s asshole, Jeannotte’s thighs by the side of Brent’s face quivering as the inspector jerked himself off and his hot, thick load splattered onto Brent’s chest. With a deep breath, Brent pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind and turned to look at Jeannotte’s face. There was enough moonlight for him to see the inspector’s eyes and Brent caught Jeannotte staring across at his crotch, his eyes glowing with unabashed interest as Brent’s cock twitched at half mast. “See something you’d like to sample?” Brent asked and spread his legs a little to offer a better view. Jeannotte snapped his eyes up to Brent’s face and blinked in surprise. Brent noticed the man’s cock had started to harden as well and felt a smile cross his face. Now everything was so much clearer. “What?” Jeannotte said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.” “Yeah, cause you were staring at my cock,” Brent said. “But we can discuss that later. How tight did he tie your ropes?” Brent again struggled with his own bindings, but the knots were tight and his wrists were soon chafed from the effort. Across from him, Jeannotte twisted his arms and pulled against the ropes, but to no avail. The man let out a breath and shrugged. “They are too tight. There is a little play, but not much.” The men looked all around the basement but the room was empty. There were no sharp corners or objects they could use to cut their ropes. “Damn,” Brent said. “There’s got to be some way to get out of here. We have to save Charlie and Billy and Heather.” “Which is why you should have called me in the first place,” Jeannotte grumbled as he continued to work his hands in an effort to get free. “I could have organized a whole team to come in here and arrest these men. But no, you had to go right ahead like the stubborn American that you are and do it all yourself.” He stopped struggling and bowed his head, sweat dripping down his face. “I cannot get loose. There is a little bit of room within the ropes, but I need something to lubricate my wrists.” “Well, if you would’ve brought in a team based on my opinion, why don’t you have one with you now?”

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“I was on surveillance outside your apartment when your little party left, so I followed you.” Jeannotte shrugged. “It was rather simple, actually.” “Did you have your gun or badge on you?” Brent asked. “Yes, of course,” Jeannotte replied with a scowl. “I must be able to identify and defend myself at all times! I’m not like you Americans who can lie and pretend to be other people or film yourself having sex.” Jeannotte shook his head and looked away. “The big macho man from California with your big hairy body and your ‘look at me’ attitude about sex.” “Seems we’ve gotten to the root of your problem with me, Inspector Jeannotte,” Brent said. “Yes, you are a suspect.” “Ah, but no longer a suspect,” Brent corrected him. “Now I am a victim and you have to help me and that’s turning you on.” Jeannotte let out a startled breath of false amusement. “Pah! You Americans are all alike. Everything revolves around you.” “Not everything,” Brent said. “But you have been hounding me enough to make me wonder what the deal was. I never imagined you were attracted to me and wanted to suck my cock.” Jeannotte’s eyes went wide and his lips pressed together. “You do not know what you are speaking about!” Brent grinned and glanced down at Jeannotte’s cock. “Oh yeah? Tell that to your little friend.” Jeannotte looked down at his sudden hard-on and then looked away. “I am nervous. That happens when I get nervous.” “Or it happens when you think about sucking my cock.” Brent smiled and nodded. “Come on, admit it. You’ve wanted to do me since the day you first questioned me.” Jeannotte refused to look at him. “You’re impossible.” “No, I’m easy,” Brent admitted. “And that worries you.” Jeannotte turned to look him in the eye. “Can we discuss this later? Right now we need to get out of these ropes and escape your friends.” “Rescue my friends.” “That is what I have said.”

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“No, you said ‘escape’.” Jeannotte shrugged. “I misspeak when I am nervous.” Brent laughed. “Wow, a lot happens to you when you get nervous, doesn’t it?” He shook his head then started trying to think of a way out. “Well, I’ve got a tube of lube in the truck, but that’s not going to help us here.” Jeannotte stopped struggling against his ropes and gave him a quizzical look. “You have sexual lubricant in your truck?” Brent shrugged and nodded. “Yeah. I am a porn actor, you know. I like to be prepared.” The inspector shook his head. “I do not understand why you like to do that. Isn’t it demeaning, having sex on film for others to watch?” Brent shook his head. “No, I find it kind of hot, actually. I like to have sex with men, and if I can get paid to have movies made of me having sex with men for other men to watch and enjoy, then I’m all for it.” He smirked and winked. “You’ve got to relax, you know that? You’re the most closeted, uptight gay bear I’ve met in a long time.” Jeannotte’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “I … I am not a gay bear!” Brent shrugged. “Fine by me. But you are.” “I am not.” “Yes you are.” “I am not!” Jeannotte snapped, then took a breath. “I do not even know what is meant by the words ‘gay bear’. What does that mean?” “I’ll explain later. Let’s try and get out of here first.” They struggled a little longer before Brent stopped and said, “Look, we’re in a tight spot, sitting here naked and tied up across from each other, and I don’t even know your first name. What’s your first name?” “I do not think this is the appropriate time for such introductions,” Jeannotte said, lifting his chin and looking away. “Okay, that’s fine,” Brent replied with a shrug and looked the opposite direction. “Guess I won’t tell you my idea for getting us out of here.” Jeannotte glared at him a moment then said, “Jean-Claude.” “Jean-Claude Jeannotte?” Brent said, testing the name on his tongue. “Hmm, not bad. Slightly redundant, but very French and very sexy.”

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Jeannotte rolled his eyes. “Coming from an American whose idea of French culture is no doubt Super Sized fries from McDonald’s, that means a lot. Now what is your idea to get us out of here?” Brent smirked at him. “How flexible are your fingers?”

P Cedric Wilmington stood at the top of the steps and gave Charlie a superior look, arms folded over his sagging chest. He wore a black spandex body suit that hugged his curves and rolls and a tiny black watch cap on his balding head. Black Isotoner gloves sheathed his hands and a pair of black, thick-soled boots protected his feet. “Cedric?” Charlie slurred. “What are you doing here?” Cedric raised his chin and smiled. “I followed you. I knew you had to be involved in Henry’s disappearance somehow.” “Oh my God,” Charlie groaned and tried to stop his head from spinning. “You’ve got to help us! Cedric, you’ve got to get us out of here. Brent’s in trouble and we’re locked up here and all the animals …” Charlie faded out and rattled his handcuffs. “Come on, Cedric, let us down.” “Cedric?” Billy said and fought to raise his head. “What’s that nasty smelling bitch doing here?” Charlie’s eyes widened and he turned to look at Billy. “Shhh! Billy! He’s our only hope of getting free. Quiet!” He looked at Cedric and started to sober up immediately at the furious expression on the director’s face as Billy continued to cuss about him. “Oh, God, Billy, shut up! Cedric can get us out of here and we can escape and call the police.” Billy shrugged in his sling and dropped his head back. “I like it here. I feel fresh and clean and I just got fucked like nobody’s business. What’s to escape from?” “But, Billy, what about Brent? And Jeanico … Gericho … the inspector?” Charlie said. “And the animals? We have to save them.” Billy blew a raspberry into the air and laughed. Charlie looked back at Cedric. “He’s drunk. Well, we’re both drunk because they gave us champagne enemas and it’s kind of … made us drunk.”

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Cedric’s eyebrows went up. “Champagne enemas?” He put his hands on his hips and looked off into the distance. “That’s pretty hot. I’ll have to remember that for my next movie.” “Cedric, please,” Charlie whined. “I don’t know when they’re going to come back. We have to get out of here.” He paused a moment, then said, “Henry’s up at the house.” At the mention of his beloved dog Cedric’s eyes widened and filled with tears. He placed a hand on his chest, his gloved fingers squeaking on the Spandex, and said, “Henry? In this awful place?” “Yes, he’s here and so is Brent Harrington and a police inspector and we have to get out of here and rescue them.” Charlie rattled his handcuffs again. “Look for the keys to these things, they’ve got to be around here somewhere.” “All right, but only because of Henry.” Cedric walked around the loft, the floorboards creaking and cracking beneath him, and Charlie prayed they would hold until Cedric could free them. The black clad director stepped to the top of the stairs, then crouched down with amazing flexibility, the spandex body suit hugging his wide ass and reflecting the dim light of the oil lamps in the loft. Finding nothing on the floor, Cedric stood up and checked the walls until he turned and triumphantly held up a set of tiny keys. When Cedric unlocked the cuffs around his ankles, Charlie sighed and lowered his legs with a groan while Cedric moved to open the restraints around his wrists. Once free, Charlie sat up in the sling, closing his eyes to ride out a head rush before rising to his feet. His legs felt numb from being suspended so long and he began walking awkwardly around the loft in an effort to get the blood flowing again as his head swam from the champagne. Billy soon stood next to Charlie, swaying on his feet and looking around with half-lidded eyes. They searched for their clothes, but then Charlie remembered that Nicky had taken them with him after handcuffing Billy in his sling. “Dammit,” Charlie said, and closed his eyes as the room spun. “That fucker Nicky took our clothes.”

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“Oh no,” Billy sighed and tried to sit down. “Guess we’ll just have to stay here.” “No, no, no, Billy,” Charlie said and grabbed his friend’s arm, struggling to keep him on his feet. “No sitting down or lying down or sleeping until we’re out of here. Okay?” Billy squinted into Charlie’s face and wrinkled his nose. “Your breath is horrible! What the fuck did you eat before we got here? Fuck! That is some nasty ass breath comin’ outta’ you! Whew!” Billy turned to stumble away, waving a hand before his face, and ran into a sling. It caught him at the waist and spun him around then deposited him on his back on the floor with a thump that shook the entire loft and sent the animals below into another frenzy. “Billy!” Charlie and Cedric walked over and helped him up. “You okay?” Billy shook his head to clear it and smiled at them. “Hi guys. When’d you get here?” He looked down at his body and frowned. “Hey, who took my clothes?” Cedric rolled his eyes and released Billy’s arm to walk back to the steps. “Come on, leave him behind. We have to save Henry. Where is he?” Before Charlie or Billy could respond, a loud banging from the other end of the loft caught their attention and all three turned to peer into the dark corner. “Who’s that?” Cedric whispered. “Oh my God,” Charlie gasped. “We almost forgot about Heather!” “Leave her!” Billy snapped with a wave. “She’s an evil dyke bitch who doesn’t buy American made cars!” “Come on.” Charlie took Billy by the arm and crossed the floor of the loft, his bare feet padding over the soft wooden boards, Cedric reluctantly following behind. Charlie pulled back the deadbolt on the wooden door and it burst open as Heather pushed out of the dark, tiny room causing all three of the men to shriek. Her hair lay plastered to her head and sweat ran down her face. She sucked in a deep breath of cooler air and glared at them. “It’s about fucking time!” Heather snapped, then abruptly averted her eyes. “And, of course, being men, you’re naked.”

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“Sorry, Heather, but Nicky chained us up and took our—” Charlie was interrupted by a sudden cracking of wood from beneath their feet. The floor sagged an inch and they froze, staring at each other with wide eyes, terrified to move. “Okay, nobody move—” Heather whispered, then the boards gave way and they all fell into a pungent darkness below.

P “Do I have flexible fingers? Why?” Jeannotte said, then understanding dawned on his face. “You are thinking we could turn our backs to each other, move closer and untie ourselves.” Brent nodded. “See? Great minds do think alike.” “I will reserve comment on that statement,” Jeannotte said as he began bouncing in his seat, moving a few inches closer to Brent with each hop. Brent sat still for a moment, his eyes fastened on Jeannotte’s thick, uncut cock as it bounced and jiggled with the man’s motions. The inspector stopped to take a breath, already a good foot closer, and caught Brent staring. “Do I check out all right?” he asked. “Huh?” Brent snapped his eyes up to the man’s face. “Sorry, I just …” He stopped and decided to be honest. “Well, yeah, actually. You do check out all right.” Jeannotte blushed and looked away, clearing his throat before turning back. “We need to get out of here and rescue your friends.” Brent nodded. “Right. Let’s go.” They scooted, scuffed, and bounced their chairs together until they were just a few inches apart. Brent came to a stop when he felt his knee graze the inspector’s. He was out of breath, sweating, and his leg muscles were burning. Jeannotte started to turn his back on Brent and expose his bound hands but the leg of his chair caught on a split tile that had come up from the concrete floor beneath. The inspector gasped as he lost his balance and toppled forward to land face first in Brent’s crotch.

