"Been waiting for you all day. Ready to go?"
I blinked repeatedly as I stared at Malone. I wanted to run. I wanted to disappear. Maybe I could fight him off and run into the apartment. Jeff's words came to me. 'Avoid a confrontation. He's unpredictable.' I pushed away my impulse to run. Even if he had been tracking me, he had no idea who I had met today and what we had talked about. I looked at him, carefully. I couldn't believe all this was a ruse. He was merely acting. Maybe I could pull an act too.
"Yeah," I tried to act relaxed. "It's been a long and boring day. I could do with a little excitement."
He chuckled and led me to the car. Try not to panic, Michael. Just do what he wants. Once you leave in the morning, get out of town quietly. I sat in the car and buckled myself in. Act natural. Act natural.
"Must have really been a long day. You're looking down."
"Was bored out of my mind. Kept thinking about you all day." That wasn't a complete lie. I never said the thoughts were the good kind.
"I was thinking about you too. I have a surprise planned for you."
"What? You bought me a car?'
Malone laughed. Even his laughter had me feeling on edge. Was he really amused or just trying to humor me? I couldn't trust anything he said or did. We drove to his house in near silence. Mal tried to make some conversation but I could only afford one-word answers and short phrases. We got into the house and I walked a few steps behind him. I couldn't help keeping a distance. I felt completely repulsed by him.
"Hey, lighten up."
"I'm just a little worried about what I'm supposed to do now. I quit today. So now I'm jobless. My bills aren't getting less."
"It's okay, I'm sure you'll find something," He consoled "I'm happy you quit. I couldn't bear to share you with all those people."
"Well, I'm yours now." I didn't even sound excited by it. He didn't seem to notice how flatly I had said it and he went into the kitchen. He emerged with two glasses and a bottle of Jack Daniel's.
"I know you're not legal yet, but I guess you could use this." He poured the alcohol into both glasses and let me pick one. I grabbed the larger glass and looked at it suspiciously. Maybe he wanted to drug me. He knocked back his glass and I dismissed the thought. He couldn't also drug himself. I drank the alcohol, feeling the burn as it slowly coursed down my throat. Soon, I felt a warm sensation in my fingers and toes and I calmed down a bit. Malone crossed over and kissed me. I initially just let him but then I considered that he might grow suspicious. So I tried to kiss him back with equal enthusiasm. It was hard, as my mind was elsewhere and I felt totally disgusted. I wasn't even slightly turned on. He got on top of me fully and began to kiss my neck. His hands went under my shirt. I just lay there like a rag doll. I was constantly fighting the urges: Push him off and run or play along and leave quietly. I knew the second one was wiser, as Jeff had warned me, but it was difficult pretending to be into him, feeling his lying lips on me and his saliva on my neck. I didn't know when it happened, but I pushed him off and got off the chair. He looked at me with surprise before he frowned.
"What's wrong baby?"
"I'm...I'm just not into it tonight."
"You've been completely out of it since we left your apartment. I don't think work could have been that bad."
"I'm sorry; I just don't feel in the mood."
"Is it something I'm doing? I could let you take charge if you want."
"That's not it," I sighed. I hadn't even noticed it, but I had taken some steps away from him. Malone's eyes narrowed at me.
"It's him, isn't it?"
"What?" I was a little confused.
"I know it's him. I saw you kissing him yesterday. Don't lie to me." He looked angry. I felt scared. 'Avoid doing anything to agitate him', Jeff had said. I had to find a way to calm him down. Still, I was confused.
"What are you...?” I remembered the friendly hug and kiss that Swash and I had shared as he dropped me off. So, Malone had been watching? Not that I was surprised. He could barely creep me out any more than he already had. "Oh, that wasn't anything. I told you, Swash and I are just friends."
"Swash? His name is Swash now?"
YOU ARE READING
Whore.
Romance"Meat" has been a call-guy in Chicago's gay district for over a year and seems largely satisfied with his job. Until a peculiar new client makes him question if he should be serving his meat to everyone.
