Matt and Other Guy followed suit—absent the whole “I-know-you-want-me” vibe.
Bella asked the audience to clap loudest for the one they thought the hottest.
Paul came in second place. Matt was happy for his friend. Would have been even happier if Paul had won.
Matt took first.
Bella dismissed Paul and Other Guy. Predicted they would have no trouble getting laid that evening.
Matt stood there shirtless, blinking in the spotlights. He could feel the warm glow of the alcohol infusing him, mellowing him. This was almost over. Soon he would be free. Free to pee. He liked the way that sounded: free to pee. Imagined how good it would feel—the peeing. The exquisite almost-painful, almost-orgasmic tinkle tingle.
And then he would hunt for a fuck buddy.
“MARK IT!” yelled the crowd. “MARK IT! MARK IT!”
Bella grabbed her tube of lipstick. “Thanks for reminding me,” she said. “I’ve got to mark my property!”
It took Matt a moment to realize what (or who) was being marked. It dawned on him slowly, swimming through the fog of his brain. He was the Dixie cup! He was being marked! Purpose still not clear.
Bella kissed Matt’s chest, left her distinctive red lip smear on his left pec, near his heart.
The guy on the keyboard stepped up the volume.
Bella picked up Matt’s shirt, tucked one end of it into the back of his jeans, giving him a tail. Her fingers grazed the edge of his crack.
“You go now, baby, while Bella earns her keep. I’ll find you after the show.”
Matt stumbled down the stairs, but did not head to the table where William waited for him. Instead, he exited into the hotel’s main hall, found the bathroom. Drained his bladder.
A hot guy stood at the trough urinal, peeing. They checked each other out. Smiled. Matt was ready to follow this guy to his room, slap on a condom, and top off the evening.
Hot guy tucked his dick back into his jeans. Zipped up. “Too bad you’re Bella’s toy tonight. Bad for me, I mean. You really do look like that actor guy.”
Hot guy went to the sink, washed his hands, opened the door with a paper towel. “Next time you’re here, look me up,” he said before leaving.
Matt had no trouble getting back into the Copa. Even the bouncers recognized Bella’s mark.
He made his way to the table. William was watching Bella sing.
Matt sank into his chair. There would be no hunting fuck buddies for him that night. He was destined to be mauled by an 8-foot drag queen.
Chapter 29: The Time of His Life
Saturday, October 21, 1995
Less than an hour later Matt was in Bella’s room, in the shower with her, letting her slide a soapy finger into his hole, prepping him for rimming, prelude to fucking. Except, of course, Bella was a guy. A hot one with a big cock.
Matt’s course reversal from disinterest in Bella to willing acceptance of her finger up his ass had surprised even himself…
Bella’s show ended at midnight. She disappeared backstage. Dancing resumed in the pit, but Matt remained at the table with William. What was the point in dancing if not to find a fuck buddy? Nobody wanted to come between Bella and her marked man.
By 12:20, couples started trickling out, taking the action to their rooms.
Matt eyed them wistfully.
William told him to cheer up, that Bella didn’t really expect him to do anything. That this was about optics, a showbiz thing. All Matt had to do was leave with Bella, wait 15-20 minutes, then return. People would assume he’d had a quickie and was back for a new partner.
William said it would be a win-win for both Bella and Matt. Bella would get her precious optics. Matt would be a hot commodity, having been marked by Bella as the most desirable guy in the joint.
