The things you find on Craigslist.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.”
“Do?”
“Yep. Hand me that towel, sugar.”
Brazos does. When Daughtry stands up, Brazos adverts his eyes.
“You’re shy for a prostitute.”
“I don’t know if I’d call myself that. Very few men seeking my flesh come through this railroad town. I mostly just help out with the hotel. Laundry. Being an attendant to the boarders. Working off rent, mostly.”
“Where’s your family?” Daughtry asks as he dries off.
“Dead. Influenza got mama and papa, and baby Jodie. I got an older brother somewhere in Boston, in jail. That’s why my family came out West, to get away from the shame of having a scoundrel for a son.”
“Unfortunate turn of events.”
Brazos nods.
“You want to go back East?”
“No. I like it out here in California. Suites me. I meet all kinds. Gold diggers, surveyors, businessmen, cowboys, Indians, Mexicans…” Brazos pauses. “Criminals.”
Daughtry chuckles. “Criminals huh?”
“Your wanted posters got washed off in the last big storm,” Brazos revealed.
Daughtry laughed. “You got me pinned.”
“Did you do what the posters said?”
Daughtry draped the towel over the bed and picked up a block of beeswax to rub into his skin. “What’d they say?”
“You murdered folk. Stole from a bank.”
Daughtry didn’t answer right away. “If I murdered someone, it’s cause they were trying to kill me first. You shoot, you put your life on the line. And I did rob that bank. Gave it to an orphanage.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Ok, I gave half to an orphanage.”
“Are you dressed? Cause I want to shoot you a look of disbelief.”
Daughtry laughed again. He reached for his pants. “I like you. Come with me.”
“Come with you where…?”
“The next robbery. Land baron west of here stole a bunch of land from the Indians. They want it back. So we’re going to go get back it, by holding his operation hostage. It’s very clever. I’m pretty proud of the plan I got.”
“Is that what you were ponderin’ in the bathtub?”
“Indeed it was.” Daughtry said.
Brazos thought. “I’ll think about it.”
“Fine by me. You know, my mood has lifted a bit, and I don’t see the point in putting my clothes on. Get here on the bed. I haven’t had good release for a while.”
“R-really?”
“Yep.” Daughtry took a coin out of his shoot and put it in Brazos’s hand. “That’s enough isn’t it?”
“…This is my week’s wage. You can last a week?”
Daughtry guffawed. “I like you. And I could probably last a week. But injustice has occurred, so I must press on.”
Brazos considered the coin. “Well, I must make sure you’re prepared for the journey.”
“You’re not gonna come with me?”
“Depends how you are in bed.”
Daughtry grinned. “Get over here, I’m going to ravish you.” He picked up Brazos and dumped him on the bed. When Brazos got the full view of Daughtry up close he nearly gasped. “My lord Jesus.”
“What?” Daughtry asked.
“You’re just..um… a nice looking criminal, Mr. Daughtry. And endowed. I don’t think I can take you, cowboy.”
“Well, we have a whole bar of beeswax. It’ll fit.”
Brazos couldn’t think of a thing to say, as Daughtry looked so cocky and sure of himself. Daughtry was also already undoing his pants. There was something thrilling about getting into bed with a criminal. Isn’t that what we people came out West for? Adventure? Thrills? No rules, just living. Brazos thought that maybe he should join Daughtry. Maybe being a criminal was just carrying on the family tradition…
Daughtry started to kiss his neck and rub his swelling cock against his hip, and Brazos decided any rational decision making could come later. It had been a such a long time since a man came through that sought his flesh after all.
___________________________________________
Captions are fictional. This takes place the “cowboy” era of the mid/late 20th century in the Western US.
“I don’t want to. I’m not going.”
I put my hands on my hips. “What’s gotten into you? You love these parties. You make good money.”
“I know…”
“The men are expecting you, you’ve become a favorite, you know that.”
Miguel huffs. “You’re buttering me up.”
“It’s the truth. You drive them all crazy.”
