RHV

by DHP

  “Now for a little manscaping.”

  “Absolutely not! I do draw the line somewhere, you know!”

  “You never have before, but all right. I’m leaving my razor. Get in there tonight in the shower and shave those balls a little. Trim up the bush too.”

  “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

  “Okay, sit down and let me put some eyeliner on your eyes.”

  “What? No!” Pulling away, Dexter flung himself down on the sofa and picked up the remote.

  She walked over and turned off the TV. “We’re doing this. Just a little, okay? And some mascara on those killer eyelashes. You’re going to look amazing.”

  In the end, he gave up and allowed her to do whatever she wanted with him just to get her to go away. Afterward she took a picture and he barely recognized himself.

  “See, totally adorbs! Upload this to your website.”

  Shaking his head he got out his laptop and created a profile for himself, using the new photo. Candy directed him on what to say, and filled his profile with the most ridiculous things like he enjoyed moonlight swims and light bondage. She had him put the cupid icon on it and when they finally finished, she stared down at it with a little frown. “Something’s not quite right. I know! It’s your name—Dexter. It’s so not the name of a hot guy.” She thought for a moment and then squealed. “I know—X. That’s your new name.”

  “X? Really?”

  “Yes, it’s awesome. It sounds edgy and a little off-beat.”

  “Only a little?”

  Candy shoved him aside and typed the name in, sitting back to look at it. “Now! Look at this.”

  Dexter had to admit the profile looked interesting. The boy staring out of the photo was actually handsome. The dark hair falling over his forehead and the black eyeliner made him look like a completely different person. His eyes looked huge and very blue. Even though he’d doubted her, Candy had done what she set out to do—she’d made him look hot.

  There was only one more thing to do. He took a deep breath, said a little prayer to Saint Jude, the saint of lost causes, and clicked on the button to submit his file to Zack Toland as his escort to the party. Now all he could do was wait. He was sure Zack would have dozens of offers. The odds of Zack picking him, no matter how much Candy fluffed and buffed him were slim to none, in his opinion.

  He thanked Candy for her help, sent her on her way at last and went to bed. He decided to go out to Tara with Scarlet and think about it another day.

  Two days later, the impossible actually happened. Zack Toland took him up on his offer to be his escort. The email that arrived was short and to the point.

  Hi X—I’d like to accept your offer. Be at my house at eight o’clock Saturday. Dress up. We’ll be going to a party. See you then.

  Dexter called Candy immediately and listened to her squeals for at least five minutes.

  “I’m glad you’re happy, but what the hell am I going to wear? I don’t have a suit.”

  “A suit? Why the hell would you need one of those?”

  “His email said to dress up because we’re going to a party.’”

  “And your mind went immediately to a suit? Oh, Dexter, that’s so sad. You really don’t know, do you? Honey, nobody wears a suit to a party. What you wore in the picture is fine. Wear the boots. I’ll do your hair and makeup before you go. Oh, and don’t shave. A little scruff is perfect. This will be awesome!”

  “So you keep telling me,” Dexter said, holding his forehead. He felt a major headache coming on.

  ****

  Dexter checked his watch for the hundredth time. Five minute to eight, so he was right on time. He’d been ready for over an hour, but he made himself wait, pacing up and down in his tiny place and checking himself in the mirror a dozen times.

  He actually looked good, as hard as that was for him to believe. But Candy had made him come by her sorority house after he got dressed, and she and half of a dozen of her sisters fussed over his hair and applied the eyeliner to his eyes, finally pronouncing him “adorable.”

  Since he was going for sexy, he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing, but he’d take what he could get at this point. Checking himself out in the mirror in Candy’s room before he left, he’d seen a boy that was almost unrecognizable as himself. His outfit consisted of super-tight black leather pants, a soft white t-shirt under a leather jacket, and the damn boots. Not shaving that morning had resulted in a bit of dark scruff on his cheeks, which he thought just made him look like he’d neglected to shave, but which Candy assured him made him “edgy.”

