by Zane Menzy
“Yeah. I figured why not. I haven’t had a decent break in ages. After the wedding, I can kick back and relax. Maybe go away somewhere for some r n r.”
“Sounds good. Where are you taking me?” Damon teased.
Matt laughed. “I was thinking Cairns for seven days at the end of the month. You wanna come with?”
“If I have a break in my schedule, then yeah, sure.” A week in Cairns would be great but Damon wasn’t in a hurry to be alone in a resort getting drunk with Matt just yet. He didn’t trust himself not getting too pissed and slipping out any incriminating tales about Keegan’s sexuality or how he had got tangled up with it.
“Anyway, I have a favour to ask,” Matt said. “I was wondering if you would mind being the photographer for the wedding.”
Damon groaned. He hated doing wedding shoots. He preferred his current line of art because it paid more. He had ditched wedding gigs for good after sleeping with a bride on her big day—leaving him laid but not paid after one of the groomsmen caught them fucking in the bathroom. “I dunno, Matty. I ain’t too big on the whole wedding shoot thing.”
“Come on. Can you do it for me?” Matt pleaded. “I want Jason and Will to have the best. And you are the best.”
“Well… I am the best at glamour photographs—nude models, Matty—not wedding parties.”
“I imagine Jason would be up for posing nude if you asked him. Probably more so if you offered to show some skin too.” Matt laughed.
“I bet he would,” Damon mumbled.
“Jason’s like family to me and I sort of already promised him you would do it,” Matt’s voice trailed off in a shamed tone.
Damon didn’t like hearing Matt refer to Jason as family. I’m your friend who is like family. Not that fucking looney tune. He sighed into the phone.
“Oh, C’mon. Please. I will pay double what you would normally charge.”
“You’re only saying that because you know I wouldn’t expect you to pay.”
“Will you do it?” Matt asked again.
“Okay. I will do it. But only because it’s you and because I fancy seeing what a gay wedding looks like.”
“I think you’ll find it will be a lot like a normal wedding.”
“Boring you mean.”
“I don’t think Jason knows the meaning of that word,” Matt said. “Anyway, he’s coming round for some drinks this evening. Did you fancy coming over? It would be great if the three of us could hang out. My shout for you being such a good mate.”
“I can’t make it today sorry. The car has a flat tyre—absolutely shredded—and I haven’t gone to buy a new one yet.” Damon lied.
“Just put the spare tyre on. That’s what they are for.”
“That’s fucked too. Didn’t even realise that I hadn’t replaced it from the last flat I had.” Damon wiped his brow, worried if he was going to trip over his own lies.
“That’s a shame. I haven’t seen you since you got back. I haven’t done something to annoy you have I? You can just tell me. I know I can be a pain and sometimes I don’t even know I am doing it.”
This was typical Matty. He always worried if he had somehow unintentionally offended or upset people. Truth was, he was as far from being a pain as anyone could be. “No, Matty. You haven’t done anything. I just can’t get out to Port Jackson tonight. That’s all.”
“Are you sure? It feels like you’re hiding.”
Damon cringed. Keegan’s face flooded his mind as his body twitched in private places the boy had been. “I’m not hiding.”
“If you feel bad about Keegan not coming up then please don’t.” Matt let out a sad sigh. “If he doesn’t want to come see me then that isn’t your fault. You can’t force someone to do something they don’t want to do.”
Tell that to your son.
“I know. I just can’t get there ‘cos of the car. Otherwise I would. It would be great to have a drink tonight but I just can’t make it.”
The phone went quiet before Matt finally replied, “That’s okay then, I’ll bring Jason with me to yours.”
“You’ll what?” Damon rolled his eyes.
“Come to yours. At least we can hit town if we want afterwards. Ain’t much to see out here in Port Jackson and I think Jason would be keen on seeing the city. He hasn’t been out since he got back.”
Damon knew there was no avoiding this bullet. Matt’s voice carried excitement and it was obvious he wanted Jason and him to get to know each other. “Okay. Matty. That sounds great.” Damon didn’t like to say no to Matt. Some people deserve only yes’s in life. “What time should I expect you both?”
