Adventure

by Quinn Ward

  When the song ended, the room erupted in applause. Max—Madonna?—bowed dramatically, blowing kisses to men who screamed out their adoration. Before he'd even cleared the stage, I was off my stool and on my way back to meet him. I couldn't explain the bitter jealousy I felt knowing other guys in the audience were lusting after him, but now I owed my brother an apology. I totally understood why he bristled when he noticed my appreciation of his man.

  Which brought us to yet another problem. Max wasn't mine. We'd agreed it was for the best if we didn't fuck up our friendship by coupling up which was why we just fucked. Never spent the night in bed together. Didn't contemplate a future. Eventually, one or both of us would find someone who'd put up with our antics, and we'd go back to being nothing more than friends. Now, if only my stupid brain could get the memo.

  Chapter Two

  Max

  By the time I took the stage, my nerves were shot. I thought I was doing a pretty good job hiding my anxiety, but deep down, I'd have given anything to kick off the precariously high heels I'd been conned into wearing, hike up my skirts, and run the hell out the back door before anyone could catch me. But I was a man of my word. As Eli rambled his way through my introduction, I closed my eyes and shook out my hands, trying to vanquish my nerves. All I had to do was get through the next few minutes then I'd be in the clear.

  The crowd erupted in applause as soon as I took the first teetering step onto the stage and the opening chords of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" filled the room. I swallowed hard as I ran through the list of tips that had been thrown at me in the few weeks I'd been preparing for tonight's performance.

  It didn't take long for me to find Tony at a table just to the left of the stage. I tried to block out everything and everyone else in the room, giving him my full attention. If I pretended like this performance was only for him, then I might be able to get through it. Judging by the look on Tony's face, the guys who helped me with my makeup had done a damn good job and I wasn't totally botching the song. Before I knew it, the song ended, and the crowd erupted once again in applause. I took a final bow before turning to exit the stage, nearly folding my ankle in half then recovering at the last second.

  I'd balked when Eli approached me, begging me to step in for tonight's show. I'd argued that no one wanted to see me dressed as a woman, I could never pull it off. I'd been proven wrong in a big way. There was an added spring in my step as I walked back to the dressing room, the cheers of the audience fading behind me. Now, I had to change and go mingle. That would be the real test.

  My traitorous heart flipped when I noticed Tony leaning against the wall just beyond the storage room we'd transformed into a dressing room for the evening. He gave me a slow, down-up look, licking his lips. He didn't even try to be discreet when he adjusted himself. My eyes honed in on the bulge in his jeans, creating a very uncomfortable situation for me. I'd argued I didn't need to tuck since both of my outfits for tonight had skirts that would hide my junk, but the more experienced performers insisted it was part of the experience. Plus, no one wanted their Madonna fantasy ruined by an erection tenting the front of my skirt. I'd agreed at the time. I was an idiot.

  "Fuck, the things I want to do to you," Tony muttered as I stepped up in front of him. I playfully dragged a nail down the center of his chest before cupping his package. He groaned, his eyes rolling back in his head. "You keep it up, and I'm not responsible for what happens to your dress, Max."

  "Mmmm, I like the sound of that." The dressing room door opened, and Cher stepped out. Time wasn't the only thing she'd be turning back tonight. I couldn't help but gape at her. Even though I now knew the secrets to creating the illusion of a woman's body, it was mesmerizing to see the guy who'd walked into the dressing room with a tote of supplies and what I'd call a boyish figure come out looking like that.

  "Hey, eyes here," Tony scolded me, gripping my chin to bring my attention back to him. That was new. In the almost two years we'd been friends and the year since we'd started fucking, he'd never shown a trace of jealousy. I was far more likely to get pissy when his gaze wandered. I chuckled when Tony glanced over his shoulder, sucking in a sharp breath. "That's fucking hot."

  "Yeah. Now you see why I was looking." I shoved my hands into the back pockets of Tony's jeans, grinding against him. As curious as I was about this sudden show of possessiveness, I didn't want to ruin the spell. Plus, I really did need to get out there and mingle before Eli hunted me down. "I have to go out front, but if you wait around, maybe I'll give you an encore performance later tonight."