“Someone else can drive them crazy. Send Lou or someone.” Miguel is trying to sound as tough as he can, but with his lispy Guatemalan accent he just sounds adorably petulant.
“Lou is already going. What’s going on sweetheart? I know you don’t actually want to miss working a party, tell me what’s really going on.” I sit my bulk down on the ottoman and rest my arms on my thighs.
Miguel sighs and looks away. “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. Or get mad. Or won’t take it seriously.”
“Miguel.” I say sternly. “The safety and health of my boys is the most important thing. I don’t train you to be thrown to the dogs. If there’s a problem with the clientele, I need to know. If you think you can’t talk to me, that kind of worries me actually. Have I been so harsh?”
“No no…not harsh. It’s just.” Miguel gestures with his hand.
“Just what?”
“It’s your brother,” Miguel says softly.
I sit up. “Dominic? This is about Dominic?”
“Yeah,” Miguel won’t meet my gaze.
I furrow my brow. Dominic’s my twin and my best friend. “What’s going on with Dominic?”
“He’s…well, he’s just…kind of creepy,” Miguel admits. “He doesn’t respect boundaries. He stuck a finger in me last week after I told him to keep his hands off my ass.”
“Dominic did that? MY Dominic?”
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me.” Miguel starts to stand up.
I grab his thigh with my large hand and force him back in the chair. “Sit down.”
“Yes sir,” Miguel squeaks.
“What else?”
“He drinks too much, and just gets like…handsy. When we are trying to take a break to the side, he always finds one of us and tries to like feel us up. Or get us to blow him. We’re a little worried one day he’s gonna want something and not stop when we say no. He already tried to get Nick to go to a hotel with him, off the books, last week.”
I can scarcely believe the words coming out of Miguel’s mouth. It sends a barb through my heart, and my instinct is to defend my brother and believe him over a runaway-turned-escort. But Miguel has no reason to lie, and if he’s jeopardizing his income I should believe him. Boy has expensive taste.
“Say something,” Miguel pleads.
“This is …a lot to hear.”
“I’m sorry, Sir. You should talk to Nick. And Lou.”
“I’m going to. And don’t apologize. I’ll tell Dominic not to come tonight until I’ve talked to everyone.”
Miguel looks relieved. “Thank you, Sir.”
“How long has this been going on for?”
“He was always handsy while drunk, but in the last two months it’s gotten worse.”
I look Miguel in the eyes. “I’m so sorry you thought you couldn’t talk to me. Come here, you want a hug?”
“Yes,” he admits.
We stand up and share an embrace. I sit on the chair and pull him into my lap. He’s perfectly warm and smells like strawberries. “No other problems?”
Miguel nuzzles me. “Except for Lou sucking at karaoke? No. Mr. Callibro’s cologne always makes me sneeze though.”
I chuckle. “I can’t stand it either.”
“Ha! Maybe I need to get him better cologne.”
“That’s the thinking of a good escort.”
Miguel smiles. “I should go get ready.”
I give him another barrel hug from the back. “Ok. I’m good. Go on now. We leave at 8.”
“Yes Sir.”
I push Miguel up and give his butt a swat as he leaves. Miguel shoots me a coy look over his shoulder on the way out. Yep, that’s the look that drives all the men crazy. I sit in the chair for a moment and digest what he’s told me. The shock is burning away to anger. Now I have to call my brother and break the news to him he can’t come tonight. Probably for the best, as I’d punch him if I saw him in person right now.
I get up with a groan to go talk to Nick. I love my brother, but god help anyone who hurts my boys.
_______________________
Captions are fictional.
“Sweetheat, don’t eat sand. Jemmy – Jemmy, don’t feed your brother sand. Don’t put sand in his pants! What? I suppose if you buried him in sand he’d get sand in there, so don’t bury him in sand. Please play nicely. Make some castles with moats.” Keagen exhales and we exchange a look.
I smile. “They keep trying to kill themselves.”
Keagen snorts. “They do. Hard to relax.”
