Page 7 of Gay for Pay
“Wait.” Chris snapped his fingers, remembering where it was he knew Dusty from. “Club Berlin, right? You were dancing in one of the cages, I think.”
Dusty turned back to him, a gleam in his eyes. “You’ve been to Club Berlin? Are you sure he’s straight, Vic?”
Victor sighed. “You just be leaving the new guy alone.”
Dusty blew Chris a kiss, winked, and ducked out of the way when Andrew reached for him, laughing as he shot up the steps and into the house. Victor stopped on the bottom step, looking over his shoulder and beckoning Chris to follow. “Come, come, you meet others.”
Just inside the screened-in porch that held a variety of wicker lawn furniture, a fire pit, and a flat-screen TV was an enormous kitchen with two refrigerators and a very large, scary-looking stove. A long marble-topped island stretched across the middle of the kitchen and what could only be described as the biggest dining room table he’d ever seen, with twelve chairs around it, was off to the far side of the room.
“My goodness, just look at those muscles and all that ink.” The petite blond, Gabe, stood beside him, leaning against the kitchen island, a beer in each hand.
Chris took the one Gabe offered. “Thanks.” They clinked their bottles before taking swigs. “Delicious, that hits the spot.”
“So, what name are you going to use? On-screen.” Gabe asked.
“My name, but with a ‘K’ instead of the ‘Ch.’” Andrew set a plate of cheese and crackers on the island, calling out to the guys in the den to come have a snack. Chris reached over Gabe and grabbed a couple of pieces of cheese, tossing them into his mouth.
Dusty leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. “Gabe, grab me some of everything and throw it on a plate, would ya?”
Gabe rolled his light-blue eyes, doing as he was asked, bowing at the waist when he handed the plate to Dusty. “Your snacks, your hein-ass.”
The broody sulking one, Kory, snorted and turned away from Chris and Gabe. “So, quick introductions here.” Gabe hopped up to sit on the corner of the counter. “I go by Gorgeous Gabe, Dusty goes by Ashton, and Captain Cranky over there goes by Hayden Cox.” Gabe waved Kory away when he flipped him off. Chris thought the nickname was perfect for the guy—he was definitely cranky, or a jackass, probably both.
Captain Cranky stood and moved past Chris, brushing his shoulder. He loaded a paper plate with food, grabbed another beer, and went into the den, glaring at Chris as he turned the corner. “Wow, he really doesn’t like me, does he?” Chris chuckled.
“You’ll get used to it.” Gabe shrugged.
Feeling a little overwhelmed, Chris stayed close to the back door, in case he needed to make a run for it, and talked mostly to Gabe and Dusty. He asked about the house, how many guys stayed there, and if there was anything expected of them in return.
“No, man. Vic, Andrew, and Mattie only ask that we respect them and the house when we’re here. And no drugs, period. They pay for all our tests that are required if you work in the industry, which includes drug testing.” Dusty popped a couple of grapes into his mouth. Honestly, Chris had expected as much; the three men that ran All Cocks seemed genuine and honest, so it made sense that they only asked for the same in return.
The back door slammed shut again, but instead of being startled, Chris simply turned to see who it was. Already he was associating the creak and bang with the insane posse that dwelled within the home. Two more guys came running in wearing swim trunks, towels wrapped around their necks, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the wood-tiled floor. Andrew barked at them. “Boys, really? I’ve told you umpteen times to dry offbeforeyou come inside!” It was obvious Andrew’s bark was far worse than his bite, judging by the motherly tone in his voice and the fact that he smiled somewhat adoringly at the two guys who blushed at their mutual berating.
Everyone in the house laughed when one of the wet ones said, “Yes, Mother!” in response to Andrew’s ranting.
More introductions were made, and Chris swore he’d have a migraine trying to remember who everyone was in the end. But one name caught his attention: Jordan. That was the straight model for All Cocks that Victor told Chris he was going to partner him with to learn the ins and outs of the industry. Chris was about to ask, just to make sure, but Jordan beat him to it.
“I’m going to assume you’re Chris since I know all these other knuckleheads.” Jordan grinned, shaking Chris’s hand. “Victor called me earlier and filled me in a little on your situation, said he wanted me to be available for any questions you might have. So, maybe after dinner we can talk?” Jordan smiled, and it was a grin that was all white teeth framed by a Grizzly Adams beard.
“Yeah, I’d appreciate that. I think I’m a little out of my element here,” Chris joked.
Jordan clapped him on the back. “Follow me.” Grizzly Adams grabbed a couple of beers from the cooler, handing one to Chris and motioning toward the rear door. Chris smiled awkwardly at the other guy, who was still dripping on the tile as he passed by, following Jordan out to the porch.
Chapter Seven
Eye Candy
“Honest Abe!” Kory shouted. Linc ignored him, watching the newest member of their odd little family walk out onto the porch with Jordan. Kory was drunk; he could tell by the tone of his voice. Linc was too busy watching the new kid on the block at the moment to deal with Kory’s usual antics. My God, but the man was beautiful. Linc leaned against the couch and pretended to be interested in the conversation going on around him when in actuality, he was soaking in every square inch of Chris’s stunning physique.
Jordan and Chris could easily pass for brothers—both were tall, dark, and handsome with varying shades of auburn hair. Hell, they were built like offensive linemen, with broad shoulders, thick-muscled arms, and all kinds of ink. Linc couldn’t help but think about those arms pinning him down to the bed while the man fucked him into the mattress. Not wanting to be caught ogling the newbie, he turned and braced his hands on the back of the couch so he could look around and see if anyone had caught on to the fact that he was watching Chris. The last thing he needed, or wanted, was for Kory to see and start ribbing him. It wasn’t enough that he’d fucked Linc’s boyfriend—for months, he’d learned after the fact when he’d confronted Lance. No, Kory had to make sure to throw a snide comment and contemptuous glare in his direction anytime they were in the same room.
Confident no one was paying him any attention, Linc’s gaze quickly averted to Chris once again. He wore a plain white T-shirt—not a wife-beater, thank fuck—with khaki shorts and Converse sneakers. The colorful ink that wrapped around his arm disappeared beneath the sleeve and Linc wondered how the design ended, what exactly it was. Ink popped out at the collar of his shirt, and the hem of his shorts as well. Christ almighty, he wanted to see Chris naked in the worst kind of way. He was so enthralled by the view on the porch that he didn’t hear Victor step up behind him, and he jumped when Victor touched his shoulder. “Shit, scare ten years off a guy’s life, would ya!”
“I did not mean to interrupt.” Victor gave him a sad smile. “He and Jordan could be brothers, could they not?” Linc smiled and was about to agree with Victor when he caught the seriousness in Victor’s eyes. “They arevery muchalike, Lincoln.”Well, hell.Linc sighed. Victor was telling him that Chris was straight.
“Got it,” he choked out. Victor squeezed his shoulder before turning and walking over to where Andrew stood at the counter, cutting up some carrots for a salad. Linc gave Chris one last look and sighed, deciding to help get dinner ready to keep his eyes and mind off the hot-as-hell new, straight, gay for pay, model at All Cocks.
When Chris followed Jordan into the house a little while later, Linc couldn’t help stealing a quick glance here and there at him across the table. He seemed nice enough, well-spoken, well-mannered, but there was a hollow look to his eyes, even when the man smiled. Linc recognized that pain; it was the deep-seated pain of loss. Thankfully Chris was engrossed in the conversation he was having with Jordan and Dusty and was oblivious to Linc’s eyes on him throughout the entire meal.
