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7

Ty

“ I think that this is a very exciting thing for our studios to do,” Jules announced happily as if I weren’t the only person in the room and he was at some board meeting giving a speech. It makes sense from a financial business decision. Think about how many people are going to be excited about the cross-studio collaborations that we can do.”

“It’s what it is. I think we’ll be back at each other’s throats in a few months as all of this dies down. Cappie and Monty were happy to keep us at odds ever since they split and started their own businesses. Our largest tag following on socials are the fights and scuffs we get into since we can’t post nudes. Do you know how much money they make on all of that? It has to be an obscene number.” I groaned and put my feet up on Jule’s loveseat.

“Feet,” he hissed. “Do you know how dirty the soles of your shows are, Ty? It’s disgusting. You walk around and collect germs on them.” He scrunched his beautifully delicate face in disgust.

I removed my feet and sat up straight. His loveseat was baby blue, like almost everything in the room. He had a favorite color, and Cappie was happy to keep him happy. It was not comfortable, though. “See? Feet on the floor.”

“I have to remind you of this every fucking time,” Jules huffed. “I should make you remove your shoes.”

“Sorry, boo. I’m a neanderthal. You know that.” I chuckled. Being with Jules was one of the only times I ever truly let my guard down. He may be annoying sometimes, but he was the only real friend I had.

“You are the furthest thing from it.” He flitted around the room, straightening his things. “There’s a reason that Cappie chose you to be in that meeting, you know. You have his trust.”

“Oh, I don’t know all about all of that. Are you a little jealous he didn’t ask you?”

He looked up at me, aghast. “No.” He grinned happily. Jules was a cacophony of emotion. “I was quite busy.”

“Oh, I heard.” I kicked my shoes off, knowing that it would make him happy. “You were sucking face with a boy for most of the party. Then it seemed you went to bed much earlier than normal.”

“I was, wasn’t I? But I will keep that to myself, thank you.” He turned and spun around with his arms open as if his joy needed to escape.

I burst into cackles. “Oh, I think everyone saw you, boo. That cat is out of the bag. Who was it?”

He turned towards me and got very serious. “Just someone in a mask that I found very attractive. It was a Halloween masquerade, boo. Who knows?”

“Are you sure he’s not Frankenstein underneath the mask?” I wiggled my eyebrows lasciviously.

“Yes, I am sure.” He walked over and sat down beside me.

“So… we are keeping this from Cappie, I assume.” I sat back, and Jules gently raised his legs and put his bare feet in my lap.

“Under penalty of death! Cappie is not to know,” he whispered. “He would not be very pleased, I don’t think.”

“All right.” I shrugged. “I can keep a secret.” I reached down and grabbed his perfectly manicured feet in my hands and started rubbing the soles. He groaned happily.

“That is exactly what the doctor ordered. Thank you,” Jules purred.

“You have a lot of tension. You wince every time I touch this spot right here.” I pressed my thumb into the ball of his left foot.

“Yes, ouch! My card reader said that the pentacle was a sign of a major change for me, and it stressed me out. My whole body is tight. I need a real spa day, but who has time?” He bit his bottom lip as I continued to massage his feet.

“Oh, is that it?” I winked. Jules was a hard person to ever get to the truth of. He liked his secrets, and I knew he trusted me more than anyone else in his life, but there were things he kept even from me.

“Oh, I just need to tell someone. I’m not happy about it at all. Cappie… He… uh… He invited someone for me to meet at the party,” he whispered as if saying the words aloud would cause him some pain. “He didn’t arrive until much later. He was really boring, and instead of wearing a costume, he wore a suit. Can you believe it? How pedantic of him.”

“Who was he?” I asked carefully. I knew my Uncle, and he was into some pretty shady things. I did not want Jules mixed up in any of it.

“Paris Fitzsimmons. He’s the CEO of Los Angeles International Bank of California and a major stakeholder in Cappie’s business. He really wants me to…” he paused and smiled sadly as if he were working out what he actually felt right now in front of me. “I don’t really want to do what Cappie wants. It feels like I’m being bought at a very unfair price. I like my life and what I do. I really do, Ty. Much more than you do. I don’t want to be someone’s kept person until I’m too old and he finds a new model to rent out like we’re cattle. This only ends one way, and I’m not ok with that. I may be a whore, but I am not someone’s sex slave for the right price.”

“If this is what Cappie wants…” I gently stroked his leg.

“I know. I have a lot to think about. He’s not unhandsome. In fact, he’s a very good-looking man in his mid-forties. He’s richer than rich, and I wouldn’t have to do anything except live with him and take him to bed whenever he wanted – however he wanted. I know I’m being a little fool about the whole thing, but… That isn’t the life I want.” He took his feet out of my lap and adjusted his position, laying his head in my lap.