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Brent let out a loud oof! of surprise and in reflex doubled over the man’s sweaty back. Jeannotte began moaning and huffing as he struggled to right himself, his mouth pressed firmly against Brent’s cock. The man’s hot, damp breath aroused Brent against his will. After much struggling and scuffling, Jeannotte finally managed to tip himself upright and he turned away as he caught his breath, his face burning with humiliation. As Brent fought back his steadily increasing erection, he thought he caught a glimpse of an awakening excitement in the inspector’s eyes, and definitely in the spike of a hard-on the man was sporting. He filed the information away for further consideration at a later time and, without a word, began turning himself around. A few minutes later both men had their backs to each other and had grasped the other’s hands. “Try untying me first,” Jeannotte instructed. “The knots feel like they have loosened around my wrists.” “All right, hold your hands still,” Brent said and plucked at the knots. After several minutes he let out an exasperated breath and dropped his chin to his chest. “They’re still too tight. That asshole must have been an Eagle Scout or something. Shit! Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!” “Well now what?” Jeannotte said in defeat. “Other than clawing open a vein to bleed all over the ropes, there’s nothing else we can do.” Brent lifted his head and smiled at the wall across from him. “Well, maybe there is something we can use.” “What are you getting at?” Jeannotte asked, narrowing his eyes. “Hold on, I want to face you.” Brent and the inspector maneuvered their chairs around until they sat facing each other, sweaty and out of breath. Brent took a moment to catch his breath, noticing during that time that Jeannotte’s nipples had hardened in the cold, damp air of the basement. The brown, pebble sized nubs poked up through the inspector’s chest hair, looking firm and sweet, begging Brent to nip them and flick them with the tip of his tongue. “Well?” Jeannotte snapped. “What the hell is wrong with you? What’s your idea?” Brent blinked and said, “Okay, you’re not going to like this.”

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“What a surprise that is for me, coming from a man like you.” The inspector collected himself and raised his eyebrows at Brent. “I’m waiting.” “Here it is.” Brent took a breath. “One of us turns his back on the other and moves in real close and, using his fingers, helps him … get off.” “Get off? Get off what? I don’t–” Jeannotte stared at him in stunned silence for a moment, then began shouting at him. “This is a serious situation! You have no idea what these men are doing to your friends out in that barn and you are sitting across from me asking me to whack you off! You are impossible.” “No, wait,” Brent pleaded. “Listen to me, okay? Just listen.” He took a breath as Jeannotte calmed himself. “Thank you. Now, I know this seems to be purely for the sex, but come …” Jeannotte flinched at the word and Brent stopped himself. “Sorry, semen, is very slippery when it is fresh. We can use it to escape. Really.” “I refuse to do that!” Jeannotte said, his voice taut with indignation and his eyes narrowed. “Okay,” Brent said and sighed. “But by this time they may have gone through our clothes and found your badge and gun and know the cops are onto them and they won’t have many other options except to kill us all. Do you want to let them do that? I don’t! And look around us, there’s nothing else we can use down here to help us escape.” Jeannotte looked around the empty basement and then turned back to Brent, his lips pressed together and his jaw set. “It’s unnatural.” Brent let his breath out and rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh. “Jean-Claude, it happens every day. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying someone’s body if there’s mutual consent. Get it? Let yourself go, man. Relax.” “I am quite able to relax, thank you,” Jeannotte said. “I don’t need the types of you to help me to do it.” “Likes,” Brent corrected as he began to jockey his chair around so he would have his back to the man. “What?” Jeannotte asked. “You said ‘I don’t need the types of you’ when you should have said ‘the likes of you’ instead.” Brent finished positioning himself and looked

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over his shoulder. “Okay, I’m ready.” He flexed his fingers in preparation. “Scoot on up here.” “What?” Jeannotte said in surprise. “Why am I the … why me?” “Because I’ve already come twice today and you’re so fucking uptight I’m guessing you haven’t come in at least six weeks.” Brent turned his head to try and see Jeannotte over his shoulder but the man’s face was out of his sightline. “Am I right?” Jeannotte cleared his throat and, without responding, moved his chair closer until it bumped up against Brent’s. He spread his thighs open and slid his butt as far forward in the chair as possible. His cock, already beginning to harden at the thought of a big, masculine hand clenched around it, brushed against Brent’s fingers and the inspector gasped. “It’s okay, Jean-Claude,” Brent said in a calming voice, “I’m a professional. This doesn’t mean anything. It’s just an escape tactic.” He opened his fingers and closed them around the solid girth of the inspector’s dick. “Wow, you are primed and ready to go.” “Just get it over with,” Jeannotte moaned. Brent closed his eyes and moved his hand as much as his bindings would allow up and down along Jeannotte’s thickening cock. He estimated the man to be about six and a half inches long and more than two around, a regular beer can of a prick. Brent tightened his fingers, pressing on the cock’s sensitive under belly, and smiled when he heard Jeannotte let out a quiet, ecstatic gasp. He adjusted his grip and said over his shoulder with a husky whisper, “Lean forward and spit down in my palm.” Without hesitation Jeannotte leaned up and spit a few times into Brent’s open palm. Brent clasped the inspector’s cock once more and began to pump for all he was worth, the slick sound of his motions making his own dick grow hard. “Oh, faster,” Jeannotte gasped quietly. “And more at the top.” Brent complied and the inspector sucked a breath in through his teeth with a hiss. “Oh yes, right there. That’s the place.” “You’ve got a nice, thick cock there, inspector,” Brent said. “I’d sure like to see it face to face some day.” “Uh,” Jeannotte grunted. “Oh, your hand feels good. Oh yes. I’m coming. Oh yes. Oh!”

Brent increased the strength of his grip and speed of his stroke and moaned when the first hot splash of the inspector’s come touched his skin. The man shot load after load of thick, slippery spunk over Brent’s bound wrists and Brent thought to himself that the man must not have come for months to deliver a money shot like that. When he had milked the final drizzle of come from the inspector’s dick, Brent reluctantly released his hold on the man’s softening cock and started to twist his hands back and forth within the ropes, smearing the semen over his skin and bindings. He had to work fast before the spunk dried to a sticky crust and defeated the purpose. “Is it working?” Jeannotte asked anxiously, but without the usual edge to his voice. “It seems to be,” Brent replied. “I think I can almost slip my left hand out …” He trailed off and stopped struggling as the sound of footsteps overhead came to them. He and Jeannotte looked up at the ceiling, tracking the footsteps above and listening as Chug-a-lug and Nicky talked and laughed. “They’re back,” Jeannotte whispered. “Hurry!” “I’m trying,” Brent whispered back and twisted his hands more furiously, ignoring the chaffing on his skin as his left hand began to slowly, so slowly, slip out of the ropes.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Shit Happens

C

harlie, Billy, Heather, and Cedric landed in an old stall, falling upon a stack of hay bales with a deep, collective grunt, then rolling off onto the floor in a heap amid dust, broken wood, and straw. Charlie felt all the air forced out of his lungs with the first crash and then again as the full weight of Cedric’s body landed across his gut. Billy and Heather wound up tangled together on the floor beside him. “Oh God!” Heather moaned, pushing Billy’s nude body off her and stumbling to her hands and knees. “What is that smell?” Charlie’s breath had been knocked out of him so hard he did not notice what they had landed in until Cedric rolled off him and he turned his head. Something soft, wet, and thick spread across the side of his face and urged him to sit up fast even though his head spun and his chest burned. “I can’t breathe,” Charlie gasped. “Put your head between your knees,” Heather instructed, kneeling beside him as she held her nose. Charlie saw smudges of something dark

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and ugly across her face and closed his eyes. He did not want to think about it. “Ugh!” Billy groaned from across the stall. “Be glad you can’t breathe! This is awful!” “Oh God!” Cedric groaned. “We landed in shit!” “You’re a fuckin’ genius, aren’t you?” Billy snapped. “This is shit?” He kicked a lump of it toward Cedric. “Really? I couldn’t tell!” “Stop that, you little bitch,” Cedric said as he flicked some of the matter from his shoulders. “I can’t believe I actually let you out of that fucking sling. I should have left you there to rot.” Charlie caught his breath and smiled a thanks to Heather who helped him stand. He looked down at himself and groaned. He was nude and covered head to toe in dog shit. It had been ground into the crack of his ass, onto his knees and thighs and across his back. He could feel it smeared on his face and in his hair. Behind him, Cedric and Billy had begun a shit fight, kicking it angrily at each other. A large glob of the stuff plopped on the back of Charlie’s head and he whirled on them. “Stop it!” Both men ceased immediately and straightened up, their eyes wide. “Sorry,” they muttered. “Thank you.” Charlie turned and, with Heather, approached the eightfoot tall cyclone gate. There was no padlock on the clasp and Heather eased the gate open to step cautiously out into the barn. The dogs and other animals had begun barking and sounding off after they had fallen through the floor and at the sight of the four of them creeping out of the stall they switched to frenzy mode. Most of the animals were dogs and most were young, excited puppies that pawed, barked, and chewed at the fences containing them. One stall, a small one toward the middle, held a number of cats that stuck out their paws and meowed at them as they walked past, reminding Charlie of prison movies he had seen on cable. The cages each had two buckets, one filled with dirty water and the other with cheap dry food, most empty. Shit and piss covered the floors of the modified stables and he wondered where the animals found space to sleep. “Oh my God,” Heather said quietly, her eyes watering from the smell of her clothes and sight of the caged animals. “We have to let them out.”

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“Not yet,” Charlie said. “They’ll just run away and get lost. We have to get to a phone and call the police.” “How about we find our clothes?” Billy suggested quietly. He stood behind Charlie, his hands cupped over his dick and balls. “I’m feeling a little exposed here.” “Please,” Cedric hissed at Billy as he walked around one of the heaters to approach a stall and peer into it. “You’re naked more than you are clothed you stupid slut.” “Take that back!” Billy said loudly and flinched as Heather cuffed him up the side of his head. She looked at her palm and wiped it on her already soiled jeans with a sneer. “Keep your voices down, idiots,” she snapped. “Do you want them to know we’ve escaped? We have to get out of here and call the police.” Heather, Billy, and Charlie searched the barn for their clothes but came up empty handed. They did not even find an old sheet or a burlap sack to tie around their waists. As the others looked for the clothes, Cedric peered into each stall for Henry but could not find him. He joined up with them near the doors to the barn and said, “I have a cell phone in my car, but before we call anyone I want to find Henry.” “Cedric, you are such a selfish bitch!” Billy hissed. “We need to get the police out here and then you can worry about your dog.” Cedric folded his arms and stood stubbornly rooted to the spot. Charlie noticed a small mound of dog shit perched on the toe of one of Cedric’s boots and sighed. They really had no choice. “Fine,” Charlie said. “Billy saw him up at the house before he was tied up.” Billy protested quietly as they snuck out the door of the barn and crept across the yard. The lights from the oil lamps in the house flickered behind the boarded up windows of the first floor and they struggled to keep away from pricker bushes, Charlie and Billy hissing in pain as they stepped on rocks and thistle plants in their bare feet. “God, we smell fucking awful,” Heather groaned quietly. “They’re going to smell us coming a mile away.”

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“Let’s just hope we’re downwind,” Charlie said and belched up a little champagne. He still felt woozy from the enema and noticed he staggered a bit every couple of steps. He had no idea how they were going to get into the house to find Brent and Inspector Jeannotte along with Henry, but they had to try. At the sagging back porch, they paused to listen to voices coming out of the open back door. Chug-a-lug and Nicky were in the kitchen sitting at a flimsy card table talking. “I have a plan,” Billy said and abruptly stood up to head for the small back porch, the pale skin of his tight, round ass glowing white in the moonlight. Ignoring the whispered protests of the others, he mounted the steps and stopped just outside the battered screen door, took a breath, then reached out and jerked it open. “Um, hi,” Billy said with a little wave. All conversation inside the house came to a halt. “I was wondering if you guys had a bathroom up here? I really need to pee.” “Get him!” Chug-a-lug shouted and Billy jumped off the porch and ran a few yards toward the barn before he stopped and turned, folding his arms and grinning. Chug and Nicky burst out of the back door of the house and jumped off the porch, dashing past Heather, Charlie, and Cedric to run at Billy who gave a squeak of surprise, then turned to flee into the darkness toward the barn, the two men in hot pursuit. “Oh my God!” Charlie said, standing up and looking after them. “Should we go help him?” “Apparently he had a plan and didn’t think to clue us in on it,” Cedric said as he climbed the steps to the back door. “Henry? Where’s Daddy’s wittle itty bitty baby? Henry-snoogums?” “Oh God.” Heather rolled her eyes. “You men and your little toy dogs.” “Come on,” Charlie said, “maybe we can get Brent and Jeannotte free to help us save Billy.” They cautiously entered the house behind Cedric. The kitchen contained a card table and two chairs, several oil lamps, and a large cooler filled with ice, beer, and champagne. The doors to all the cabinets had either fallen off or been torn away and mice moved restlessly in the shadows.