“Say… just after nine?”
“Sounds good, my friend. See you then.” Damon hung up and lay back into the couch. “Fucks sake,” he muttered. He wasn’t in the mood for this. He just hoped that Matt wouldn’t ask too many questions about the trip. Damon looked around his apartment at the mess of dishes on the bench and clothes strewn across the polished wooden floors. He sighed in annoyance to himself that he would have to now get dressed and start cleaning up.
But first I better go let the air out of these supposedly flat tyres in case they see my car.
Chapter Thirteen
Damon couldn’t decide what was brighter; the city’s thousand lights sparkling outside his window or the petite Maori man sitting on his couch looking like a fluorescent peacock. Jason didn’t look too different to how Damon remembered. He was still a tiny wee thing with a lively face that never stopped performing dramatic expressions. His hair was black with a flaming red dyed streak along the fringe—which of course clashed hideously with his green glittery top and mustard-coloured skinny jeans.
“You have such a beautiful place, Damon.” Jason nodded his head, gazing around the spacious apartment. “I know they say size doesn’t matter but I beg to differ.”
Damon coughed up a smile while Matt laughed a little too loudly. Since they had arrived that was all Matt had done. Sat beside Jason, laughing at everything coming out the guy’s mouth. Begrudgingly, Damon accepted, that yes, Jason was good company, but he didn’t like how he seemed to hog Matt’s attention.
“I still can’t believe I am sitting here with old school chums,” Jason said. “It must be like heaven for you Damon to finally be sitting with the cool kids.”
Damon chuckled. “I think we may remember the school hierarchy a little differently, Jason.”
“Okay, I will admit, Matty may not have been too cool.” Jason waggled his eyebrows at Damon.
“That’s a slight understatement,” Damon said, holding in a laugh.
“Oi, what’s with all this picking on me,” Matt said. “I was cool in my own way.”
“Of course you were, girl.” Jason pat Matt on the shoulder.
“Boy,” Matt grumbled.
It was funny watching Jason call Matt girl. Every time Matt would correct him and Jason would ignore it.
“Remember how Matt used to wear nothing but hideous black baggy clothes,” Damon said.
“Yes!” Jason grabbed his side and cackled. “Port Jackson’s very own wannabe goth.”
Matt rolled his eyes so hard he looked like a gambling machine about to win free spins. “Gee, don’t hold back you two.”
Jason smiled mockingly. “I never do, Matty Pie. Don’t worry.”
“So I wasn’t the most popular guy at school. Shoot me,” Matt moaned. “But just remember it was you who sat with me, Jason, so that can’t say much for your reputation back then.”
“I was more of a floater if I remember correctly,” Jason said, a tickle of humour in his voice.
“Yeah in the toilet bowl.” Matt jerked away as Jason slapped his arm.
“Nar. I remember you two used to be together all the time.” Damon nodded. “Usually sat on the rugby field with all the rebel smokers.”
“I’m amazed that you even noticed us,” Jason said thoughtfully.
“How could anyone not?” Damon sniggered. “You both stuck out
like infected dog’s balls.”
Jason whacked Matt again.
“Ough!” Matt laughed. “Why’d ya hit me. Damon said it.”
“Because I am in Damon’s house and trying to make a good impression. I know you better so you can take all the hits for both of you.”
Matt rubbed his shoulder. “I swear by the time you go back to Sydney I’ll be black and blue.”
“If you’re lucky.” Jason giggled to himself as he took another sip of his drink.
Damon could see why Matt liked Jason. He was good company and never without a quick comeback. He imagined the pair must have had quite a lot of fun the way they bonded together at school. In a way, Damon envied them. They had been the down-trodden. The underdogs. The perfect characters to play unlikely heroes.
Damon focused his attention to Jason. “How is Will? What does he do with himself?”