“I’m watching them too, love. You do need to relax. Do what I’m doing.”
“And what is that?”
“Staring at something nice to look at it.”
Keagen realizes what I mean and smirks. “I’m still the hot stud at the beach?”
“Hot as hell, baby.”
“Well, that’s a relief. It’s hard to find time to eat and work out with these two. I’m worried about my body. Honestly I almost didn’t wear this Speedo out here. Maybe it’s not a ‘dad’ thing to do.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A ‘dad’ thing to do is to make sure their children have a safe day at the beach. Doesn’t matter what you wear. You still look great. That woman who walked past just oggled you.”
“Did she?” Keagen looked over his shoulder. “She’s got a nice butt, but yours is nicer.”
“Well that is nice of you to say.”
“It’s true. I stare at it when you pick up the kids. Makes your glutes bulge.” Keagen smirks and holds his hands up to make a ‘grabby’ gesture.
I put a hand over my chest in a gesture of faux-drama. “I was not aware I was being voyeur’ed upon.”
“Oh I voyeur plenty.” Keagen replies.
I flush and glance at the kids. “Jemmy don’t eat the algae! Take that shell out of your brother’s mouth please. If Beaudry’s hungry we have snacks up here.”
Keagen glances over at them. “Won’t eat their veggies, but eats algae. Such health conscience children.”
I chuckle. “We should be so grateful. “ Jemmy starts chatting at me again. “What do you want again, Jemmy? Sparkling water? What flavor? Ok, we have orange. You want one Keagen?”
“Sure, babe.”
I lean forward in the beach chair and open the cooler I’d been using as a footrest. I toss one to Keagen and open one for the kids, pouring them into tsippy cups. “Man, we are textbook urbans gays aren’t we, our kids are eating algae and drinking sparkling water.”
Keagen chuckles. “We’re a trope. Isn’t it also a trope that gay men are constantly horny?”
“It definitely is. One sec.” I get up and walk over to our kids to give them their drink, make sure no one is eating sand, and go back to our chair.
“You know Keagen.”
“Hm?”
I lower my voice. “After we go home, our kids are going to go down for a nap. We’re gonna have to take our clothes off to shower…”
Keagen gets a smirk on his face. “Your ass is so mine.”
I bite my lip. “Promise you’ll dust the sand off first? I don’t want any abrasions.”
Keagen starts singing Taylor Swift’s “Shake it off”.
That makes me smile.
“Ok we’re basically every gay trope aren’t we?” Keagen realizes.
I sigh an exaggerated sigh. “I’m afraid so.”
“I don’t think we can fight it,” Keagen says.
“I”m afraid not.”
“I do think our children are eating things again.”
I’m already on my feet. “Honey, stop putting that in your mouth. You’re a mermaid? Mermaids don’t eat algae and sea shells. They eat fish. Whole. Skin and all. You want me to find you a fish?” I look at Keagen for help.
Keagen holds up his hands. “This one’s on you, Dad. Call me when you need your butt dusted. I’m gonna take a brief nap.”
“Good. Get that energy up for later.”
I leave Keagen to his nap and go hang out with the kids. I don’t mind. I’m glad I got Keagen to finally relax. He’s so over-tired he doesn’t even realize it anymore. This beach trip was for him to relax as much as it was for us as a family. And to my delight, it seems to have worked. Looks like I’m going to be rewarded later for my efforts too. I got this dad thing on lock-down.
_______________________
Captions are fictional.
“Nooo come on, you’re going on a date with me and that’s final.”
“I can’t – I just – I can’t, I’m sorry, I need to go.” Marcus pulls his hand away.
“You told me an hour you had nothing else going on tonight. What’s the worst that’s going to happen? That you’ll enjoy yourself? That you’ll have fun?”
Marcus shoves his hands into his pockets and looks around. “I don’t know, I just, I’m not ready yet.”