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“Nice place,” Heather grumbled. From the front of the house they could hear Cedric calling for Henry and followed his voice through dank, dirty hallways littered with old, dried animal feces and awash with the smell of cat urine. The living room contained cheap, busted up furniture and several more oil lamps. Old pizza boxes stood stacked in the corners and scattered around the floor and they could hear mice scurrying through the cardboard in search of crumbs. “Where the fuck is Cedric?” Charlie said. “Chug and Nicky could be back any minute.” “Forget him, we have to find Brent,” Heather said. “Come on, let’s check the basement.” Charlie looked around the living room, then turned to follow Heather back into the kitchen. As they rounded a corner into what had once been a dining room that connected to the kitchen, they stopped in their tracks at the sight of Chug-a-lug and Nicky standing in the doorway, both men out of breath. Nicky dropped his eyes along Charlie’s naked body and sneered. “Even covered in shit he looks good.” “Get them!” Chug said and both men rushed forward. Heather and Charlie darted back into the living room where Charlie slipped on a pizza box and tumbled into the stack of boxes in the corner. Stale pieces of crust, a few dozen pizza boxes, and several squeaking mice fell around him as he banged up against the wall. Heather did not stop to look back but continued running through the long living room and back into the kitchen. “Get the bitch!” Chug snapped at Nicky. “I’ll get blond boy here.” Charlie grabbed the first thing he could find, a particularly hard piece of pizza crust, and lobbed it in Chug’s direction. The crust bounced off Chug’s forehead and the man flinched back with a startled, “Ow!” Encouraged by Chug’s reaction, Charlie began viciously throwing crusts and boxes at the man as he got to his feet. At one point he picked up a squeaking mouse and squealed in surprise before dropping the rodent back among the stack of boxes. Chug dodged as many of the missiles as he could but one lucky throw caught him in the eye and he bellowed in pain, pressing his hands over his eye and turning to run from the room.

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As Chug ran past the stairs leading to the second floor Cedric stepped out in front of him, Henry in his arms, and the men collided, falling in a heap at the foot of the steps. Henry bounced out of Cedric’s grasp and trotted away from the chaos as the two men wrestled to get disentangled from one another. “Henry!” Cedric cried. “Run, baby, run!” Chug-a-lug began crawling toward Henry but Cedric reached out to grab his ankles and drag him back, hoisting himself up and falling on top of him “Ugh!” Chug screamed. “You cow, get off me! You’re covered in shit! Ugh!” Henry was torn between running for his life and trying to help his master and it was this hesitation that got him caught as Nicky walked up behind the dog and easily scooped him up in his big hands. “Don’t move or I’ll wring this overgrown rat’s neck,” Nicky snarled. Charlie, Chug, and Cedric all froze and Cedric gasped at the sight of Henry in Nicky’s grasp. “No! Don’t hurt him. Please!” “Get up,” Nicky demanded. “Let Chug go and get up.” Cedric released Chug-a-lug and stepped back into the living room, ending up beside Charlie amid the mess of pizza boxes. Chug stood beside Nicky, glaring at them with his one good eye as he tried to wipe shit off himself. “Where’s the dyke?” Nicky glanced down at Chug. “I lost her.” Chug rolled his eye and shook his head. “Never send a boy to do a man’s job.” “Oh, sorry,” Nicky said with a sneer. “But at least I can see out of both my eyes and I’m not covered in dog shit.” Before Chug could reply Henry opened his tiny mouth and sank his needle teeth into Nicky’s thumb. The man let out a howl that swiftly turned to a high-pitched scream rivaling Fay Wray in King Kong. He started flopping his arm around, Henry holding on for dear life as he was snapped back and forth in the air, his teeth lodged deep in the man’s thumb. Chug jumped around, attempting to calm Nicky so he could help pull the dog off him but it was too late, Henry’s teeth slid out of Nicky’s thumb and he sailed across the room, spinning like a Frisbee with his legs stretched out and his ears back. He was headed for the wall about ten feet

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from where Charlie and Cedric stood and before Charlie could even think about moving Cedric started to run. As Charlie watched it all seemed to happen in slow motion. Cedric ran like a full back, his arms pumping, eyes fixed on Henry’s spinning body. He covered the room in less than a second and leaped at the perfect spot, hands outstretched to snatch Henry from the air. As his feet left the floor, Cedric twisted in the air and landed with a grunt on his back, Henry tucked safely into his chest like a tiny, living football. Charlie stood dumbfounded for a brief second until Nicky, his thumb streaming blood, and Chug, his eye red and swollen shut, broke the spell by bolting for him. Charlie kicked a pizza box in front of Nicky and the man’s foot slipped out from beneath him. He fell hard in front of Chug, taking him down as well and both men ended up on the floor at Charlie’s bare, shit smeared feet. Charlie jumped out of their grasp and ran from the room, Cedric puffing along behind with Henry tucked in close to his chest. As they turned a corner into a short hallway leading to the kitchen a door opened just ahead and Brent and Inspector Jeannotte leaped out at them with a shout. Both men were naked and dirty, their eyes burning with adrenaline fueled anger. Charlie skidded to a halt and let out a yelp of surprise as Cedric pulled up short behind him. Brent blinked and confusion furrowed his brow as he laid eyes on Cedric. “Cedric? What the fuck are you doing here?” Before Cedric could reply, Henry, peering over Cedric’s shoulder, let out a startled bark and they all turned to see Nicky and Chug stumble around the corner. “Come on!” Brent reached out to take Charlie’s hand, thinking better of it when he saw what Charlie was covered in. He waved in the direction of the kitchen instead and said, “This way!” The four men, three nude, two covered in dog shit, ran into the kitchen as the back screen door slammed opened and Billy stepped into the room. He was still nude and covered in shit, his legs scored with scratches from his run across the dark, pricker bush infested yard. “Way to follow a plan,

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Charlie! Thanks a lot for helping me out back there!” he snapped as the four men raced past and around the corner into the dining room. “Huh? What plan?” Charlie called to him, then shook his head. “Run!” Billy immediately ran to catch up, passing Cedric and jogging behind Inspector Jeannotte, his eyes falling to the man’s tight, well-formed ass as it jiggled before him. At the front hallway they all slid to stop at the sight of Chug-a-lug standing by the front door holding a gun. Jeannotte cursed beneath his breath and said, “That’s my gun.” “Yes, inspector, it is,” Chug said with a smile. Behind them they heard Nicky’s clomping tread as the man puffed up and blocked their retreat, blood running down his arm from his thumb. “Shit,” Brent sighed. “Yes, they do smell bad, don’t they?” Chug said with a grim smirk. “Now, here’s how this is going to work. I shoot each of you with the inspector’s gun.” He held it up for them to see, then quickly pointed it at them once again. “Then I shoot the cop with our gun, plant it in one of your dead hands and torch the house and barn.” He moved the gun back and forth between them, narrowing his good eye. “But which of you will be the first to go? Hmm?” Something small and round blasted down the steps to connect with Chug’s gun hand, knocking the weapon free and sending it crashing through the sagging screen on the front door. The gun thumped once on the boards of the porch before it tumbled over the edge and into the dark shadows of the brush. The object that had hit him rolled across the floor and came to rest near Charlie’s foot and they all looked down to find a tarnished old doorknob. Chug-a-lug moaned and hugged his hand to his chest, turning to look up the steps to where Heather stood with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face. “I was starting pitcher on my fast pitch softball team,” she said. “Never underestimate the power of a lesbian on a sports team.” “Fuck!” Chug groaned then looked at Nicky. “Get them!” “Out the front door!” Brent called and they rushed forward. Chug screamed and fled into the living room as they charged him and they all

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filed quickly out onto the sagging front porch. They made their way down the steps and stopped as they caught sight of Heather’s Toyota parked where Billy had left it right outside the house. “Quick! In the car!” Brent said. “No!” Heather shouted. “Don’t get shit in my car!” At that moment Nicky and Chug burst through the front door behind her and they all scattered into the night without a moment’s hesitation. Charlie found himself beside Brent heading back toward the barn and, when he risked a glance behind, was startled to find both Chug and Nicky following them. “They’re right behind us!” Charlie gasped to Brent. “Both of them!” “Into the barn!” Brent said but when they got to the doors the sound of a gunshot made them freeze. Both men turned slowly to look over their shoulders. Nicky was holding his original gun on them with one hand as he kept his left hand elevated to try and slow the bleeding from Henry’s bite. “Where are the other members of your group?” Chug asked with his good hand over his eye and his other hand, the one Heather had struck with the doorknob, clamped beneath his arm. “Gone to get the cops,” Brent replied. “Give it up, Chug. Nowhere left to run now.” Chug shrugged and turned to Nicky with a smile. “Do I look like I’m running?” Nicky considered him a moment, then smiled back. “Not really.” Chug tipped his chin up and said to them, “Get inside the barn. We’ll chain you two up while we look for the others.” Nicky waved the gun at the door and Charlie and Brent stepped into the barn. The moment Nicky and Chug entered behind them one of the stall gates swung open and a pack of dogs scrambled out. The animals turned and ran at them, barking and snarling. Charlie and Brent stepped aside and crouched down as Chug and Nicky screamed in terror. A couple of dogs sniffed at Charlie and Brent, wagging their tails and licking their faces, but the majority of the dogs pounced on the two at the door, driving them to the floor as they bit and pawed at them. The gun flew out of Nicky’s hand and skittered beneath a set of cages.

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“Help us!” Chug screamed. “They’re killing us!” “Damn shame about that,” Brent called. “There seems to be too many of them for us to handle, eh Charlie?” “Yeah,” Charlie replied. “Quite a lot. Surprising they could all fit into that one little cage.” Chug and Nicky managed to get to their feet and ran screaming further into the barn. They ducked into the stall recently vacated by the dogs and pulled the gate shut behind them. Heather stepped out of the shadows and clicked a handcuff through the clasp, locking the men inside as the dogs jumped on the fence, growling and barking. In their zeal to get at their former captors the dogs completely ignored Heather and she moved out of their midst to join Charlie and Brent. Brent said. “How’d you get down here so fast, Heather?” Heather shrugged. “I ran.” Charlie laughed, then remembered he was naked and covered up as best he could. “We should go find the others.” “Just as long as nobody sat in my car,” Heather said. “Should we try to lock these dogs up so they don’t get loose?” “Yeah, let’s see if they’ll even go in that empty stall over there,” Brent replied and made his way over to the cage Charlie, Heather, Billy and Cedric had fallen into earlier. Charlie and Heather herded the dogs into the cage and Brent lowered the clasp on the gate, then moved away from them both to head for the door. “You two smell awful,” he said. “Keep five feet away from me at all times.” “Hey,” Charlie said. “We’ve been through a lot tonight!” “Whatever, Farm Boy,” Brent said and held his hand up palm out. “All I know is you smell like fertilizing day on the farm, okay? Keep your distance.” They trudged out of the barn and across the lawn to Brent’s truck just as several police cars and animal control trucks pulled up, light bars flashing and spotlights illuminating the run down house. Brent stopped to survey Charlie, Billy, Cedric, and Heather as they stood in a small group, covered in shit and half of them nude. He grinned as he watched JeanClaude Jeannotte try to keep out of sight of the police as the house was