  He had to admit he looked pretty good, but he thought the pants and leather jacket made him look a little like an extra from a revival of West Side Story. But, he mused, “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way…” so he sucked it up.

  Gathering his courage, he drove to Zack’s apartment and knocked on the door. Zack swung open the door right away. Talk about fucking adorable. Zack’s hair was carefully tousled, like he’d just gotten out of bed, and it was as usual, perfection. His eyes sparkled as he regarded Dexter and then swept his gaze up and down his body. He smiled, his full, luscious lips turning up a little at each corner. Dexter was glad to see he wasn’t wearing a suit either—just a black cashmere V-necked sweater over a plain white t-shirt, and a pair of sharply creased khakis.

  “X, I presume?” His voice was like honey, rich, smooth, golden and delicious.

  “Yes,” Dexter croaked in return. At Zack’s raised eyebrow, he cleared his throat and tried again.

  “Yes, I’m uh…X.”

  “Right on time. Come in, X. I’ll tell you about tonight.”

  Dexter walked past him into a small, but nicely furnished apartment. A leather sofa was against one wall with a matching armchair, and the floors were a gleaming hardwood. Obviously there was some money here that didn’t just come from the paltry salary the college paid him as a GA.

  Zack indicated he should sit on the sofa and took the chair opposite him. “We should probably get the business part of this over with. “He tucked a fifty into Dexter’s hand.

  Heat flooded Dexter’s cheeks, and he felt like a whore. “You’ve already paid the website. This isn’t necessary.”

  “No problem. Buy yourself something pretty with it.”

  Zack smiled, then leaned toward him. “I guess you’re wondering why I need to hire an escort.”

  Dexter murmured something he hoped was appropriately uninquisitive and lifted one shoulder as casually as he could. Zack smiled at him again. “My ex is giving a party tonight—a Valentine’s Day party for his new boyfriend.”

  Dexter nodded, like this happened all the time. He was amazed at how open both Zack and Brian seemed to be about their sexuality. Granted, Brennan was a liberal school, but still…Dexter had only come out to his parents the year before. His mom had cried, his dad—once he convinced him he was serious—refused to speak to him for a couple of weeks. Eventually, everything worked out okay, though his dad still casually dropped Penthouse magazines around the house whenever he came to visit, artfully arranged and open to the pages with naked women.

  “Anyway,” Zack was saying, “we’ve only been apart for a short time. He’s obviously moved on, and I haven’t yet. Not that I’m carrying a torch for him or anything. I’ve just been taking my time and not rushing into anything. You see?”

  Dexter nodded, feeling like this was some kind of dream he’d wake from soon and be back in his tiny efficiency. Zack Toland discussing his relationship with him? Yeah, definitely unreal.

  “But I hate the idea of showing up at the party without a date, so he can rub my nose in his new relationship. Of course, I could just not go, but that would be sending him a message that I cared too much.” Zack shrugged in a self-deprecating way that Dexter found adorable. “I’m telling you all this to explain why I need a date tonight and why I need you to try to be affectionate. You know, don’t be
afraid to touch me—a lot. Because I’ll be doing the same to you.”

  Dexter looked around him for hidden cameras. Surely someone was playing a joke on him—this couldn’t be happening.

  “X? Is that okay with you?”

  “Um, of course,” Dexter replied, his voice only breaking a little. “Why not?”

  “Great.” Zack got up from his chair and sat down beside him on the couch. “So why don’t we get started right away? You know, warm up a little. Break the ice.”

  “Sure,” Dexter said, his hands suddenly as cold as a corpse’s, with about as much feeling in them. He wiped them on his leather pants and looked up into those gorgeous eyes. Taking Dexter’s chin in his hand, Zack tipped his head back and licked his bottom lip. Licked it! Dexter felt that he could die now, a happy man. He couldn’t hold back the little sigh that escaped his lips if his life had depended on it, and he heard Zack chuckle quietly.

