Page 16 of Dark Passion

I touched Charlie on the shoulder, and he turned taking the man’s hand with him. His eyes opened wide. “What are you doing here, Daniel?”

“Looking for you. I’m your savior, remember.”

“What is he talking about Charlie?” I glared at the man who had to be my age, and I couldn’t think of anything to say, but Charlie did.

“He’s my father and I have to go.” Charlie pulled the dude’s hand from his pants, and zipped up. I followed Charlie, stood back as he cleaned up, only turning my head to glance at the dude, who appeared to be out for a one-night stand.

Charlie wanted that too, but I was the guy’s age and I understood Charlie’s desires, and I knew he’d picked the wrong man. This man wanted a quickie, but Charlie needed much more. And when he’d got around to telling him, this guy would have no part of it, and maybe hurt him in the meantime.

When I cruised the clubs, a quickie wouldn’t do. A pull and a suck of my cock or the dude I’d met for a one-night stand, and I’d go to his place, or he’d go to mine, where I’d lie there frustrated after sucking and fucking all night. I’d still needed more, and when I got the nerve to tell the faceless dude what I really wanted was for him to tie me up, squeeze my balls, bite me and fuck me, whip me, he had bolted for the door, and passed around to anyone who would listen and dared ask me out that I was a weirdo.

Weirdo was when no one on earth was like you. Well, there were others. More than I knew about. He had me thinking that I was weird, until I crossed paths with Julian, and I discovered there were many more like me.

“Charlie, you should go to bed.” He reached for my hand. “Come back and sleep with me. I need—”

“You don’t need anything but a little understanding, Charlie. Perhaps to see a therapist.” Men were passing and looking at us as we talked, and the music was too loud to have a conversation in that club. “Come on, Charlie,” I said. “Let’s go back to Caesars where you can get some rest. If you trust me, then you should go home before your face is all on the news tomorrow, and that boyfriend of yours sells your story to THM.”

“But I—”

“That two-hour drive you must have told him your life story about your dad and who knows what. You’re a star, and guys and girls look up to you. Girls are lining up to get your attention.” I placed my hand on his shoulder and led Charlie through the thong of dancing bodies and outside where cabs were lined up waiting for a fare.

“Daniel. I don’t want girls.”

“I know, but for the sake of your career, you have to be someone else. You know you will have a short career if you keep this up, especially since you haven’t found the person who will give you what you need sexually and mentally. For your own sake, Charlie, listen to me.”

“Iamlistening. I know what you’re telling me is the truth. You saved me once, and I know the truth when I hear it. I might be a fucked-up arrogant little prick, but that’s only when I’m not working. And when I don’t have something to do, I get into all kinds of trouble.”

Then someone had to keep this boy working.

“If you don’t go back and honor your contract, the movie producers will blackball you, and my partner will give up a job he’s wanted all his life, because he doesn’t like dealing with someone like you. He doesn’t understand you, but I do.” Charlie stopped and placed his head on my chest. I glanced down at him, knowing he needed something, and perhaps that something was a father figure. I held him around his waist. “My life depends on you making the right decisions now, Charlie.” I opened the door to the cab, gave the driver directions to take us back to Caesars. Once the cab was headed back to the Boardwalk and to Caesars, I said, “Do you understand, Charlie? You have to get back to Manhattan, because I can’t stay here to look after you.”

“Why not, Daniel? I can pay you to take care of me. I like you Daniel.” I raised an eyebrow. “Not like that. I know you thought I was coming on to you, but I was looking for something and someone, but you made me understand that you were just trying to help me. See, I’m not as dumb as I pretend.”

No, he wasn’t, and I never thought he was dumb, just mixed up as many young men were at that age.

As we neared the casino, I informed Charlie, “I will be in the restaurant having breakfast if you need a ride. There’s a friend of mine who will take us back to New York. If you’re going back with me, be there about 9 a.m. ready to go. Leave your boyfriend, because he’s not welcome.”

Charlie stepped out of the cab after we argued over who would pay the fare, and he won because this had been a very expensive trip.

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