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surrounded and the men warily approached the fragrant and mostly naked group huddled near the pickup. “What a sad looking bunch,” Brent said with a grin. A female animal control officer stepped up, her eyebrows going up at the sight of the naked men, and she said, “Okay, what’s the story with this place – oh my God! What the fuck is that smell?” She retreated several feet and plugged her nose, her eyes watering. “What the hell is that?” “It’s dog shit, all right?” Billy snapped and waved a hand in frustration, his other hand cupping his crotch. “We fell through the floor of the barn and landed in a cage full of dog shit and now here we are, naked and covered with shit and smelling like your worst nightmare.” “Jesus,” the woman said and called over her shoulder, “Hey! I need three blankets over here! And make sure they’re old ones cause we’re not gonna want them back after this.” She turned back and her eyes lit on Heather. “Oh, hey, I know you.” Heather blushed and nodded. “Yeah, I’ve seen you at the bar. I don’t know your name, though.” “Amy,” the woman said. She started to extend her hand, then thought better of it. Heather laughed and gave her a small wave instead. “I’m Heather Slocumb, and I usually smell better than this.” “But not by much,” Billy mumbled and Heather shot him a dirty look. “How come you’re not naked?” Amy asked with a grin as an officer approached and, at the first whiff of the group, stopped several feet away to toss them the blankets he carried. Heather shrugged. “You know how slutty gay men are.” “We need one more blanket,” Brent said quietly and Amy gave him a questioning look. “For who?” she asked. Brent turned to look at the back of his truck and called, “Come on out, Jean-Claude. You’re going to have to some time.” With his face burning in shame and his hands cupped over his groin, Inspector Jeannotte stepped out from behind Brent’s truck with his shoulders hunched and his eyes cast down. Amy’s eyes went wide at the

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sight of him and she looked him up and down with her mouth hanging open. “Inspector Jeannotte?” She said and tried to stifle a laugh. “Um … are you … undercover?” Jeannotte glared at her and then stood up to his full height and dropped his hands from his crotch as he replied, “Yes, I am. And I’m proud to say I’ve solved the case.” Billy and Cedric both raised their eyebrows as they inspected Jeannotte’s cock and balls and Charlie called to the officer for another blanket. As Jeannotte wrapped a blanket around himself, Brent, Heather, and Charlie explained how they had trapped Chug-a-lug and Nicky in the barn and Cedric and Billy related how they had run to Cedric’s car and used his cell phone to call the police. Jeannotte had a policeman take notes as the rest of the officers searched the house. Jeannotte then borrowed a spare pair of boots from someone’s trunk and led a group of officers and animal control agents, along with Brent, Charlie, Heather, Billy, and Cedric, back to the barn to show them the evidence. Once they had stepped in the doors and up to the cage holding Nicky and Chug they all stopped in surprise. The handcuffs were missing and the door to the cage stood open, the stall beyond empty. “Fuck!” Brent said. “They got away! Dammit!” “They must have had a key on them,” Heather suggested. “Figures.” The animal control agents began rounding up the animals and when the door was opened to the cage holding the dozens of cats, the felines all swarmed around Charlie’s legs and pawed at him, meowing to be picked up. Charlie panicked a moment, then remembered he wasn’t allergic to cats, just kitty litter, and let out his breath. A certain cat, however, caught his attention and he reached down to stroke her, turning to Brent as he did. “Hey!” Charlie called. “Here’s Endora!” Endora swiped at him and he pulled back as the cat walked past him with her tail in the air to twine around Brent’s ankles. Brent picked her up and shrugged at Charlie. “She doesn’t like the way you smell.” Over an hour later, their clothes still missing and all the animals having been rounded up and placed into the animal control trucks, a large panel van bumped up the driveway and right into the middle of the police

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cars. Several officers surrounded the truck and two men stepped out, hands in the air. Charlie stood in the back of Brent’s pickup to see over the heads of the police officers as the men were taken into custody, hoping Derrick was not one of them. At the sight of the other two members of Chug’s team Charlie let out his breath. The van was full of animals stolen that evening from another pet store and the officers got busy trying to figure out what to do with the new arrivals. Several minutes later, a young, handsome officer approached the group and said, “Inspector Jeannotte! We found your gun in the bushes by the front porch and this in the truck that just pulled up.” He held up a zip top sandwich bag within which lay several blue feathers. Charlie gasped. “Those are Jane Doe’s!” He turned to Brent who stood a few feet away and upwind. “They probably left one of those at the place they robbed tonight. You’re off the hook!” He started to move forward to hug Brent but the man held up his hands. “Whoa there, Farm Boy, you’re really….” Charlie looked wounded. “What?” “Repugnant. I mean, you’re covered in shit, okay? Save the hug for later.” The young cop, who had dark blond hair and a muscular chest that swelled against his tight uniform shirt, approached Cedric where he stood cuddling Henry apart from the others. “Excuse me, sir,” the officer said, “are you Cedric Wilmington?” Cedric sighed and waved the man away. “Look, officer, I already gave a statement, all right? I’m tired, I’m cold, and I’m covered in dog shit, see? I don’t want to give another statement.” The officer blushed. “Well, sir, I don’t want a statement.” He lowered his voice. “I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your movies and I think you are one of the hottest directors in gay porn.” Cedric’s face glowed beneath the smudges of shit and Charlie heard Billy make a disgusted sound. “Really?” Cedric said. “Well, that’s a much different matter entirely, isn’t it? What’s your name you handsome young man in blue?”

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Over an hour later, after Amy the animal control officer had volunteered to drive Heather’s car back to her apartment and Cedric’s young fan, Roger, had volunteered to drive his rental car, the four shit covered heroes climbed into the back of Brent’s truck. They squeezed together with their backs against the rear of the cab, Cedric and Charlie sitting beside each other and trying desperately not to breathe too deep. Jeannotte rode up front with Henry between him and Brent, both still wrapped in scratchy police blankets. Endora lay stretched out on the dashboard, watching dispassionately through the windshield as the lights of the city grew brighter. Brent dropped Jeannotte off first at his home, a small bungalow in a quiet neighborhood. The inspector, who had not spoken a single word the entire way, nodded once to Brent, mumbled an awkward, “Merci,” then stepped out of the truck. He gave a small wave to those crammed into the back of the truck before walking quickly up to his door, the police blanket tied around his waist, and let himself in with a key hidden beneath his mat. Brent smiled to himself and, shaking his head, put the truck in gear and headed back to his apartment to hose the rest of them off.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Hunky Brewster

T

he following morning Charlie and Billy knelt by a low wading pool in the parking lot and scrubbed the two Rottweiler pups that had been stolen from Canadian Critters. When they finished, Brent returned both dogs to a freshly cleaned cage and Charlie and Billy turned their eyes on Endora. The cat hissed, bit, and clawed at them as they dunked her into the soapy water, scrubbed her all over, then rinsed her under the hose. Charlie held her at arm’s length, dripping wet and pissed as hell and Brent folded towels around the cat to carry her up to the shop where she stretched out in a patch of sunlight and sullenly licked her fur. Brent went back to the parking lot to rinse out the wading pool and Charlie and Billy leaned in the shop doorway, exhausted from the night before and slightly hung over from the champagne enemas. “My ass is raw,” Billy said conversationally. “I feel completely cleaned out,” Charlie replied. They were quiet for a moment, staring at Endora as she cleaned herself. “Funny,” Billy observed, “she doesn’t look like one of Satan’s minions right now.” 227

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Charlie laughed. “She’s going to yak up one hell of a hairball later.” A car pulled up to the curb and they stepped out onto the landing to look down at the new arrival. Inspector Jeannotte walked up to where Brent crouched with his back to the man, rinsing out the shallow pool. Brent finished the task and turned to dump the water toward the storm drain in the parking lot, splashing it across Jeannotte’s shoes and the cuffs of his trousers. “Oh shit! Jean-Claude, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were standing there.” Brent knelt before the inspector and began wiping at his shoes and pants as Charlie and Billy laughed from their vantage point above. Billy leaned over to Charlie and said, “So it’s Jean-Claude now, huh? What happened between them down in that basement?” Charlie shrugged as the inspector pulled Brent to his feet and waved him back. “I don’t know, Brent won’t say.” “It’s fine, it’s fine,” Jeannotte said, shaking water off his foot. “I just came by to thank you for your assistance on this case. And…” He stopped and shifted his weight, glancing up at Charlie and Billy. “Yes?” Brent said with a grin. “And to apologize for harassing you.” Jeannotte lowered his gaze and pressed his lips together. Brent smiled. “Apology accepted, Jean-Claude.” The inspector gave Brent a long look, then squared his shoulders. “You need to make a formal statement with me down at the station. Are you free tomorrow?” “For you, Jean-Claude, I will make myself free.” Charlie and Billy turned at the sound of gagging and both screwed up their faces in disgust at the sight of Endora coughing up a large hairball. Charlie sighed and pulled Billy into the shop with him to help clean the mess up. Just as they had finished wiping up a second hairball Endora had deposited before the front counter, Derrick backed through the door tugging a dolly filled with bags of kitty litter in tow. He stopped when he saw Charlie and Billy kneeling on the floor wiping up cat puke. “The fun never stops in a pet store, eh?” Derrick said.

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“Yeah.” Billy got up to toss a handful of paper towels in the trash. “Nothing like cat puke to cure an enema hangover.” Billy walked outside for some air and Derrick frowned at Charlie. “Enema hangover?” Charlie stood up. “I’ll tell you about it as you unload. I’d offer to help but I don’t think I could take being on that allergy medication again.” Once Charlie had related the events they had endured the night before, Derrick stood shaking his head and clenching his jaw. “I knew Chug was into something illegal,” Derrick said, “I just never imagined it was that bad.” “Well, I’m just glad you weren’t involved,” Charlie said. “I kept telling them I couldn’t see you as a bad guy type, but when those three skateboarders asked you about a puppy you were trying to give away we were suspicious.” Derrick blushed and dropped his eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure that must have sounded bad given everything going on at the time.” Charlie waited a moment, then, when Derrick did not offer up an explanation, asked the man point blank, “So why were you trying to find a home for that puppy?” Derrick sighed. He looked up at the ceiling, around at the shelves stacked with supplies, then, finally, at Charlie himself. “Okay, I’ll come clean. I hate that dog. It barks constantly and pees all over the house. I didn’t want to kill it or have anything bad happen to it, but I wanted to get rid of it.” “Oh,” Charlie said, nodding. “So it was your dog?” Derrick hesitated. “Not exactly.” “Well then whose dog was it?” “My wife’s.” Charlie’s eyes popped wide. “Your wife’s?” “Yeah, my wife’s.” Derrick took a breath. “I got married when I was really young and unsure what I wanted to do with my life. I had always been drawn to men but never had a sexual encounter with a man before. I’ve known Daisy since high school and we get along great and, well, marriage just seemed like the next logical step.”

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“Daisy?” Charlie repeated. “You’re married to someone whose name is actually Daisy?” Derrick shrugged. “Yeah. She’s a really good person and I love her, but not sexually. Not anymore. I was a member of a bowling league a long time ago and one of the guys on my team was really hot and we started going out to the bar after finishing our game each week and one night we were both pretty drunk and heading out to our trucks when he kissed me. That changed everything for me. I knew what I wanted but I still loved Daisy and I couldn’t hurt her. So I’ve kept my marriage a secret from my gay friends and my gay friends a secret from my wife.” “That sounds exhausting, Derrick,” Charlie muttered. He nodded and his shoulders sagged. “Yeah, it is. I guess I’ll have to make a decision soon, but I just don’t think now is the time.” He looked up, concerned. “You hate me.” Charlie shook his head and shrugged. “Hey, who am I to judge. I never came out to my family before I left Idaho. Everyone has to do what they think is best, it’s not for anyone else to decide but yourself. But, to be honest, it’s not very fair to Daisy, is it? She deserves to know, Derrick. You’re living a really extremely different lifestyle than she imagines. And it’s not fair to yourself. This isn’t how you want to spend the rest of your life, is it? You’re going to have to tell her soon if you want the both of you to be happy.” “I know, I know.” Derrick sighed. “Hey, thanks for listening. You won’t tell Brent or the team, will you?” “Nope, your secret is safe with me.” Charlie hugged the man, enjoying the feel of Derrick’s strong arms around his body. “Hey, did you ever get someone to take the dog?” Derrick shook his head. “No. The damn thing makes too much noise, nobody will take it. I was going to tell Daisy it ran away or something, but she loves the obnoxious hell hound so I guess I’m stuck with it.” “Maybe it will help you decide to tell her you’re gay sooner, huh?” Charlie suggested and was relieved to see Derrick smile. “Yeah, maybe.” Derrick finished unloading the kitty litter, then left the shop with his dolly rolling along behind. Billy came back inside the shop and, before he