  "You're going to leave me this way?" Tony curled his fingers around my wrist and guided my hand back to his cock.

  "Honey, as much as I'd love to blow you right now, I spent far too much time in the makeup chair to ruin it now. Believe me, you're not the only who's going to suffer," I reassured him. "If it makes you feel better, I promise the wait will pay off once we get back to your place."

  It may have been presumptuous to invite myself over to the apartment, but if I didn't go there, I'd have to figure out how to get all this gunk off my face in the bathroom at the bar because there was no way my roommate would understand. The guy was one crude comment away from being the poster boy for toxic masculinity. He'd been cool enough at first, but once he'd found out I was gay, everything had changed.

  "Do you... Would you... " Stammering Tony was adorable. He huffed, and I caught a whiff of the alcohol on his breath. That explained a lot. He dragged a hand down his face and shook his head. Tipsy Tony was cute. Too cute. Dangerously cute. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him to take a breath and try again, but I knew that would piss him off. "Look, I know it goes against the rules and all, but I was thinking...maybe you'd want to stay tonight. I know your place stresses you out sometimes."

  "Is that all this is about?" Eli appeared at the end of the hall and cleared his throat. I held up a finger to let him know I'd be out soon. "Because if it is, I appreciate the offer, but I'll be fine."

  "Fuck. No. It's not like that." He backpedaled. "I don't know what I'm saying. Jordan made me a couple drinks, and they were strong as fuck. Shit. That sounds even worse. It's not the booze or pity. I just... I thought maybe you'd wanna stay for a change."

  "You sure about that?" I asked, not wanting any regrets tomorrow morning. Tony had been the one who was adamant about no sleepovers. The few nights we'd come back drunk enough I couldn't drive home, I'd always crashed out on the couch.

  "Yeah." Tony's fingers got tangled in my teased blonde wig. I didn't want to get turned on by his reaction to me in drag, but I couldn't help it. The way he looked at me, it was as if he was trying to decide where to start unwrapping me.

  Personally, I'd like him to start below the waist, not even because I wanted to get off, but because I wanted to get out of the damn gaff holding my junk in place. I'd drawn a hard line when Peter pulled out a roll of medical tape. I hadn't thought that far ahead; hadn't thought shaving everything would be a requirement for the gig. I didn't give a damn how easy he claimed it'd be to get the tape off in the shower, I knew better than to put adhesive anywhere near my balls.

  "Max, you going to get your ass out there or hide out making moony eyes with Tony?" Eli hollered the second time he came back to summon me. That meant I'd missed out on at least two performances. "You lost the bet fair and square. Now, it's time to pay up."

  "Wait, you're doing this because of a bet?" Shit. I'd left that part out when I'd explained to Tony why I wasn't behind the bar on one of our busiest nights of the year. I hadn't lied to him; I was playing Madonna tonight because the Madge Eli had lined up had to back out after she broke her damn leg.

  "Not really a bet the way you're thinking. It was a stupid competition between us bartenders and Eli, and I lost. It's okay though because none of those assholes could've pulled off this look the way I did."

  Tony licked his lips again before opening the door and ushering me inside. He pulled me close, shoving a hand under my skirt. I m
oaned loudly as he pushed his fingers between my legs, tracing the length of my cock. "This can't be comfortable."

  "It's not so bad," I admitted. "It’s weird at first, but you get used to it quick. The only time it sucks is when I have some asshole rubbing up against me."

  "I'm sure you'll come up with a suitable revenge." Tony slid his hand around the back of my neck, very carefully running his fingers through my wig, taking care not to yank it off. He leaned in, his mouth only inches from mine. God, I wanted him to kiss me. "I should probably leave you alone so you can get changed."

  "Uh-huh." I would've been more convincing if I wasn't still clutching onto Tony's shirt for dear life. I really did need to get changed and schmooze for tips, but I'd much rather drag him out the back door and be in his car on the way home before anyone noticed we were gone.