I stroked his blonde hair. “You know my uncle doesn’t like being told no, Jules. I’ve seen him kick people out for less.”

“Would that be so bad, though? I’ve been here for three years, and in those three years, I’ve become a celebrity of sorts. I like it. But I’m also starting to dislike being told what to do all the time. I’ve barely made a decision for myself in all of that time. I’m grateful for what Cappie gave me, you know? But maybe it’s time I start to stand on my own?” He sighed. “If I even remember how. I know that when I leave here if that’s what I decide, I’ll be burning all the bridges I have ever made. Shit, this is the only home that I’ve had in a long time. But I don’t want to be a prize. Not anymore. A couple of years ago, after being thrown out by my family and living on the street, I would have said yes in a second. But now, I think I want more.”

“He won’t let you go easily.” I twirled one of his strands between my fingers.

“But would you?” He batted his eyes at me.

“I believe that everyone should have their own choices. So, of course, I would, Jules. I’d miss you badly.” I stroked his forehead and tried to calm his anxiety.

“I think that when Cappie does retire and leave this shitshow to you. They will all be very lucky models. You know what it is that we do, what we have to do to survive. You’ve had to do it too.”

“I may be his nephew, boo – but I’ll believe I’m his heir when I see the will.” I huffed.

“I think he loves you more than you know, Ty. It was you that he chose to be there with him, wasn’t it? Cappie and all his dirty money men. That fucking police chief and mayor… I still cry when Cappie tells me that they are insisting on me. I do it, though. If I didn’t, what might have happened to all of us? I’m tired of having to… You know what I mean?” He sighed and curled up into a ball as he snuggled closer.

“I do.”

“I really like him, you know. My mystery boy.” He said the words slowly as if he were savoring them.

“He better treat you right, or I’ll fucking kill him – whoever he is.” I pretended. Let Jules have his secret, for now. But the things he told me had embedded themselves deep within. The thought of Jules being practically sold to one of my uncle’s investors was something new. How deep was he in with these people – the bad people that he seemed to surround himself with these days?

“I think he will… maybe? Perhaps I’m just infatuated with him, and he has already forgotten all about me? But I don’t think he has. When he sees you…” He turned back over and looked up at me with wide eyes. “I think he really sees me, Ty.”

“And you’re not gonna tell me who he is, are you? You have always been full of secrets, and you love having them even if you’re shit at keeping them. They’ll be on Insta in a week as you confess to all your fans.” I chuckled. I had a lot to think about, but now wasn’t the time.

“Enough about me. Let’s talk about you and that incredibly handsome Monty boy. Merc is one of the hottest out of all of them.” He pushed himself up from my lap and nudged me with his bony shoulder.

“He’s ok,” I replied carefully. I had enjoyed our little conversation much more than I had ever thought I would.

“He’s totally your type, or he should be if you allowed yourself ever to like someone for more than a tumble. Those muscular shoulders and swimmer's build match you perfectly. You’ll look so hot together. You know he kisses a lot during his videos.” He widened his eyes in horror. This was an issue for me. It was a place I never allowed myself to go to very often with another person like me or even a client.

“Yes, I’ve seen.” I rolled my eyes.

“I love the way he fucks the bottom from behind and pulls their head back and licks their lips before kissing them. It’s very fucking hot.”

“I’ve seen.”

“You don’t kiss in any of your videos. It’s like a thing with you. Do you not like to kiss, Ty?” He asked, and I took a moment to decide to answer. Jules had his secrets, and I had mine.

“I kissed you in a video once.” I bopped him on the nose playfully.

“I know. It was teased for weeks, and it was just one sloppy kiss in a thirty-minute scene. One kiss. We’ve never talked about why?” He was fishing for information, and I knew that I was going to give in to him. It would be nice to share with a friend, and Jules was the only person who fit that description.

“It’s none of your business, is why,” I chuckled.

“Bitch.” He sat up straight and turned to me. “Come on. Tell me. Everyone knows when they have a scene with you, it’s a down-and-dirty fuck. No kissing, no matter what. No intimacy.”

“Hey, I suck dick and eat ass. That’s fucking intimate.” I dropped my shoulders and took a deep breath. If I couldn’t tell Jules, who could I tell? It would be nice, to be honest about something so serious. I held my truths closely like a shield. “Ok. I can be intimate when I need to be, but kissing is where I… I need to save something for myself , I guess. If I gave that away too, there would be nothing left for me .”

He frowned and nodded. “That makes sense, I guess. Not even when Cappie makes you escort?”

I chuckled. “Not even the fucking mayor. When they hire me, they know what it is that they’re getting.”