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could ask what Charlie had spoken to Derrick about, Brent burst through the door with a broad smile on his face and a gleaming trophy in his hands. “Look what we got!” Billy looked the trophy over and asked, “Did you garbage pick that?” Brent laughed. “No! Carl, the president of the bowling league, just pulled up and gave it to me. The league disqualified The Perfect Tens for behavior unbefitting a bowling team and running illegal operations within the league, and that means we won! The Vancouver Vixens took first place!” The three jumped around the shop, eliciting a chorus of barks from the dogs, then ran downstairs as a group to tell Heather. She sat in her small, handsomely decorated office with a pair of half glasses on the end of her nose. Charlie thought she looked adorable, her blond, wavy hair hanging down to her shoulders and her blue eyes sparkling as Brent told her the news. She jumped up and hugged them all, even Billy, and then everybody turned as the door opened. Animal control officer Amy Cavanaugh strode into the office and stood grinning at Heather with her thumbs hooked in her belt. “Gentlemen,” Amy said to the men, then walked up to Heather, standing before her with a smile on her face. She had pulled her shoulder length dark hair back into a loose ponytail and her brown eyes sparkled with mischief as she widened her stance. “Ms. Slocumb.” Billy snickered at Heather’s last name and Charlie elbowed him. “Officer Cavanaugh,” Heather said with a grin. “Is there some kind of problem?” “I’ve been asked to frisk you thoroughly and do an extensive body cavity search,” Amy said. “Oh, puke!” Billy groaned and rushed out of the office. “Before you go about your, um, duty, Officer Cavanaugh,” Brent said, “I was wondering if you had any word on Chug-a-lug and Nicky? Have they found them yet?” Amy shook her head. “Not yet, but we’ve got an APB out on them. They won’t get far.” She turned back to Heather. “Now, about that search …”

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“Come on, Charlie,” Brent said with a jerk of his head. “Let’s give them some privacy.” Back in the shop, Brent went about feeding the animals as Charlie went up to the apartment to make some lunch. The telephone was ringing when Charlie stepped in the door and he stopped to pick it up. “Brent Harrington’s place.” “Oh, is this Charlie?” said a wonderfully familiar voice. Charlie smiled. “Bernice! How are you?” “Oh, Charlie,” Bernice Tallipepper giggled. “I miss you and that little squirt Billy so much. It’s just not the same here at Fluffers, Inc. without you.” “Aw, Bernice, that’s so sweet of you to say,” Charlie replied. “I miss you too. What’s going on down in L.A.? How’s the new office look?” “Don’t forget to ask about the strike you caused,” Billy said as he walked out of the kitchen munching on an ear of corn. Charlie thought back to the night he and Brent had fucked each other with food from the refrigerator and started to ask Billy on which shelf he had found the corn, then decided against it. It was too late now. Bernice replied, “Oh, Charlie! You’re not going to recognize the place!” “I hope not,” Charlie said, remembering all too well how he had fallen into a bin of fake human hands and stumbled through a forest of plastic skeletons during their initial visit to the new office. “Did Kinitia clean out the basement?” “Oh, yes, all of it’s gone!” Bernice assured him. “It’s really shaping up, I must say! We’ve dry walled and done some painting and run electrical wire. My, we’ve been busy.” “Sounds like it,” Charlie said. He lowered his voice and asked, “Is Kinitia still mad at me?” “Oh, Charlie, she was never mad at you,” Bernice said. “She loves you! She was just worried you might get hurt or something, you know, what with the studios all worked up and everything. But the strike is over, so that’s no longer an issue!” “It’s over?” Charlie said and looked at Billy with a smile. “The actors are going back to work?”

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“Oh yes, and the studios have signed the contracts and everyone’s in agreement!” Bernice laughed. “You should have seen the studio owners’ faces when they realized what the health insurance alone was going to cost them! But, when Kinitia pointed out the value to the actors, they couldn’t argue with her.” “Kinitia?” Charlie frowned. “She got involved in the negotiations?” “She was the mediator at the meetings, don’t ‘cha know,” Bernice said. “The studios requested her and the actors agreed to it. Charlie, she is so in with these guys there’s no getting out now. We’re going to have more work than we know what to do with. You’re going to get tired of sucking cock!” Charlie laughed. Bernice, once a housewife from Minnesota, was now a tattoo sporting, Harley riding assistant at a fluffer agency. Only in L.A. “Bernice, I have missed you so much. I can’t wait to get home and get back to work.” “I’m so glad to hear you say that,” Bernice said. “I’ve already got you lined up for jobs a week from today. Think you can be here?” “Wow, that’s pretty quick, Bernice,” Charlie replied. “But I think it’s possible. Billy and I will see what we can do to be back in L.A. by then.” “Okay then, I’ll let Kinitia know to expect you both,” Bernice said. “You tell Billy I said hello and give that handsome Brent Harrington a goose for me.” Charlie laughed and hung up the phone and he and Billy danced around the living room until Brent came into the apartment. “What’s going on?” Brent asked with a smile. “We get to go home!” Billy said. “The strike is over! Woo hoo! L.A. spread your legs cause here I come!” Charlie noticed the sad expression on Brent’s face and stopped dancing. “Oh, Brent. It’s not that I haven’t had a great time up here, you know that.” Brent smiled and nodded. “I know. I just liked having you around again, that’s all. But, I knew it was only temporary. So, even more reason to celebrate, right? Come on, let’s go out. You get to go home, the Vancouver Vixens took first place, and we broke up an animal black market. We deserve a night out.”

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“What about the shop?” Charlie asked. “Hey, I’m the owner, right? I decide the hours and I have decided that it can be closed for an evening,” Brent said. “Besides, we’ve got some reward money to spend.” “Reward money?” Billy said, sitting up straight on the couch. “Who from?” “The pet store owners all pitched in and gave us a nice chunk of change for getting their animals back.” “How much did we get?” Billy asked. Brent grinned at him. “Enough to buy us some drinks and get you two home on a plane, how’s that?” “I can’t buy a beach house and live by the ocean?” Billy said with a pout. “Not yet, but keep fluffing,” Brent said. “You never know whose cock you’re going to suck next. You guys get ready and I’ll finish up downstairs.” Just over an hour later, Brent pulled his truck into the parking lot of a bar called The Randy Rabbit and Charlie laughed at the neon image of a rabbit with a hard-on. “How’d they get away with a logo that explicit?” Charlie wondered. “The owner told the city commission the rabbit is just holding a carrot.” Brent waggled his eyebrows. “Bureaucrats can overlook anything if they don’t want to know it’s there. Come on.” Inside the bar tables were set up surrounding a raised platform with a polished brass pole in the middle. The three found seats near the stage and sat down to watch as a nude young man with a smooth, muscular torso and long, shaggy brown hair, danced to a slow beat. The dancer’s cock was enormous, red and thick, and his shaved balls hung round and tight beneath. The dancer had wrapped a thick rubber band several times around his balls and the base of his cock in order to keep it hard as he twisted and gyrated on stage. Perhaps a dozen other men sat around the stage in the dim lights of the bar, all staring up at the dancer before them. Money was displayed, mostly American dollars, and the dancer moved to take the bills as the men slid their hands over his body.

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The music faded out and the dancer gathered up any fallen bills before ambling off the stage, his penis bobbing before him. “I love that the dancers in Canada can be completely nude,” Charlie said over the music. “The United States is so conservative!” A new song started up, the beat slow and sensual, and Charlie turned to the stage as the lights dimmed to a muted red glow. A tall, handsome man wearing a Zorro mask, black cape, and black boots stepped onto the stage. The dancer held the cape before him, lowering it a little at a time until he revealed a large, thick, hard cock with veins standing out along the shaft. The rounded head bulged off the end of the eight plus inches of meat and pre-come glittered in the red lights. The dancer spun around the pole, his cape flying behind him and his boots sliding easily over the stage. Charlie stared up at the man in amazement. He was gorgeous. Over six feet tall, shaved head, goatee … Charlie blinked and looked closer as the man caught his eye on each slow spin around the pole. Was it? No, it couldn’t be. The dancer moved closer to Charlie and stepped out to place a boot on the table right before him, his cock and balls swinging just inches from Charlie’s face. A dollop of pre-come hung from the slit and Charlie noticed with surprise that the dancer wore no rubber bands or cock ring to keep himself hard. The muscles in the man’s legs corded tight as he crouched low, one leg on the table, and he brushed Charlie’s cheek with a kiss, the whiskers of his goatee caressing his skin. “Hey there, bowler man,” the dancer said with a wink. “Brewster?” Charlie said in surprise. Brewster finished his set, spinning around the pole and at one point hanging upside down with his cock bouncing against his hard, hairy belly. As the music faded, Brewster winked once more at Charlie, touched the tip of his finger to the pre-come on his cock and slipped the finger into his mouth. “Gentlemen, let’s hear it for Hunky Brewster!” the announcer said and the small crowd cheered and applauded. “I’ll be right back,” Brent said and headed toward the bar.

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Charlie sat in stunned silence as he thought about Brewster standing before him, his balls and cock hanging inches away like ripe fruit. His mouth started to water and he turned to where Billy had been sitting only to find an empty chair. Charlie looked around the room until he found Billy seated against the wall, a hot, blond dancer standing nude on a box before him, gyrating to the music. Billy stared at the man’s cock, licking his lips as the meat bounced in his face. Brent sat down next to him again and leaned close “Charlie.” “Huh?” Charlie said and turned to him, shifting his erection at the same time. A large, warm hand grasped his shoulder and Charlie turned to find Hunky Brewster standing behind him, still wearing the mask, cape and boots. His cock hung at half-mast, the tip free of pre-come. “Come with me,” Brewster said in his deep voice. He took Charlie’s hand and led him through the scattered tables to a dark curtain. Brewster parted the curtains and Charlie ducked through behind him, his eyes trained on the man’s broad shoulders. A padded vinyl chair with no arms, a vinyl ottoman, and a weight bench stood around a small area set off from the rest of the bar by thick, black curtains. Brewster led Charlie to the chair and gently pushed him down in it. “I’ve been asked to dance for you. A very private, very special dance for thirty minutes.” “Oh my God,” Charlie breathed, his cock tall and firm, straining against his briefs. “You are so fucking gorgeous.” Brewster smiled and began to dance, moving slowly and smoothly before Charlie. The cape whispered over Brewster’s skin, sliding back and forth across his back and dipping to cover his shoulder and chest as he made his way around Charlie. Standing directly behind Charlie, Brewster raised a leg and lowered it over his shoulder, placing his boot on the seat cushion with the heel pressed against Charlie’s crotch. Charlie turned his head to find Brewster’s engorged penis extended along the side of his face. As Charlie looked at the pulsing vein just beneath the glistening, tight skin of the shaft, Brewster turned his hips, gently slapping his cock against Charlie’s full, wet lips. Charlie smiled up at the man and Brewster moved slowly closer, bringing his erection right

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up against Charlie’s mouth and pressing it firmly against his lips, the heat from the erection warming Charlie’s mouth. “Taste it,” Brewster demanded. Charlie extended his tongue and ran it along the cock, closing his eyes as the salty taste of Brewster’s skin invaded his mouth. He closed his lips on it and dragged them back the length of the shaft to the tip, then turned his head and opened his mouth to take it in his throat. But Brewster had other ideas and pulled away. The man moved back in front of him and began to remove Charlie’s clothing one piece at a time. He peeled up Charlie’s sweatshirt then removed his shoes. He unzipped Charlie’s jeans and pulled them off along with his briefs. Kneeling before Charlie, Brewster slowly removed each sock from Charlie’s feet. Finally, Charlie sat naked and erect before Brewster and the man smiled before lowering his head to take Charlie’s painfully hard cock into his mouth. “Oh God!” Charlie gasped at the sudden hot envelopment. “Oh yeah.” Brewster bobbed his head up and down over Charlie’s cock, clutching the base of his dick as he sucked and licked the length of him. Charlie reached down to grab Brewster’s small, hard nipples and twisted them, bringing a moan up from the man’s cock-stuffed throat. After several minutes of sucking, Brewster stood up and straddled the chair, thrusting his cock into Charlie’s face. Charlie opened wide and swallowed the man’s shaft to the hilt as Brewster palmed the back of his head and groaned. Charlie reached up between Brewster’s legs and took hold of his low hanging balls to pull them taut. “Oh, fuck yeah,” Brewster coached him. “Pull my nuts. That’s it.” Brewster fucked Charlie’s face for a while, then stepped back from the chair and removed the cape. Charlie sat and stared at the man before him, his swollen lips glistening with saliva and pre-come. Brewster took Charlie’s hand and led him to the weight bench, pushing him down until he lay stretched out on his back. The dancer produced a lubricated condom from his boot and rolled it over Charlie’s throbbing, sensitive dick. Brewster spit on the condom a few times, then moved up and slowly lowered himself onto it. Charlie’s cock pierced Brewster’s tight, hot sphincter and slid slowly into the hot, wet center of the gorgeous man above him.