  "It'd be easier if you let go of me," Tony pointed out. He uncurled my fingers from his shirt. The kind thing for him to do would be to turn and run away, but I knew Tony better than to think he'd let me go without teasing me a little more. He slid his hand down the white lace of my corset, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth. "Fuck... Would it be wrong for me to beg you to wear this home under your clothes tonight?"

  "Not really my style." I didn't tell him I was getting used to how the lace and boning cinched in my torso. Hell, I could even admit I looked damn good like this. If Tony really wanted to go home with Madonna, it was a fantasy I could help him live out.

  "Damn shame." He reached up, tracing his thumb over my cheek before leaning in to nip my ear. "Can't think of much I'd love to do more than lift up that skirt and fuck you right into tomorrow."

  "You...you need to go. Now." My voice was thick and raspy. Right then, I needed Tony to be the strong one for both of us. "I'll stop by and say hi to you and your brothers after I change."

  "Be sure you do. I know they'd all planned on putting their money in Peter's jar, but once they see you, I'm sure they'll throw a few dollars your way."

  Tony turned to walk away, and I sagged against the wall, struggling to catch my breath. This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go at all.

  It took me nearly an hour before I was able to mingle my way through the crowd to where the Marino boys had a reserved table next to the stage. The show had ended a while ago, and now the only thing left to do was tally the money collected for voting. All the performers from tonight were in the final push to gather as much money as possible to donate to the shelter.

  "Hey, stranger," I said, sliding my hand up Tony's thigh when he turned to face me. The look on his face when he took in my black lace bra covered by a mesh shirt was priceless. I had a new appreciation for what women went through when they hit the clubs because, suddenly, Tony was unable to look at anything higher than my chest. I hooked a finger under his chin, lifting his gaze to mine. "I'm up here."

  "I know they're not real, but damn!" He shifted on the stool, trying to get comfortable. I slid my hand higher until my fingertips grazed the edge of his cock.

  "You wanna play with them, don't you?" I asked. I thought I'd kept my voice low enough so only he could hear me, but Enzo's choked laugh behind me said otherwise.

  "If you let him, he'd probably pull the inserts out of your bra and use them for pillows," Enzo said. Tony scowled then shrugged as he took another sip of his drink. "Don't hold anything that happens tonight against him. He's been a bit loopy since he disappeared for the last round of drinks. Can't be sure, but I think he's had a few more than the rest of us."

  There went my plans for the night. Or maybe not. If Tony was up for it, maybe I'd sneak out the back door without taking off my makeup or this uncomfortable as hell costume and give him a night he'd never forget. The idea had merit, but it all depended on what state Tony was in by the time I was able to cut out of here.

  "I'm not that bad," Tony protested, listing to the side. If I hadn't been there to catch him, he'd have fallen on his ass. "Okay, so I'm tipsy, but I'm not trashed."

  "And do you plan on slowing down now that the show's over?" Enzo asked, still laughing at his brother. Our eyes met briefly and there was something there.

  Jealousy? No. That wasn't it. I shook off the thought before I started thinking too hard about my own fantasies I'd stowed in a box and shoved to the dusty corners of my mind. Tony knew I'd considered what it'd be like to be with both of them at the same time; hell, he was the one who brought it up one night while he kept me company until closing time. And I wasn't going to deny it. Who wouldn't want a hot and sweaty night as the filling in a twins sandwich?

  Just the mental picture my mind created as jerk-off fodder was hot as hell. The reality? If that particular fantasy ever came to life, I wasn't sure any other sexual experience could live up to it.

  "Yeah," Tony said. "But seriously, it's not my fault. I don't know what the hell Jordan put in those drinks, but they're lethal."

  Now it was my turn to laugh. Jordan was known for going out of his way to make the strongest drinks possible. The way he saw it; the more people drank, the more they tipped, and that was a win-win for everyone. It was hard to disagree when we all saw a surge in our tips on the nights he played around building his concoctions. "Enzo, would you mind heading up to the bar and asking for a glass of water?"

  "Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Enzo was up off his stool before Tony could even protest.

