After a moment, Slade crossed the room, extending the device. “This button turns the TV off and on.” He demonstrated. “These arrows move the channel up and down. Not much on the networks this early, but you might find a good movie.”
Belly full, post-shift fatigue dragging him down, Noah yawned.
Slade laughed, a rich, deep, rumbling sound. “Or you could sleep. How’s the side?”
“Fine.” Only slightly sore now, deep inside still mending.
“Okay. I’m guessing you don’t have a cell phone either?”
Noah’s cheeks heated. “No.”
If Slade thought Noah backward, he showed no outward sign. “Okay. I gotta get moving.” He placed a card on the bedside table next to the phone. “That’s my business card. If you need anything, call my cellphone.”
After Slade left, Noah practiced with the remote, flipping through channels. How to choose something good? Then a flash of skin made him pause. Oh, damn. A naked man knelt behind an equally naked woman, grasping her hips and rocking in and out. Their overly loud moans filled the room.
Noah turned the TV off, flopping down on the bed. TV showed people having sex? Oh, he’d read about pornos in a magazine.
He lay back on the bed, reaching into the shorts he wore to sleep, and gave his cock a few strokes. His mind changed the woman to a man, deepening the moans.
Video put pictures to shame. He recalled how the muscular man’s ass cheeks flexed as he pushed into the woman. Imagining him driving into a man instead of a woman shot a spark straight to Noah’s groin. He’d love to be either of those men.
Harder and faster, he stroked, mind perfectly creating the scene. Closer and closer, oh, yes, yes, yes! He yanked down the front of the shorts, pumping his release into his hand.
At the last moment, the two men in his mind became him and Slade.
Noah awoke with a jolt from the click of the doorknob. What? Where? Should he hide?
Slade opened the door and stepped through, bag in one hand, a tray of drinks in the other. “I didn’t know what you wanted, so I got sandwiches. You’re okay with sandwiches, right?” He stopped, staring down at Noah, and quickly turned away. What?
Oh! Pulling up the covers hid the stained shorts, but not the embarrassment. At least Noah hadn’t left his cock hanging out.
Pretending he hadn’t seen what he couldn’t have missed, Slade set their food on the small table, keeping his back toward Noah. “You wanna take a shower or something first? I got an hour before I have to be back.”
Noah shot into the bathroom and the shower, turning the knob. Cool water blasted him. He jumped back, adjusting the temperature. The image from his fantasy came back of him and Slade. What would Slade do to him if he knew? Another thing to keep hidden.
With so many secrets, who was the least trustworthy, him or the human?”
They ate in silence, for the most part. “Wanna see one of my sessions?” Slade asked once nothing remained of lunch but crumbs.
“I’d love to.” Session?
Slade patted the bed next to him, turning his laptop to offer a better view. Noah sat warily, all too conscious of their closeness. An image of Slade appeared onscreen, arranging equipment, explaining to the camera each step of the process, what inks he’d use, and a few other things beyond Noah’s ability to understand.
Hell, even the laptop fascinated Noah.
Onscreen, Slade cleaned a spot on a young woman’s arm and began drawing a design. Noah squinted. The lines didn’t make sense.
“Keep watching.” The Slade onscreen added a second color. “I can’t show the whole process. I have to keep the videos to about thirty minutes to an hour.”
Slowly the random-appearing pattern took shape, the colors blending into a rose. “That’s awesome.” Noah read some of the comments below the video. Turned out others approved too.
“I can ink you sometime if you want.” Slade didn’t push but kept his gaze on Noah’s face a bit too intently. Then again, Noah suspected everyone of being up to no good.
For all the good suspicion did him in the past.
“Why are you keeping me?” he asked.
“Why? Getting tired of my company already?” Slade mock pouted.