“Will is fine. He still works in IT but is self-employed now taking on short-term contracts. Stuff like that.” Jason knitted his brow. “Not that I have a bloody clue what stuff like that involves.
Damon chuckled. “Being your own boss is the way to be.”
“For sure.” Jason looked around at Damon’s photography hanging on the wall. “And these are all your works?”
“Yep. All mine,” Damon said proudly, resting back in his seat.
“Some of them are truly exquisite.” Jason’s eyes floated around the room inspecting each picture. “I just wish there were more men hanging up there. There’s more tits out than a Boobs on Bikes parade.”
Damon laughed. “Well, exquisite women are who help pay the bills more.”
“Hmm.” Jason looked back at Damon, regarding him with frisky eyes, tasting his lower lip. “I imagine you’d sell just as much if it were you in the photos.”
“Shit, you’re embarrassing,” Matt sounded, blushing wildly
“What?” Jason exclaimed. “What did I do?”
“Maybe you can try marrying your fiancé before you start hitting on Damon.”
“Calm down, Matty pie. I was merely pointing out the truth.” Jason flicked his eyes back to Damon. “Your friend here is a gorgeous-looking man and he probably could make money with his body splashed on a canvas.”
“Thank you, Jason.” Damon smiled, laughing at Matt who looked like he wanted to melt into a puddle of shame. “If I ever stop making money from my talents behind the camera I’ll be sure to whip my clothes off and make money from my talents hidden elsewhere.”
“Oh god,” Matt whined. “You’re as bad as each other. Should I leave the room for a moment.”
Jason laughed. “Sorry Damon. As stunning as you are, I am afraid I am taken. Will is all the man I need.”
“Thank you for letting me down gently.” Damon winked.
“Your most welcome. Besides, I don’t want Matty’s sloppy seconds anyway.” As soon as Jason said it he looked like wanted to kill the words that had tumbled out of his mouth.
Matt sat upright and looked nervously across at Damon.
Damon cleared his throat. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing,” Jason coughed on a laugh. “It was just a joke. One that apparently isn’t funny.” He quickly sculled back the last few drops in his wine. “Okay time for a refill.” Jason reached over to the wine bottle and filled his glass up as quick as he could, probably in a rush to be drunk to forget his faux pas.
While Jason’s attention was busy with pouring the bottle, Damon glared across at Matt accusingly. Matt held his gaze for all of a second before guiltily looking down at his fidgety feet.
What the fuck have you told him? Damon shouted in his mind. Yes, they had hooked up a couple times when they first became friends but that was nearly twenty years ago when they had both been horny teens trying things out. Innocent exploring. Damon never thought for a second that Matt would have told anyone what they had done. How fucking embarrassing. Damon’s stomach twisted in knots as he hypothesised if loose lips were genetic. Keegan had inherited his father’s big cock, did that mean he would inherit his big mouth as well?
Damon’s fear was interrupted by a buzzing in his pocket. He fished his hand in and retrieved his cell phone. As if the universe were punishing him, it delivered a new issue to worry about. A phone call coming from Keegan.
What do I do?
Seeing Keegan’s name brought on one hell of a dilemma. What if it was the young gun calling up to demand a sexy chat. He hadn’t pulled a stunt like that but there was always a first time. He’s the boss, Damon reminded himself. He gets what he wants. He couldn’t seem to shake this bizarre subservient attitude hardwired in his brain; that from now on he must obey the blond teen.
But his father is right fucking there!
Damon’s heart skipped in fear.
“Are you going to answer it?” Matt gave him a questioning look.
Damon shook his head. “Nar. It’s one of my model clients. She can leave a message.” He shoved his phone back in his pocket, burying it like a lie. He felt bad, like he had failed in some unwritten contract. Before he could even take a breath to try and relax, his phone fired off again.
“Maybe you should answer it. They are obviously desperate to talk,” Matt said.
“Yeah. It could be important,” Jason added.