  My eyes followed Enzo's tight ass as he awkwardly zigzagged his way through the crowd. Although the men were identical twins, there were subtle nuances that made it impossible to confuse the two of them. Tony was the confident, sometimes cocky, twin while Enzo was much more reserved. If it was Tony heading to the bar, he would push his way through the sea of people. He wouldn’t have been rude about it, but he made his presence known. Enzo, on the other hand, started and stopped several times, patiently waiting for people to get out of his way.

  "You like him, don't you?" Tony's question startled me, and my attention snapped back to him. He rested a hand on my waist, pulling me between his legs. I should’ve reminded him I was working and the performers were supposed to be off limits tonight, but I couldn't. Not when I was so caught up in how it felt to have Tony so openly affectionate. For several months now, I'd known it was a dangerous game we were playing. We'd agreed our arrangement was just sex, but the more time I spent with Tony, the more I came to appreciate the time we spent together outside the bedroom.

  "You don't have to pretend you're not attracted to him. I can see it all over your face." Tony reached up like he was going to touch my face then lowered his hand. "In case I haven't told you already, you look fucking amazing tonight."

  "Thanks." I chuckled. "I think you mentioned it a time or two. And if there was any doubt, I'm pretty sure I'd have picked up the hint when you started talking about everything you wanted to do to me while I'm wearing this skirt."

  "Is that weird to you?" Tony asked. His eyes darted to something in the distance. They were unfocused, as if he wasn't so much paying attention to something else as trying to avoid meeting my gaze.

  "Tony, you make no secret about the fact you're into guys and girls. Is it strange that you're turned on by me wearing all this makeup and women's clothes? Sure, maybe a little, but it's flattering at the same time."

  Eli could fire me if he wanted, but I wasn't in any hurry to leave Tony’s side. I dug into his back pocket, pulling out his phone to check the time. Only twenty more minutes and they'd announce the winner then I was free for the night. "And as for your other question, yes, I am attracted to Enzo. How could I not be when the two of you look so much alike?"

  "You still think about having a threesome with both of us?" Tony shifted on his stool and licked that bright red bottom lip. The man was seriously trying to kill me tonight. "I mean, if Enzo was up for it, would you say no?"

  "Is it something you want?" Tony's shoulders slumped forward slightly, and I wondered if it was something he had considered in the past but never acted upon. Or hell, maybe it was something the
y had done with another third, and he was eager to do it again.

  "I don't know if want is the right word," Tony clarified. He picked up his nearly empty glass, swirling the ice around, once again avoiding my gaze. "And maybe it makes me sick for even thinking about it, but yeah, I guess I have. And I can't be certain, but I think he has too."

  "What makes you say that?" I couldn't believe we were having this conversation in the middle of a crowded bar with Tony's brothers nearby. Luckily, they all seem to be wrapped up in their own conversations, and if any of them had overheard what we were talking about, they gave no indication they were shocked.

  "It's just in these little things that he does. Comments he's made the morning after you stop by. I don't know, maybe it's nothing, and I probably shouldn’t have even said anything. Just forget about it. You guys were right, I'm too drunk to be talking about serious shit."

  A few minutes later, Enzo returned from the bar, a glass of water in each hand. He set both down in front of Tony and slid onto the stool next to his twin. Now that Tony had told me his assumptions about Enzo, it was impossible to look at the two of them together without wondering if even one night shared with the two of them was a possibility.

  Eli snuck up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. "Am I paying you to work, or am I paying you to make out with your boy toy?"

  "Last I checked, you weren't paying me anything for tonight. Wasn't that part of the deal? I lost the bet, so I had to donate my time and take part in the show?" It was hard to tell if Eli was genuinely pissed off at me or not, but I was most definitely irritated with him. Club 83 was officially the last place I wanted to be right then.

  Chapter Three

  Max

  Getting Tony out of the bar proved to be a bit of a challenge. He hadn't quit drinking like he said he would. By the time I was cleared to take off, he'd drank the two glasses of water Enzo brought for him, but he'd also downed a few shots with his brothers and their partners to celebrate Peter's first win for his impersonation of Gwen Stefani. If he kept working on his act, I had no doubt it'd be the first of many such celebrations.