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“Oh God,” Brewster sighed and closed his eyes, his hands finding Charlie’s nipples and twisting them. “That feels so fucking good.” “You’ve got a hot ass,” Charlie said and Brewster smiled down at him as he tightened his muscles around the length of Charlie’s cock. “Oh yeah! Grab my dick. Oh fuck!” Still impaled, Brewster leaned down and kissed Charlie on the mouth. Charlie tasted his own pre-come on Brewster’s tongue. Then Brent began to rise and fall slowly on Charlie’s cock. Charlie raised his hips to meet Brewster’s downward motion. Brewster grunted with each thrust and Charlie reached out to stroke the man’s thick cock, increasing the speed of his hips until he was all out banging Brewster’s ass. “Oh fuck,” Brewster gasped. “I’m coming! Oh yeah! I’m going to shoot it.” The head of Brewster’s cock swelled, then burst, spitting thick, ropy streamers of come across Charlie’s chest and belly. Charlie drove his cock faster into Brewster’s tightened asshole and gasped as he blew his wad into the condom, his balls pumping out shot after shot of spunk. When he was spent, Charlie slowly pulled out of Brewster’s well-plowed hole and the dancer stripped the condom from Charlie’s cock, massaging his balls and deflating prick as he did so. “That was really hot,” Brewster said. “And we still have ten minutes.” “Oh yeah?” Charlie smiled and raised his legs. “Eat my ass.” Brewster immediately knelt on the floor to dig into Charlie’s ass with his lips and tongue. He worked his tongue around the wrinkled outer muscle of Charlie’s sphincter, then popped the hole open with this thumbs and dipped the tip of his tongue into the warm, dark center. Charlie groaned and sighed as Brewster ate his ass, then said, “I want you to fuck me, Brewster. Put your cock inside me.” Brewster stood up and smiled down at Charlie, his eyes twinkling behind the Zorro mask. He pulled another lubricated condom from his boot and slipped it onto his hardened dick, then leaned down to spit into Charlie’s warm, eager asshole. Brewster spread the saliva across the furrowed sphincter muscle, positioned himself at the edge of the weight bench with his hands gripping Charlie’s ankles, and pressed firmly forward until he was halfway inside Charlie.

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“Oh fuck!” Charlie grasped the edges of the weight bench and grimaced as the wide, blunt cock invaded his body. Brewster pulled back, then slid forward again, three quarters of the way in. Charlie moaned as Brewster pulled back once more and pumped shallowly into his ass, spreading his muscles with each stroke. After a few shallow strokes, Brewster plunged into Charlie to the hilt and let out a groan as Charlie’s muscles grabbed his cock and squeezed it tight. “Oh my God,” Brewster gasped. “Tighten that hot ass, that’s it.” Brewster picked up his pace, plowing Charlie’s hole faster until, just before the ten minutes had expired, Charlie blew his wad again, his semen mixing with the remnants from Brewster’s previous load. Brewster felt Charlie’s prostate throb against his embedded cock and the sensation brought him to climax. He came into the condom as he plunged it deep inside Charlie’s asshole. A few minutes later, after catching their breath and using towels to wipe up, Brewster helped Charlie get dressed and pulled his cape back on. At the edge of the black curtain, Brewster leaned down and kissed Charlie softly, his tongue rolling hot and wet inside Charlie’s mouth. “Thanks,” Brewster said with a smile. “That was hot.” “Yeah,” Charlie sighed. “It was. Thank you.” Charlie walked back to the table with a satisfied smile on his face and dropped into his chair. Brent smirked at him and Billy raised his eyebrows where he sat sipping some fruity concoction complete with an umbrella and a wedge of pineapple. “And how was Hunky Brewster?” Billy asked. Charlie’s smiled widened. “Hunky as hell.” He started giggling and fell over into Brent’s lap. “Well,” Brent said with a laugh. “I think Charlie enjoyed his reward.” “Charlie got a reward?” Billy asked, sitting back with a pout. “Oh, I see.” “Oh yeah,” Brent said, “and Billy also gets a half an hour with the dancer of his dreams behind the black curtain.” Brent winked at Charlie as Billy sat up and grinned. “I can touch him and everything?” Billy asked. Charlie laughed. “You’ll do more than that, trust me.”

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Billy bounced up out of his chair and began to work the room, eying the dozen dancers who were working the room themselves in an attempt to encourage private lap dances. A moment later, Billy came back to the table with a hot young stud in tow. The man had a blond buzz cut, bright blue eyes, big bull balls that swung back and forth between his legs as he walked and a thick, uncut cock. “I found my reward,” Billy said with a smile. “Can I go play with him?” “Play away, Billy my boy.” Brent and Charlie laughed as Billy practically ran to the black curtained area, shouldering his way through the other customers with his hot blond stud in tow. Still laughing, Brent pulled Charlie into a strong hug as the lights dimmed down once again and another dancer took the stage inside The Randy Rabbit.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Fly Away, Homo

C

harlie turned before stepping into line for the airport security checkpoint and smiled sadly at Brent. “I’m going to miss you,” he said. “I’ve forgotten how much fun it is to hang out with you.” “And the sex isn’t bad either,” Brent said with a grin. Charlie nodded and smiled. “Yeah, the sex is pretty fantastic.” He looked at Brent for a moment, his expression serious, then said, “Thanks for all you’ve done for me.” Brent waved him off with embarrassment. “Forget it. You helped me out a lot. You helped in the store, you bowled with us, you helped me break up an illegal animal ring.” Charlie shrugged. “Yeah, but I do that all the time.” They laughed, then Brent nodded over Charlie’s shoulder. “You’d better get a move on. Looks like Billy’s making a bit of a scene.” Charlie turned to see Billy with his arms out and his legs spread, a sly smile on his face as a hunky security guard waved a metal detector over

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his crotch. With a sigh, Charlie turned back and gave Brent a long, strong hug. “Let me know how things go with Inspector Jeannotte.” Brent frowned. “I’m just meeting to give him my statement.” “A second time?” Charlie cocked an eyebrow. Brent shook his head. “He lost the file in the computer. It happens.” “Uh huh,” Charlie said. “You never did explain how you got out of those ropes.” Brent shrugged and stepped back. “They were loose. You’d better hurry so you don’t miss your plane.” Charlie placed on hand on Brent’s chest, smiled once more, then picked up his carryon bags and stepped into the security checkpoint line. Thirty minutes later, Charlie and Billy sat at their gate with their carry-on items strewn around them, their legs stretched out and their eyes closed. They were exhausted. It had been a long few days of police reports, news interviews, the bowling banquet, and now an early flight back to Los Angeles. Charlie figured he would need a short vacation to recover from this one. The flight home was thankfully uneventful and they landed a few minutes early, time they immediately lost as they taxied along the runway at LAX for almost thirty minutes. After wandering through the miles of halls connecting terminals in the airport, Charlie and Billy stumbled toward the doors to find a taxi to take them to the office, Charlie keeping his eyes open for Rock. Wouldn’t it be a coincidence if he and Rock returned home at the same time? They could share a cab to the new offices of Fluffers, Inc., then head back to Rock’s apartment and celebrate their reunion. “He’s not going to swoop in and grab you in his big, brawny arms, you know,” Billy said. “What?” Charlie asked. “Rock Harding,” Billy said. “I know you’re looking for him. You’ve been antsy ever since we landed and you keep looking over your shoulder. If you’re not careful you’re going to get grabbed by some butch military guy and questioned for hours about why you’re acting so nervous.” Billy paused. “Hmm, maybe that’s not such a bad idea.”

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As they approached the exit doors they saw Ming Ho dressed in a crushed velvet, powder blue tuxedo with a ruffled white shirt, blue bow tie and black chauffeur’s hat standing just to the side of the doors yawning, her hands gripping a sign with their names written in black marker. “Oh for Christ’s sake.” Billy dropped his bag before her. “I told you when I left I didn’t want you going through my things. And now look! You show up here to pick us up wearing my favorite tuxedo? You are a real piece of work, you psycho real estate agent from Hell. Hasn’t Ken kicked your ass to the curb yet? How the hell did you find out when our flight landed?” Ming smiled at him. “Ken Carlton ask me to come meet you. He says sorry he cannot be here himself but he is scheduled to fuck the asses of lucky gay men for a new movie.” She ran a hand down the front of the tuxedo jacket. “I unpack your bags and find this. We both same size, Billy Ransom, we can share clothes.” She smiled, then turned and said over her blue velveted shoulder, “Come with me.” Charlie turned to Billy and asked the first question that came to mind. “You own a blue velvet tuxedo?” “Oh fuck off,” Billy snapped as he stomped after Ming. “And I told that bitch not to go through my stuff.” “Wait a minute,” Charlie said as he sprinted to catch up to Billy. “You’re actually staying with Ming?” “Hey, when I left to head up to Vancouver I knew you and I could not stay together when we got back, so I had to find somewhere to stay.” He shrugged as they stepped out into the hazy L.A. sunshine. “And besides, she makes great Italian food.” Charlie shook his head. “You are a real piece of work, Billy.” Billy flashed him a smile. “Thanks.” He turned to find Ming standing by the open passenger door of her battered El Camino. “What? You expect us to cram into that rolling wreck?” “Shut up and get in,” Ming snapped as she tossed their bags in the bed. “Policeman threatened to tow me away until I told him Ken Carlton’s name and he agreed to let me stay. Come on, Kinitia Jones wants to see you.” She climbed into the car first, sliding across the seat to the driver’s side.

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Billy looked at Charlie. “Ken has enough clout to keep the cops at bay?” Charlie shrugged. “It’s a crazy world, Billy. You own a baby blue, velvet tuxedo and live with a straight Asian woman who stalks gay porn stars and sells run-down real estate. Let’s go.” Billy sneered at Charlie, sighed, then slid in first to sit in the middle of the bench seat. Charlie got in himself, slammed the door behind him and leaned back, closing his eyes. He wondered what the old, battered Victorian house they were headed toward looked like now. Bernice had said the place had really begun to take shape, but what kind of shape? In his mind, Charlie envisioned a manicured lawn, blooming garden pathways leading to an immaculate front porch, and a new coat of paint. The interior would be a showcase with gleaming hardwood floors, tasteful paint on the walls, and modern, comfortable furniture. Almost forty-five minutes later, Ming pulled her rattling car up to the curb and braked hard enough to jar both men awake. She smiled at them and said, “Oops! Sorry!” then shouted out instructions to Charlie as he struggled to push open the passenger door so they could all slide out. The hinges finally relented and the door swung open with a shriek that made Charlie and Billy both cry out. They unfolded themselves from the car and stood stretching on the sidewalk. Ming climbed out and shoved the car door closed, then walked past them, leaving them to grab their own bags. “Hey!” Billy called after her. “You’d better have that tux dry cleaned, sister!” He watched her retreating back for a moment, then said louder, “Are we having angel hair for dinner?” Charlie shook his head and turned to pull his bags from the bed of the car. They stepped up to the fence and Billy stopped beside Charlie, dropping the bags to fold his arms and inspect the house with a stern eye. “I can’t believe she went with the clay colored siding,” Billy said. “That’s not the color I chose.” The house stood half sided before them. The first level had been finished with clay colored vinyl siding; the window and door trim done with a bright blue. The boards of the front porch had been torn up, leaving a deep, gaping space covered with two flat boards providing access to the front door like the drawbridge from a King Arthur movie. The junk

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around the house had been carted away and the lawn had been mowed but crabgrass and other hardy weeds still outnumbered the actual grass by a large margin. “This is ‘coming along’?” Charlie asked. “I thought Bernice said it was ‘coming along’?” Billy gave him a look. “You do remember what it looked like before, right?” Charlie nodded, eyes still fixed on the battered building looming before them. “Yeah, but I just thought it would be … I don’t know, nicer than this.” The front door opened a foot and Bernice Tallipepper thrust her head out to squint at them. After Billy waved to her, Bernice’s head disappeared back inside and they winced as she forcefully pulled the front door further open, straining with the effort. She took a breath, wiped her forehead and carefully walked across the planks and down the steps. “Hello boys!” Bernice called as she hurried down the walk. The sound of her excited voice made Charlie smile and spread a warm feeling in his chest. He had not realized how much he had missed Bernice and L.A. until that moment. “Hey, girl!” Billy called and threw his arms open. Bernice wore a bright orange tank top beneath a dusty pair of overalls, the tattoo of thorny vines surrounding the words Born to Ride on her left arm. Her curly, shoulder length brown hair hung in a loose ponytail that stuck out the back of a baseball hat sporting the Four on the Floor studios logo. “Oh, my boys are home!” Bernice grabbed Billy in a hug. “I have missed you boys!” She rocked him back and forth, then turned to Charlie and held him at arm’s length for a moment. “Charlie Heggensford, it’s been much too long.” “Hi Bernice,” Charlie said and hugged her tight. “It’s good to be home.” They walked up the path with Bernice between them, her arms linked in theirs as she talked about the work they had been doing on the new offices. She was excited and, they learned, had been doing a lot of the electrical work herself.