“So is going home and hiding in the closet really the best solution?” Ricky put his fists on his hips. “Are you worried about being seen? Like someone is secretly filming you and broadcasting you to everyone you know? Cause trust me, no one gives a shit who you go out on a date with.”
Marcus looks uneasy.
“Ok. How about this. I won’t try and hold your hand. We’ll just walk next to each other. Ok? We’ll go down to the beach and get some tacos from a food truck and walk around. We don’t have to go into a fancy restaurant or do anything formal. Just chill. Feed some pigeons or something.”
Marcus glances around again and then at Ricky. “You really want to spend time with me.”
“What? Yeah. I do. I’ve had a crush on you for a while,” Ricky admits.
“Me.”
“Yes, silly. That’s why I’ve been trying to get you to go out on a date with me. You can’t hide forever, all you’re gonna do is make yourself lonely and waste your best years. Ok, how about this, even if you don’t want to see me again after this date, consider this a practice date ok?” Ricky offers.
Marcus thought a moment. “Ok.”
Ricky looks surprised. “What, really? I mean, that’s good.” .
“I think the idea of just being in a fancy restaurant, you know, feeling pressure to hold hands or kiss someone… I’m still too new for that. But tacos, that’s a bit more my style.”
“That’s fair. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Or rushed you.”
Marcus shook his head. “You didn’t. I’m sorry I keep freaking out. Just…still accepting I’m gay, that’s all.”
Ricky nods. “Soooooo… I’m guessing you have questions about sex?”
Marcus scoffs. “So many. I do not get anything. I made the mistake of looking at the BDSM section of this website the other day …oh my god.”
Ricky laughs “Don’t do that, you’re going to scare your dick back inside you.”
“Listen, I’m not entirety on board with what my dick wants, but I still want it to work. Do people actually like that stuff or do they only do it in porn?”
Ricky jerks his head to one side and they begin to walk together down the street, talking, laughing. Conversation still flowing as they got tacos and walked along to the beach to find some place to eat them. The conversation dissolved into a game of “fuck marry kill”, and they were laughing so hard Marcus got tears in his eyes. He was beginning to think this wasn’t a bad way to spend an evening after all.
_____________________
Captions are fictional.
I slipped my belt into my jeans and fixed it in place. “Are you alright?”
Ryan lifted his head up. “What?”
“You don’t look very happy.”
Ryan pressed his knees together and shifted on the bed. “I apologize, it’s been a long evening. What’s matters is that you enjoyed yourself.”
I raised an eyebrow. He was clearly parroting that from somewhere, because it didn’t match the tone of his voice. I had been with young men that loved this lifestyle, and that joy is absent.
“That’s not what I asked, boy.” I strode up to the bed so he was forced to look up at me. “I asked you if you’re alright. Is someone making you do this?”
Ryan met my gaze for a moment, and then looked at the bed. “No one is making me do anything.”
“You aren’t enjoying it though.”
Ryan chewed on his lip. “It doesn’t matter if I am, I am here to serve…”
I scoffed. “Cut the shit. Speak plainly. Why are you doing this if you don’t want to be?”
There’s a moment of silence. “I just needed the money. It’s just a temporary thing.”
“You owe someone money?” I asked.
“No, just a lot of debt,” Ryan grumbled. “I took out loans and a credit card in college, but I couldn’t afford my junior year. So I was working in a bar, and it wasn’t really paying the bills…“ He shrugged. “I needed money.”
I fished my comb out of my back pocket and ran it through my hair. “How many days have you been doing this?”
“Three,” Ryan answered softly.
“Three? I could tell you were green, but not that green, Jesus. I would have been a been a little more gentle. A tight ass gets me excited.”
“Well I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” Ryan shot back. He sounded a tad wounded.
I put the comb back in my pocket. I stared down at him, and he cowered on the bed. “Can you cook?”
He blinked at me. “Wh-what?”
“Can you cook? Like an actual meal.”
“Uh. I like to cook… I don’t really have the money for good ingredients, or equipment. Or time. I have a bunch of recipes bookmarked. Why?”