Damon slouched his shoulders in defeat. “Yep. It might be important. Can you just excuse me for a moment?” Damon got up and walked to the balcony and shut the door firmly behind him. The symphony of the city screamed around him with its sirens and cacophony of crowd noise below. He took a deep breath and answered the phone. “Hey, boss. What’s up?”
Keegan didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. The sound of tears told Damon something was very wrong. This was not a phone call to demand sexual gratification. Damon drew a cautious breath. “Keegan. What’s happened?”
“I’ve fucked up, Damon. I have really fucked up,” Keegan sobbed into the phone.
“Tell me what’s happened. Whatever it is it can’t be that bad.”
“It really is,” Keegan said. “Bad for both of us.”
Damon felt like he had been shot. “Tell me,” he said bluntly.
He stayed outside on the balcony and listened to the story. The city continued to scream around him but it petered out like a windy whisper compared to what Damon was being told. All his ears listened to was the nightmare Keegan was describing down the phone. It was that bad. It really fucking was.
Chapter Fourteen
He thought I was so nice he let me tap him twice, Keegan sung inside his head as he walked along the street on his way to Tony’s house. His sneakers scuffed the concrete pavement in a happy rhythm matching the joyful tone in Keegan’s mind. It was a warm afternoon and smelled of summer with the salty ocean air mingling with the fragrance of garden flowers. Keegan walked with a spring in his step the whole way as he thought about his second rendezvous with Damon.
The entire hook up had been unplanned. One moment he was upset, worried about what Garth may be telling people outside at the party, the next moment he had Damon locking Liam’s bedroom door and initiate what felt like a ceremony. The sex had been sticky and hot. It was rough and mean, just like the porn he liked to watch on his computer.
In the cabin, Damon had been so reluctant and apprehensive to touch him, only at the end did he let slip moans of joy. Not in Liam’s bedroom. In Liam’s bedroom, Damon begged for it—lapping up spiteful words like the cum-soaked sponge Keegan used him as.
The handsome city slicker had been the one to offer himself, asking to be fucked. Keegan happily obliged, giving Damon the hardest fuck he could muster. Damon had gasped and groaned through the intrusion, burying his face into Liam’s sheets muffling his sharp gasps. He had sounded torn between bliss and hurt but never once did he ask Keegan to stop.
To begin with Keegan had thought it was a game. Some sort of role play where afterwards they would return to normal and carry on like nothing had ever happened. But it didn’t go like that. Damon�
�s broken body language as he had lay on the bed afterwards, covered in spit, mesmerised by the sight of his own mess, reeked of something else. The older man had lost his usual cocky shine. He now glowed in a different way. A way that was pitiful and defeated. A glow that Keegan felt like he had created and now owned. Damon was no longer his elder, worthy of respect. He had become a possession, not a person.
When Keegan awoke the next morning to discover Damon had gone without saying goodbye, he knew that he hadn’t imagined this shift in power. His father’s best friend had run away before his mind and body could be put to the test again.
He really did make me the boss.
It was flattering but peculiar at the same time. Whenever Keegan tossed off daydreaming about kinky domineering fantasies, all that would happen was that his dick would spunk a hot mess that he would then have to clean up with tissues. Damon’s broken pride felt like it came with a responsibility, not some quick easy mess he could wipe clean. Keegan didn’t want that. He just wanted to get his end away.
Fuck he takes it up the arse good though. Sexy fucker.
Keegan had to do his best to only let the memory swell his ego and not his cock as he got closer to Tony’s house for a day of board games. Tony was a board game fanatic and every Sunday he would try and get Skippy, Liam and Keegan around to play a round of the strategy game Risk. The game was sort of fun but the best part was the petty jokes slung at each other while they killed one another’s armies off and took great delight in flinging the pieces off the board.
The other highlight of today’s geeky play was that it would be the first time Keegan had seen Liam since the night of Joel’s party. He had tried to get hold of Liam all week but his best mate had been missing in action. The only contact Liam had made was a couple of stingy texts text messages apologising for being so busy. Keegan wondered what could be keeping Liam so preoccupied.
There was only one answer; A girl.