  “Did you like that?” He licked him again until his mouth fell open and then eased his tongue gently inside Dexter’s mouth, sweeping over it lightly but possessively until Dexter was almost sure he would embarrass himself by coming all over his new leather pants.

  Zack’s muscular arms closed around him, easing him back on the sofa, and then he followed him down, not letting up on the kiss a bit. Heat flooded Dexter’s face, which he pulled away to bury in Zack’s neck. He might have pulled completely away, too excited and overcome by the idea that he was lying in Zack Toland’s arms, but Zack held him in place, stroking down his sides in long caresses, his warm hands sliding over his hips and his back. Dexter had to bite his kiss-swollen lips to hold back his moans of pleasure.

  Zack slid a hand between them, putting a hand over his rigid cock, and Dexter tried his best not to tense and scream out his name. Zack was murmuring things to him that he couldn’t quite understand, but his cock responded to the tone by leaping up eagerly into his hand. Zack’s fingers quickly undid the fastenings of Dexter’s leather trousers and pushed his hand inside. As his hand touched Dexter’s bare flesh, he shuddered all down the length of his body and heaved in a great gulp of air.

  “Shh…” Zack said softly, kissing away any further objections. Embarrassing sounds escaped his lips as Zack stroked him, and then without warning, Zack pulled his hand away, tucked him back inside his pants and smiled down at him.

  “Now then. That ought to get us better-acquainted.” He stood up and adjusted his own pants, smiling down at him. “We’ll save the rest for later, shall we? Let’s go to this blasted party and put on a show for Brian and his new guy. Then we’ll come back here and see what develops. Sound good?”

  Unable to do more than nod, Dexter straightened up and took a few deep breaths as Zack watched him carefully. “Are you all right?” he asked solicitously.

  “Oh, yes. Never better,” Zack said in a strangled voice and turned away while Zack went for his jacket. When he thought he might be able to walk again, he stood up and pinched himself hard through his pants so his cock would get the message that the fun was over for now. It didn’t help much, but it was all he had time for before Zack returned.

  “Ready?” he asked, and ushered Dexter out the door. He kept his hand on the small of his back all the way to the car. Then he opened the door for him and gave Dexter a wink when he looked over at him in surprise.

  The party was in full swing when they arrived, and Brian himself opened the door to their knock. He grinned at Zack and gave him a hug then turned a cold gaze on Dexter. “And who is this, Zack? I hadn’t heard that you were dating again.”

  “This is X. X meet Brian Wayland, our host tonight.”

  “X?” Brian repeated in a derisive tone, still addressing his comments to Zack, even though Dexter was standing right there. “Just the one name—or should I say the one initial?”

  Suddenly, it was clear to Dexter how he should handle a guy like Brian Wayland. He was a bit of a “mean girl,” even though he was all male. He’d seen Candy deal with plenty of these assholes in their time together, and he knew how she would put this bitch in his place. He was here to play a role for Zack and play it he would. He’d make sure Zack got his money’s worth.

  “An initial is all I need, honey,” Dexter said, taking Zack’s hand and pulling him into the room. “X stands for kisses.” He brushed his hand across his groin and grinned. “I think it can mean extra-large too—both of which are appropriate, right, Zack?”

  He plastered his body against Zack’s hard one, and moved his hips suggestively. “Let’s dance, baby, and liven this place up. I’m already bored.”

  Pulling Zack out into the little space in the living room where a few couples were already swaying to the music, Dexter put both arms around Zack’s neck and moved against him suggestively. Zack put both hands on his ass and pulled him up to his groin.

  He bent down and whispered in Dexter’s ear. “You’re doing great, X. I never saw Brian turn quite that shade before.”

  Nuzzling his face into Dexter’s neck, he dropped a blazing trail of kisses slowly up toward his jaw. He nibbled there for a moment before moving over to his lips and feasting on them. All the while, he cupped Dexter’s ass, kneading and massaging it. Dexter sensed they had drawn a great deal of attention, and not surprising since they were practically having sex on the dance floor.