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“Turns out I have a knack for it,” Bernice confided with a girlish giggle. “Go figure, huh? I just have to keep checking the books to make sure it’s all up to code. If my ex-husband Earl could see me now he’d shit twice and puke.” Charlie wondered just what Earl would say if he could see his previously mousy Minnesota housewife these days. He chuckled to himself as he followed Bernice and Billy across the wobbling boards of the porch and entered the house where he stopped and his mouth fell open in shock. The floorboards of the entire first floor save the entrance hall had been pulled up, providing a view down into the basement. Charlie stood on the edge of the entrance hall floor and peered down into the dank, dark basement where the bin of rubber hands he had fallen into used to be, and he shuddered at the memory. Plywood boards had been laid across the exposed support beams to provide pathways across each of the floorless rooms and workmen moved along these paths as they performed various duties. “Farm Boy!” Charlie turned to find Kinitia kneeling halfway up the stairs, her long braids pulled back into a ponytail and a Fluffers, Inc. hat on her head. She had been pulling up rotted boards from the risers and now got to her feet to carefully descend the steps. Her bright smile eased Charlie’s nervousness about returning home and he found himself smiling back. Billy waved to Kinitia, then wandered off along a plywood path to check out the workmen. Bernice tagged along behind him, pulling pliers from her pocket as she headed for a wall outlet she had been installing. Kinitia pulled off her gloves and stood before Charlie with her hands on her hips. She wore a red cotton tank top and faded denim shorts that hugged her round, high butt. As she used the back of her hand to dab sweat from her forehead Charlie noticed that her nails, usually impeccably manicured, were chipped and ragged from her physical labors. “Hey, Charlie,” Kinitia said. “Welcome home.” “Thanks, Kinitia,” Charlie replied. “You look good.” Kinitia held her arms out and smiled. “Baby, I make everything look good.”

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Charlie laughed and hugged her, sighing at the feel of her arms tight around his shoulders. “I missed you, Farm Boy,” Kinitia said. “It’s good to have you back.” “Really?” Charlie pulled back and looked at her. “I would have thought my being gone would have been a nice vacation for you.” Kinitia shrugged. “You make things exciting, Charlie. Come on, I’ll show you around.” As they walked through the partially finished house, Charlie kept his eyes open for Ken Carlton, the senior member of Kinitia’s team of fluffers and his good friend. “Where’s Ken?” he finally asked as they stood in the dismantled and dusty kitchen. Kinitia smiled. “Off filming a movie. He’s becoming quite the star, Charlie. We may lose him for good this time.” “Oh, really? Well, good for Ken.” “Yeah, he deserves it,” Kinitia said. “He’s the Cher of the gay porn world, he just keeps coming back.” Charlie nodded as he looked around the kitchen. “You know, Kinitia, I think the place looks great.” “You’re lying,” Kinitia said, “but thank you.” “What do you mean?” “I know you, Farm Boy, and you can’t lie worth shit.” She folded her arms and cocked her hip. “You thought this place would look forty times better. Well, money’s a little tight and I’ve been pretty busy getting this whole strike business ironed out, but we’re making it happen. Bernice seems to have found her calling as an electrician and there are quite a number of porn actors who come from working class backgrounds and know a trade. And while they were on strike, they could have either joined an escort service, do some straight films, wait tables, or come over here where I paid them pretty well for their work. Speaking of which, I’d better make sure Billy’s behaving himself.” She hugged him again. “Go home and get some sleep. Come in on Monday and we’ll get you back to work.” “Thanks, Kinitia,” Charlie said. “For everything.” “Oh, and you can tell us all about your little adventure in Vancouver on Monday too.” She winked, then turned and left the room. A moment

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later Charlie heard her raising her voice at Billy, screaming at him to get up off his knees and away from the dry waller. Shaking his head, Charlie grabbed his bag and headed out the door to catch the bus back to his apartment. He needed to get home and see what kind of damage Billy had done while staying in his apartment. Thirty minutes later Charlie stepped in his apartment door and gasped. The place was even worse than he had anticipated. Dirty dishes towered unsteadily in the sink, flies buzzing around the food dried on their surfaces. His futon lay flat on the floor, the frame broken and sheets stained with dried come, lube, and what Charlie hoped was chocolate sauce. The bathroom was worse. He dropped his bags in the doorway and crossed through the mess to the answering machine where an LED number 31 flashed up at him. He hit the play button and sighed at the sound of Rock’s voice over long distance phone lines. “Hey there, Charlie, it’s Rock. Guess you’re out partying or something. Just wanted to call and touch base, it’s been awhile since I’ve talked with you and I was just … well, I was just missing you, that’s all. Did you enjoy the present I sent you? I hope he met with your approval. Anyway, take care. Don’t know when I’ll be home but I’m hoping it’s soon. Barty keeps adding dates to my tour over here; he says it’s helping sell my movies so I guess I can’t complain. Hope to talk with you soon. I miss you. Bye, Farm Boy.” Charlie sat on his broken futon and listened to the rest of the messages, the majority of them from Rock and a couple from his mother back home in Idaho. The last was a message from Brent hoping he had made it home safely and to let him know that Endora seemed to be missing him. Charlie chuckled at Brent’s message and leaned back only to jerk his hand away as his fingers touched something hard and crunchy on the sheets. The machine clicked off and Charlie sat for a moment, thinking about Rock so far away. Now that he was home he found himself missing the man even more. How long could a porn star do public appearances over in The Netherlands? Wasn’t there some kind of limit on things like that? Some porn work visa expiration date?

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He made himself stand and got to work cleaning up, cursing Billy Ransom as he scrubbed and mopped. He soaked the dishes, put fresh sheets on the futon and used some bricks he found in the hallway to prop up the broken frame. After opening the windows to air out the apartment, he leaned on the sill and took a deep breath, ignoring the smog and concentrating on the tinge of salt water he could detect in the air, then turned, stopping for a moment as sunlight reflected off the Hummer award he had won almost a year ago. But something about it was different. He frowned and stepped forward to inspect the phallic shaped award more closely, making a face at the suspicious substances staining the dull, streaked surface. Using two fingers, he picked the award up at the base and took it to the sink where he scrubbed it in steaming hot water. As he cleaned the Hummer award, Charlie decided he did not want to know if Billy had used it for a dildo during one of his obviously many sexual escapades. A few hours later, Charlie was ready to collapse when someone in the street below began honking and calling out his name. Charlie leaned out his window and looked down three stories at Ken Carlton standing beside his red VW Beetle. The man waved and asked, “Hey, Charlie! Welcome back! What to go out to dinner and hit a few clubs?” Charlie shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m trying to repair the damages Billy left behind.” “It’s not that bad!” Billy’s muted voice called and his head popped out the passenger side window. “You’re exaggerating.” “You broke my bed and used my Hummer award as a dildo!” Billy disappeared back into the car as Ken laughed. “Thanks for the invite, but I’d rather stay in,” Charlie said. “I’ve got to recover from Vancouver. You guys have fun.” “Oh, come on, Charlie from Idaho!” Ming called from the backseat of the car. “Come out and have fun! We go to bathhouse and Ken fuck men up their asses while I watch! Right Ken Carlton?” Ken shook his head and waved to Charlie, then got back in the car and drove off, honking as he pulled away. Charlie remained leaning on the windowsill for a few minutes, enjoying the feel of the sun on his face and the breeze in his hair. He leaned a little further out and looked at the tiny

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slice of ocean he could just make out between buildings. As he was about to duck inside and get back to work, a black Lincoln Navigator purred quietly up to the curb below and his breath stopped. Could it be? A tall, handsome man stepped out of the large SUV and turned to look up at Charlie’s window. Their eyes met and Charlie’s heart fluttered at the sight of Rock Harding’s handsome, chiseled features, square jaw, and dark eyes. “Hi there,” Rock called up with a smile. “What light through yon window breaks? Tis the east and Charlie is the sun.” Charlie blushed. “Rock Harding, Rock Harding, wherefore art thou, Rock Harding?” They laughed. “Care for some company?” Charlie nodded. “Just be warned: I didn’t leave my apartment in this condition. This is Billy’s fault.” Charlie ran across the room to buzz Rock into the building, then jumped into the bathroom and let out a distressed cry at the sight of his reflection. Sweat plastered his hair to his head, rubber gloves covered his hands, and an old pair of flip-flops protected his feet. He was sweaty and dirty from cleaning. He wore his oldest pair of sweat shorts, no shirt, and had a large zit coming up on his temple. “Fuck!” Charlie gasped at the sight of the zit. “Why now?” A knock sounded on the hall door and Charlie jumped. “Good God, he ran up the stairs.” He eased out the bathroom door and twisted the doorknob to open the hall door, then ducked back into the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. “Hey,” Rock called. “Where are you?” “I’ll be right out!” Charlie said. “Careful if you sit on the futon, Billy busted the frame.” “Okay. Holy shit, you weren’t kidding about the apartment, huh?” Rock said. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been in your apartment before.” Charlie sighed and put his head in his hands. Of course not. “Oh yeah, that’s right. Imagine that. Well … welcome!” He began washing up with a washcloth and tried to get his hair to lie down and his zit to disappear.

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“Um, you’ve got some really bad looking lettuce in your fridge,” Rock called. “I’m talkin’ gang banger salad fixin’s.” Charlie laughed. “Oh, I haven’t gotten to that yet. Leave the door shut and step away from the refrigerator.” He took a few more minutes to prep himself, then kicked off his flipflops, adjusted his cock and balls inside his sweat shorts, and eased the bathroom door open. Rock lay stretched out on the futon, his muscular arms behind his head, a smile on his face, and all his clothes in a pile on the floor beside him. His cock stood half erect and listing to the left, his smoothly shaved balls puddled on his thighs. “You’re so beautiful.” “So are you.” Rock’s smile widened. “Welcome home, Charlie Heggensford.” “I was just in Vancouver! Welcome home to you, Mr. World Traveler.” Charlie flinched at his lame response before crossing the small apartment to stretch out on the futon beside Rock. The bed held a moment before it collapsed to the floor with a thump, rattling them into laughter. Rolling to his side, Rock propped his head on his hand and looked Charlie in the eye. He moved his free hand behind Charlie’s head and pulled him in for a slow, sensual kiss that stole Charlie’s breath and left him panting. “Oh, wow.” “I really missed you, Charlie.” “Are you really here? Are you really back from Europe?” Charlie kissed him again. “It is you, isn’t it?” “All of me,” Rock said and guided Charlie’s hand down to his hardening cock. “And I’ve missed you a lot.” They kissed for a long time, Rock’s tongue encircling Charlie’s and caressing his mouth. Rock slipped his fingers beneath the waistband of Charlie’s shorts and slid them down his legs, then rolled on his back and pulled him, warm and naked, on top. Charlie’s hard-on ground against Rock’s erection and both men groaned as they kissed. The two-day stubble on Rock’s jaw scratched at Charlie’s face and sent waves of gooseflesh over his body.