He reached over and patted my cheek lightly with his manicured fingers. “Hmm… There is something hot about that. You are totally a caveman fuck. So, Merc? Are you gonna… you know, with him? It’s a big scene for both of the studios.”

“No!” I answered a little too forcefully. “That is off the table. But… I… uh… I have to bottom.”

Jules laughed loudly. “That’s rich. Now I want to be invited to watch so I can see you squirm. So, it’s true, huh?” He leaped up and clapped his hands gleefully. “Unbelievable! The great top Ty is going to get plowed by a very large dick.”

I groaned, feeling as if I had made a very bad choice. “Never in my life have I… I mean, I’ve had fingers up there, but… Have you watched any of Merc’s videos?” I sounded as scared as I felt.

“He’s about as big as you and just as thick. You two could totally be family. You’re just much prettier, and he’s more rugged in some way. Handsome as shit, but not as pretty as you.” He placated me.

“We’re both tops and…”

He jumped excitedly again. “People are going to go mad! I can’t wait. You two are probably going to break the internet.”

“He’s probably going to break my ass if I don’t break his first.” I sighed.

“I’ll help you prepare, boo. There are things you need to do if you’re going to bottom. It’s better to stretch yourself out before he does. Wow! Lucky Merc and lucky you!” He gasped excitedly.

“He’s super annoying, though. A total know-it-all and smartass.”

“So… He is you?” He cocked a perfectly groomed eyebrow at me.

“I am not a know-it-all.” I crossed my arms and put my feet back up on the couch.

“Well… You do not like to be wrong.”

“Who does?”

“He always looks like he’s having a blast in his videos.” He walked over and picked up his hair brush. He gently started running it through his blonde strands. “He has so much energy, and the way he laughs while he’s having sex is… hot. Like, it’s really hot.”

“How many of his videos have you watched?” I teased.

“As many as you have, I bet.” He turned and grinned. “It’s absolutely hilarious the way this rivalry and hate between our studios only makes us more intrigued by the other. And it’s all because two old men can’t stand each other. I bet the Monty boys watch as many of our videos as we do of theirs.”

I knew that it was true. I watched all of Roam’s and Merc’s videos, as well as a few of their bottoms. Ben was a favorite of mine. “Who’s your favorite Monty boy?”

“Sir? That is a question that I refuse to answer.” He pouted.

I stood up and walked over to him as he stared at himself in the mirror. “You do know that I know, right?” I placed my hand on his shoulder and pinched. “I’m not an idiot.”

“I didn’t…” He looked at me in our shared reflection and grinned. “But let me have my mystery, anyway.” He turned and grabbed me by my hand, and led me back over to the loveseat. He sat down in my lap, curled up against me. “Isn’t he just wonderful? He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. I think he’s as bored of his life as I am of mine.”

“What? You’re going to run away together?” I scoffed.

“Maybe?” he answered slowly. “I mean, he hasn’t asked. But I think I would.”

“You just met him, Jules. Roam acts like a pompous poser most of the time.” I felt like I had to warn Jules. When he fell in love, he fell with everything he had, and I picked up his broken pieces more than a few times in the past.

“It’s an act, Ty. He’s… He might be everything. I don’t know,” he admitted and kissed me on the cheek.

“If he hurts you… I’m going to have to go to prison. So be careful,” I growled.

“My protector and… You’re the only one who… I love that you’ve never been jealous of me. All of the other boys they… Well, they treat me differently. I annoy you, and I’m so grateful that you let me know.” He cuddled onto my shoulder, and his hair tickled my chin.

“You’re obsessed with yourself, Jules. But you have never been anything but honest and kind to me.”

“I feel the same way. In a different world, Ty, maybe we could have been the two who were running away together. But neither of us ever felt that way, did we?”

I kissed the top of his head. “Maybe we love each other more like cousins.”

“Close cousins who… Well, we have done some very nasty things together on camera.” He giggled. “Very… very… nasty.”

“That we have.” I chuckled happily.

“It was fun. Who knows? Maybe I’ve filmed my last scene, and tomorrow, when you wake up, I will have disappeared forever.”

“You wouldn’t say goodbye?” I was afraid of the answer.

“If I did, I'm afraid I wouldn’t leave.” He cuddled even closer as if he were trying to melt into me.

“Don’t do that. At least let me know.” I kissed his head once again.

“I’ll leave you a sign. If it’s meant to be, our paths will cross again.”

“This is depressing.”

“Yes.” He suddenly stood up and walked back over to his mirror. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll never leave. I really hate decisions.”

I stayed while he brushed his hair and went back to my room to cuddle with my cat. The thought of Jules leaving had depressed me.