  He pulled his mouth away to take a breath and looked up into Zack’s eyes, which were looking back down at him with amusement and affection.

  “What do you say we get out of here? I’m not really in a party mood.”

  “B-But we just got here. Don’t you want to make Brian jealous? Let’s at least get something to eat.”

  “Frankly, I don’t care much about Brian or what he thinks any more. But okay. I did promise you a party. Let’s find some food.”

  He led Dexter from the dance floor and into the large kitchen, where some trays had been left on the counter. A few people were standing around filling their plates, and Zack took a plate to layer it with sandwiches, chips, and a huge piece of the heart-shaped cake sitting in the middle of the counter.

  “We’ll share this one,” he said over his shoulder to Dexter, who got a little chill from the words. How badly did he have it that sharing a plate with the man got him excited?

  “There’s beer or wine,” Zack said, and when Dexter shrugged, he grabbed two wine coolers from the fridge.

  Dexter followed Zack to a quiet corner and mostly watched while Zack ate. He tried one of the sandwiches, but he was really content just to be with Zack and drink his fruity wine cooler. After a while, Brian drifted over with his new boyfriend, a dark-haired man named Jeff, who had a bored look on his face.

  “So how did you two meet, Zack? Does X go to Brennan?”

  “Yes, he does,” Zack said smoothly, not missing a beat. “We met in the cafeteria, actually. Isn’t that right, X?”

  Dexter nodded, thinking that Zack must be making it up as he went along, but surprised at how eerily close he was to the truth. “That’s right. In the cafeteria. He sat down a couple of tables over from me, and gave me a smile. That’s all it took.”

  He felt Zack’s close regard and glanced over at him. He gave Dexter an odd little smile. “That’s right,” he echoed. “Love at first sight.”

  “Hmph.” Brian looped his arm through the boyfriend’s and looked smug. “Us too. Right, Jeff?”

  “Hmm? Oh yeah, sure,” Jeff said absently.

  Brian flushed and pulled Jeff away to talk with some other friends while Zack smirked. “Looks like my plan is working. This is killing him.”

  Dexter smiled, but he felt a little let down. Being here like this with Zack was what he’d wanted, yet somehow it was all wrong. They were both playing a part, and the worst thing was, Zack was doing it for the sake of somebody else. Maybe he was hoping to make Brian jealous and win him back. The idea depressed him so much he put his sandwich back on the plate. He’d suddenly lost his appetite.

  Za
ck looked down at him and whispered in his ear. “Let’s get out of here.” This time, Dexter didn’t argue, just wanting the evening to be over so he could go home and lick his wounds in private.

  He was in a daze as Zack handled all the questions and exclamations from Brian when he told him they were leaving. In only minutes, they were back out on the sidewalk headed for the car, Dexter’s hand encased in Zack’s big warm one.

  Zack handed him into the car again, and they drove slowly back to Zack’s apartment, with the silence stretching out in the car between them.

  When they reached the parking lot in front of where Zack lived, Dexter turned to him. “Thanks for a nice evening. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”

  “Wait a minute,” Zack said, his hand on Dexter’s arm, stopping his flight. “I’d like you to come up. Would that be okay?”

  Dexter thought about refusing. After all, there was no sense in prolonging this. Zack was probably just being polite. He opened his mouth to decline and instead heard himself say, “Okay, sure.”

  Dexter followed him back upstairs and waited while he unlocked the door. Zack stepped back to allow Dexter to go through. Dexter stepped inside, his hands jammed down in the pockets of his jeans. This was a bad idea and he knew it. He’d offered himself as an escort. Would Zack be expecting sex? Not that sex would necessarily be a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it would be fucking fantastic, but this whole thing just felt wrong. He’d wanted Zack for so long, and now that he was on the verge of possibly having him, he was going to mess it all up. Incredible, but Dexter wanted him to want Dexter, not some made up guy named X.

  He turned to tell Zack that very thing when he was grabbed around the waist and pushed up against the wall. Big hands locked into his jacket and one knee thrust between Dexter’s legs.