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“Oh, man,” Charlie gasped, coming up for air. “I’ve forgotten how big your cock is.” “It’s been aching for you, Charlie,” Rock said. “I missed my favorite fluffer.” Charlie smiled and moved slowly down Rock’s body, kissing and sucking his nipples through the even mat of his chest hair until they were hard brown nubs. Sliding lower, Charlie grabbed each nipple with his fingers to twist and tug them as he dipped his tongue into the hollow of Rock’s navel and tasted the man’s sweat. He moved lower still, around the line the nine-inch dick that jutted up over Rock’s belly from the trim patch of dark pubic hair and on down to the V of Rock’s muscular legs. Coaxing Rock’s legs up off the mattress, Charlie tasted his balls, sucking and licking them. He breathed in the smell of Rock’s musky sweat and the mild citrus scent he wore, the familiar smell punching into Charlie’s brain and making him dizzy with happiness. Rock had come home. Charlie sucked Rock’s balls, caressing each soft, warm globe with his tongue as he gripped the back of Rock’s thighs and held the man’s strong legs aloft. Releasing the balls from his mouth, Charlie slowly ran his tongue over the smooth skin of Rock’s perineum and down to his equally smooth sphincter. The tender muscle twitched beneath the tip of his tongue and he moved his hands lower to spread Rock’s hairy ass cheeks wide. Rock’s pink anus glistened with Charlie’s spit, inviting him down for another sample and Charlie drove his tongue deep into Rock’s hole, twisting it back and forth and lapping at the now throbbing muscle. “Oh Charlie,” Rock sighed with his eyes closed. “That feels so damn good.” Charlie spit into Rock’s asshole and inserted his thumb, crooking it at the knuckle and spinning it slowly inside him. Rock groaned and bumped his hips up off the mattress as Charlie sucked on the hot skin of his perineum and reached up to stroke the man’s dick. Pre-come dripped off the head of Charlie’s cock in long strands and pooled on the fresh sheets.

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Raising his head, Charlie lifted Rock’s dick from his flat, hairy belly and swallowed all nine inches at once. He kept his thumb plugged deep in Rock’s asshole and finger fucked the man as he sucked his cock. “Oh fuck!” Rock gasped and raised his head to look down. “Oh God, Charlie. I’ve missed your hot fucking mouth so much.” Charlie slowed his pace, then sped up again, changing his rhythm as he worked the whole shaft then just the bulging head of Rock’s dick. As Charlie sucked and finger fucked him, Rock reached down to grab hold of Charlie’s hard, oozing cock and stroked him in time. Almost at the edge of orgasm, Charlie pulled his dick out of Rock’s hand and backed off sucking his cock. He closed his eyes and got himself back under control, then grinned up at Rock’s inquisitive look. “I don’t want to come too soon.” Rock smiled at him and pulled him in for a deep kiss, tasting his own sweat and pre-come on Charlie’s tongue. He rolled Charlie over onto his back, then abruptly stood up to pad across the room where he opened the small freezer and pulled out a popsicle, tearing off the paper wrapper as he moved back to the bed. “Now it’s your turn,” Rock said with a smile. “I saw this in a club in Amsterdam and bought some popsicles on the way here. I hope you like grape.” He kissed Charlie on the mouth and lightly touched the cold tip of the popsicle to his nipples, making him gasp. Rock moved his mouth to Charlie’s nipples, sucking the sticky popsicle juice from each one, then moved the popsicle lower. Charlie gasped and groaned as Rock trailed the popsicle around and over his cock and balls. Rock moved his tongue across Charlie’s chest and dipped down into his sweaty armpit, licking through the damp hair as he touched the popsicle to Charlie’s nipples once again. He slid his tongue down Charlie’s side, and then moved up to suck at his navel. The popsicle dipped into Charlie’s belly button and he gasped again, then laughed nervously. “That’s cold,” Charlie said. “Oh, is it?” Rock replied with a smile. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.” He ran his tongue over the glistening head of Charlie’s dick, licking up pre-come and popsicle juice, then moved down along the hot, salty shaft. At the area where Charlie’s cock connected to his balls, Rock

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stopped to suck hard on the sensitive skin. Charlie squirmed and writhed beneath him, his twitching cock leaving trails of pre-come in the hair on his belly. “Oh fuck!” Charlie groaned. “That feels really good.” Rock sucked at the spot a moment longer before taking Charlie’s dick in his mouth. He slowly sucked the cock down into his throat, cleaning the head of pre-come and pressing his lips around the shaft. As he sucked Charlie’s prick, Rock slid the swiftly melting popsicle up and down Charlie’s perineum. Charlie put a hand on the back of Rock’s head and pumped his hips, rising up to thrust his cock deep into Rock’s throat as the man teased his perineum with the popsicle. Rock slowed his sucking and took Charlie’s dick from his mouth, stroking it hard and fast in his tightly clenched fist. Charlie sucked in his breath and turned his head side to side on the pillow as Rock’s fist pounded along his cock. Slowing his hand, Rock lifted Charlie’s legs in the air and sucked on the popsicle for a moment. He slowly pulled it from between his lips and lowered his cold tongue to flick it gently over Charlie’s anus. Charlie moaned and reached down to pull his ass cheeks apart, exposing his sphincter and popping the muscle open. Rock touched the popsicle to Charlie’s hole, moving it slowly around the outer rim of his anus and Charlie gasped and groaned at the sensation. On each revolution around Charlie’s hole, Rock stopped to dip the tip of the popsicle quickly into the hot, dark center then pull it back out. Finally, after several repetitions of quick dipping, Rock slid the popsicle halfway into Charlie’s anus. “Oh fuck!” Charlie said. The cold sent shivers up his spine and numbed his sensitive sphincter. As the popsicle slid deeper, Charlie felt it start to melt away and the sticky juice flowed out of his hole and over Rock’s tongue. “Oh, God,” Charlie shuddered. “That’s so fucking cold it’s hot!” They laughed and Rock turned his back, moving so he straddled Charlie’s face and dropped his smooth, hot hole over Charlie’s mouth. As Charlie licked and sucked Rock’s anus, Rock pulled Charlie’s legs up to plant his mouth firmly over the cool, sticky asshole. The popsicle melted to a nub that Rock tossed out the window with a flick of his wrist and the

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two men rimmed each other for several minutes, Rock’s thick, hard cock throbbing where it lay along Charlie’s chest. After some time Rock got up and pulled a condom from his pants pocket, tearing the wrapper open with his teeth. As Rock rolled the condom over his dick, Charlie opened a nearby drawer and produced a nearly empty bottle of lube. He eyed the level of fluid and shook his head. “Billy Ransom owes me a new bottle of lube, that little slut.” Charlie stood up and kissed Rock on the mouth as he handed him the bottle. He turned his back to the man and, keeping one foot on the floor, lifted his left leg to plant his other foot on the windowsill. Rock reached down and spread the slick lube around and into Charlie’s cool, sticky asshole. His fingers slipped deep into Charlie and with each penetration Charlie groaned. Rock placed his hands on Charlie’s shoulders and, with a slow, easy motion, touched the tip of his cock to the slick surface of Charlie’s anus then pushed up into him. “Oh yeah,” Charlie said, closing his eyes as the familiar cock slid into him. “Oh, God, you’re so fucking big.” Rock leaned forward to kiss the bumps of Charlie’s spine as he pressed deeper into him. When he was halfway inserted, Rock eased his cock out and then moved in again, piercing Charlie with his entire length. Rock remained completely embedded within Charlie, his hands massaging Charlie’s back and hips, then he began to thrust with slow even movements. Rock’s hips gradually picked up speed and he gripped Charlie just above the pelvis, his fingers holding tight as he pounded away. Charlie leaned down, his foot still elevated on the windowsill, and watched Rock’s big, bull balls swing back and forth. He listened to the slap of sweaty skin and reached up to fondle the loose sac of Rock’s testicles. “Oh, God,” Rock groaned. “Yeah, baby, play with my balls.” Charlie straightened up, halting Rock’s motion, and slid himself off the man’s rigid flesh. With a smile, Charlie reached into the drawer that held his lube to pull out a long, thick dildo. He held it up for Rock to see and smiled. “Oh yeah,” Rock said with a smile. “I like the way you think.”

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Charlie nodded. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.” He sniffed it warily. “I don’t think Billy used it. He must not have seen it under the come towels.” Charlie lay on his back on the mattress and placed the dildo on its base between his legs. “Here, we can put the base on the mattress and you can fuck me and yourself at the same time.” “You’ve been working porn sets way too long,” Rock said with a grin and spread lube over the latex cock, then applied fresh lube to his own condom-covered cock and knelt between Charlie’s raised legs. He entered Charlie slowly and, when his pubic bush brushed up against Charlie’s balls, Rock reached back to position the dildo against his own asshole. He lowered his hips and impaled himself on the latex cock, closing his eyes and groaning as the wide, thick head burrowed deep into him. “Oh God,” Rock said. “That feels so good.” Rock sat for a moment with the dildo in his ass and his own cock deep inside Charlie before he began to rock back and forth. His rhythm increased and soon he was fucking Charlie and himself as sweat ran down his hairy chest. Rock grabbed Charlie’s ankles and spread his legs open, staring intensely into his eyes as he fucked him. “Oh, I’m coming,” Charlie said. “Fuck me faster! Oh yeah, get that ass. Oh!” Charlie stroked himself to climax, his load shooting up onto his chest and belly. Rock stared at the thick puddles of come on Charlie’s torso and licked his lips as sweat streamed down his face. “Oh yeah.” Rock closed his eyes. “I’m going to come. Fuck me, I’m coming. Oh yeah!” Rock reached back to push the dildo deep into his asshole as he jammed his dick into Charlie’s ass and held it there, shooting his wad into the tip of the condom. When he had finished and caught his breath, he slowly eased his cock out of Charlie’s stretched and reddened hole, then pulled the dildo out of his own well-fucked ass. “That was fantastic.” Charlie gave Rock a lazy smile. “God, I’m glad you’re home.” Rock peeled the condom from his dick and dropped it in the trash before grabbing some soft towels for them to clean up. Afterward, he stretched out beside Charlie and pulled him into his arms, kissing him and stroking his cheek.

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“I’m glad to be home, too,” Rock said. He settled back on the pillow and closed his eyes. “God, what a long flight.” Charlie lay beside Rock and looked at the man’s handsome face: the strong jaw, Roman nose, smooth forehead, and two-day stubble of beard. He sighed, nestling deeper into the hollow of Rock’s armpit and shoulder. His tired cock twitched with contentment. A few minutes later the telephone rang, loud in the silent apartment, and they both jumped. Rock looked at him and Charlie shook his head. “Let the machine get it.” The answering machine clicked on and the beep sounded. “Billy!” a man’s voice shouted over the line. “I know you’re there, Billy! Pick up the phone! I love you! I can’t stop thinking about you. I need to see you. Pick up the phone or I’ll keep calling back until you answer. I will, I swear. I have to see you. Please!” The man paused and they could hear heavy breathing. “Oh, this is George. Call me.” George hung up, and a moment later the phone rang again. Charlie groaned and reached over Rock’s chest to disconnect the cord from the wall jack, silencing the phone in mid-ring. Settling back into Rock’s arms as the man chuckled, Charlie sighed and tried not to grind his teeth. “Billy Ransom is a dead man,” Charlie muttered. Rock hugged him close. “So how was your trip to Vancouver? Anything exciting happen?” Charlie looked at Rock for a moment, then burst out laughing. He couldn’t help himself. The End

About the Author Hank Edwards’ other Charlie Heggensford novels, Fluffers, Inc. and the sequel, A Carnal Cruise, are both available from Lethe Press in print and e-book formats. Charlie Heggensford also appears in the short story “Charlie Does the Big Top,” which can be found in the erotic circus themed anthology Tented, available from Lethe Press. His novella, Holed Up, and novel Destiny’s Bastard, are available from Loose Id in e-book formats. More than three dozen of his stories have appeared in various gay erotic magazines and anthologies over the years, and you can visit his website to learn more at www.hankedwardsbooks.com. He currently lives in a suburb of Detroit with his very patient partner of many years and their two cats where he is currently at work on another wild Charlie Heggensford adventure.

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