“Just an idea.” I enjoyed the look of confusion on his face. “I have your number. Go home before someone hurts you. Or sells you. One of the other.”
“Sells me?” he squeaked.
“You gotta be strong in this industry, boy. Or people will prey on you. Go home where it’s safe.”
He doesn’t have a response for that.
I nod in his direction and put an extra bill on the night stand on the way out. I stop in the lobby to pay for his hotel room too. On the sidewalk, I shot off a couple text messages and I hoped I was right.
Next day I called Ryan.
“Hello, this is Con-…I mean, shit what number it this? This is Ryan.”
I can’t help but laugh. He’s so bad at this. “Conner huh.”
“Ryan. What may I do for you Sir? I wasn’t expecting to hear from you again.”
“I have a proposal for you.”
“Like…marriage?”
That made me laugh harder. “Christ, no. I ain’t settling. An offer. Of employment.”
“For you?” Ryan asked.
“No. My friend Mitch. He works at Mercy Hospital as a coordinator. Works insane hours, especially cause of Covid. He’s gained like fifty pounds from eating garbage food over the last few months. He complains a lot cause he’s lonely and has to spend his only time off doing laundry and paying bills. He wants you to start ASAP, cooking, cleaning, sex if you’re fine with it. He likes blonds.” I give him the offer rate and Conner chokes.
“Is that per month?”
“No, per week.”
Conner got quiet. “Are you selling me to him?”
I laughed so hard my eyes watered. It’s rude, but I can’t help it. “Conner, Jesus Christ. No, I’m not getting paid for this. There will be an offer of employment, you keep track of your hours. He wants to meet you tonight. You free? Unless you’re taking more clients.”
“No… I haven’t been.”
“Good boy.”
“I can meet him tonight too. Absolutely. That’s – that’s a very generous offer you gave me, I’m really grateful Sir. I’m kind of in shock.”
“Well process it. You should be grateful, it was a real decision cause I’d love to fuck you again and I’m probably giving that up.”
“Mnn. Maybe not.”
“Maybe?” I respond.
“Maybe.”
“I’m fine with a maybe. I’m sending you Mitch’s number. Don’t fuck this up.”
“No Sir. I mean Yes Sir. I mean, whatever the right answer is.”
I chuckle. “I can’t wait to see Mitch straighten you out.”
”Straighten me out? What does that mean.”
“Ohh nothing.” He’ll discover Mitch’s talent for discipline in due time. “Sending you his number. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t!”
A couple days later, Mitch sent me a message. “I can’t thank you enough for sending Conner my way. He’s been so helpful. He is pretty raw though like you said, he needs so much sculpting. It’s exciting. And you are right, his ass is damn tight! Can’t believe you gave that up for me.”
I smiled and wrote back. “Conner needed you more than I needed him. Keep me updated. I want to see him blossom.”
“Oh he will be… you won’t recognize him by Christmas.”
I wrote back. “In that case, I want his ass with a bow on it so I know which one is him!”
__________________________
Captions are fictional.
I just moved apartments, things should be more stable soon.
Happy New Year, let’s hope this new year sucks less.
Christie paused in the living room and tapped her nails on her mug. ‘Hey Topher?” she called for her brother.
“Yeah?” he asked from the kitchen.
“What’s up with your tree?”
“Huh?” Topher turned off the water at the sink.
“It’s…half done.”
Topher walked in, drying his hands on a towel. “What do you mean, half -…oh. Oh no. We never finished it.”
Christie gestured. “Did you run out of lights or something? Doesn’t seem that way…” She pushed the pile with her toes.
“Uh.” Topher turned a bit red. “This guy I’ve been seeing came over to help me set it up. Uh…we got distracted”
“Topher James. You’re getting laid?”
“Oh god. You can’t know that.”
She squealed. “You have to tell me! What’s his name? How hot is he? How tall is he? Where does he work?”
“Christiiiiiiiiiiie.”
She waggled her eyebrows. “Are we thinking kielbasa or vienna sausage?”
“CHRISTIE.” Topher ran his hand over his face. “Good god. We are not gossiping. His name is Derek, we met at a concert, it’s nothing serious. We’re barely official, it’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal huh? You have a present under the tree from him. Two from the looks of it.”
Topher turned a bit pink. “He’s nice.”
“Can I meet him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It’s too soon!”
Christie scoffed. “Too soon? If you’re being intimate, it’s not too soon to meet a sister. Parents maybe.”
Topher made a face. “Well, when Derek looked me up on Instagram for the first time, he saw a photo of us and thought we were dating.”
Christie pulled a similar face.
“Ewwww.”
“Yeah. So it’s weird.”
“Oh. Well. If I can’t meet him, I’m definitely going to need all the gossip. Height and profession please. And show me a photo!”
Topher groaned and went back into the kitchen with Christine trotting after him. “I’ll show you a photo, just drop it ok?”
Christine grinned. “No. Why don’t you call him over so you can finish the tree.”
Topher took a beer out of the fridge. “I need this.”
__________________________
Captions are fictional.
Brett sighs. “It really is pretty.”
“We did a really great job. It looks like something from a department store,” Khalid says.
“I’m glad we used only one color for the lights. Would have been too overwhelming with the ornaments,” Brett comments.
“I agree.”
They watch the lights twinkle.
“Our first Christmas together in our own place,” Brett murmurs.
“Is it selfish of me that I’m kind of glad I shouldn’t travel for Christmas, and so I get to spend it with you?”
“No, cause if it is, that means I’m selfish too.”
Khalid chuckles and kisses Brett on his cheek. “You’re adorable. We can be selfish together.”
“Fine by me. You know, when I was a kid, I told myself I wouldn’t wait to open presents. That I’d open them when I got them. But I see the merit in waiting now.”
“The presents are part of the decoration,” Khalid says.
“Huh. That’s definitely true. But now like, as adults, the fun of Christmas is watching people open stuff you got for them. Like I’m going mental trying not to tell you what I got you.”
Khalid points to a package. “Well that one is definitely a vinyl, based on the wrapping.”
“Yesss but I can’t tell you which one!” Brett whines.
“You better not. I want it to be a surprise.”
Brett pats him on the arm. “You will be.”
Khalid looks at Brett. “I can see the lights in your eyes.”
“You can?”
“Yeah…” Khalid cups Brett’s jaw. “We shouldn’t forget that the most beautiful things are right in front of us.”
Brett blushes and leans into the kiss from his boyfriend. “Khalid-” He sighs softly and accepts another. “Mn, I can taste the peppermint marshmallows from the hot chocolate…”
“Can you?”
“Yeah. Mn don’t stop.”
Khalid cups the back of Brett’s head and deepens the intensity of the kiss. Brett puts his hand on Khalid’s chest. Khalid pulls back, a confused look on his face. Brett smiles as he extracts himself from Khalid’s embrace. He stands up and takes a step back so he can sit on the soft. He leans back across it long-way, and crooks a finger in Khalid’s direction.
A look of understanding appears on Khalid’s face, and it darkens into lust and desire. He stands up and climbs over Brett’s supine post to straddle his legs. He returns to kissing Brett as the classical music plays in the background. Even if there isn’t much under the tree this year, it doesn’t matter at all. What Khalid wants most is under him, not the tree.
_________________________
Captions are fictional.
You watch from between the blinds of your trailer window. Look at that, full moons. Not thieves prowling the construction site at all, just some horny rascals looking for a thrill and a fuck. You chuckle. Reminds you of yourself back at that age. Those boys assumed no one would be here on a Sunday. You just happened to pick this day to catch up on some work orders and paperwork as your office manager had been out with the flu. Wasn’t too much to catch up on. Definitely a little time to unzip your jeans and enjoy the show. Gotta make sure no equipment gets damaged after all. God help them if they jizz on the controls though, they’ll be cleaning it off with their tongues!
_______________
Captions are fictional.