“Hush and paint,” I said over my shoulder. Our living room wall was getting a new mural this week. It looked to be a sloth with a bong, but I could be mistaken as it was a new work. A cloud of smoke wafted into the back of my throat. I coughed delicately.

  “Try adding a touch of aqua to the peach, Bumpkin,” Pia called to her daughter before taking a sip of her peppermint tea. “No, around the penis.”

  “It’s not a penis, it’s a gaudy eclectic eel with a swelled head,” Aliyah countered. “Which means it’s Sullivan.”

  I flipped her off.

  “Pia, would you be willing to help Duane out if need be?” I asked for Duane. “He’s a hard worker, courteous, cute, and owns a dog as small as yours. Can you possibly ask around if anyone has anything full-time?”

  “Hmm? Oh yes, of course, as long as you play Yahtzee with me tonight. I’ll call Garrett and put a bug in his ear. Aliyah, now that you mention it that eel does look like Sullivan. It just needs more glitter and lip rouge. And pomade.”

  Oh, how the two ladies tittered. I ignored. Duane sat beside me, a humped-up ball of depression and sour sighs. The night ended with a short kiss from Duane at my door. Leaning on the doorjamb watching him and Tiberius walking off into the dark, I felt myself starting to slip back into my own little gloom pit. Tomorrow was Sunday. Duane and I were going to go see a movie. Then it would be Monday, and I’d have to face Julian, the octo-perv, at work. I had a hat box full of accusations against the man but no proof. He was sly enough to never push his suit when other people were around, and my word against his wouldn’t hold up. I’d need to ponder on this problem of mine while I did my best to keep Duane uplifted despite my own terrible situation.

  “It’s not easy being the ray of sunlight in so many lives,” I mulled aloud. Pia shouted my name and the word Yahtzee in the same breath. “Sweet chubby gods of the gays, give me strength. Coming!”

  The things I did for those I lusted over.

  Chapter Ten

  Duane

  Sunday morning came with a loud crack of thunder, the tail-end of a storm passing by. I picked my head up from my pillow, peering out into the living room as I patted the bed for my dog. The lingering dream I’d been having unsettled me. McKenzie had come back and demanded I hand over her dog. I rolled over and checked the time on my phone. 5:17. Great.

  I rolled over and tried to sleep again but found my brain processing everything at a break-neck pace. The most pressing worry was my halved income. In a few weeks, I could lose my apartment and my dog. I scrunched my face against the pillow, sighing defeatedly and rolling to stare at the ceiling.

  I heard Tiberius jump onto my bed, and he immediately walked across my chest and started licking my face.

  “C’mon, dude.” I sighed but made no move to push him away. He curled up on top of my stomach. I began to think about what would happen if Pia’s PA couldn’t come up with a good tip or two for a new job. I’d be back to endless online job applications for jobs that had no benefits or never exceeded thirty hours a week. I’d have to move back home if I couldn’t find full-time employment. That would take me far from Sullivan. Tiberius would have to stay with Sully because there is a strict no pets rule in my parents’ house.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Tiberius,” I promised as I sat up, scooping him into my arms like a baby. His tail thudded against my chest as he tried to lick me again, and I let him. I remembered how pissed I was when he was first brought home. Now, I was willing to fight tooth and nail to keep him.

  I got up and made my way to the kitchen. There was no way I was sleeping again, so I might as well get my day started. I looked through our cupboards and found some cold cereal. It’ll work I resigned as I dug through our dishes for a clean bowl.

  After two heaping bowlfuls, I stripped and made my way to the bathroom. Tiberius followed, sitting in front of the door. He sat and watched me the entire time I pooped, like he was afraid I’d get out of his sight.

  “You all right?” I asked him. He perked up and raced to me, jumping on my bare legs. I scratched his tiny head, asking him politely to leave so I could finish. He did not leave. I sighed, awkwardly whipping and washing my hands while making direct eye contact with my dog. I went into my room, threw some sweats and a T-shirt on, and got ready for a run.

  I hooked Tiberius up to his leash and began the first jog I’d gone on in weeks. I needed to burn off the nervous energy that squeezed my heart, and as I rounded the block, I could feel it working. I ran farther than I usually did, only stopping when Tiberius needed to pee. He kept up with me fairly well, something I was always surprised by, considering his tiny legs. When we made our rounds and found ourselves back at the dog park, I let him off his leash. He stuck right to me, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

  “What, you’re going soft?” I asked him, my lungs burning, my throat on fire, my leg muscles threatening to melt. We had both gone soft I realized as I sat on a nearby bench. Tiberius jumped to my lap and refused to move.

  I tipped my head back. The sun was falling through the treetops, any hint of rain stopped completely. I could fall asleep here. I rubbed my eyes with my hands, calculating how much sleep I actually got last night. Probably four hours, if I was being honest.

  “Today’s a slow day, right, pup?” I asked Tibby, whose tail whirred as I spoke. Now that I was actually tired, maybe I could grab a few more hours of sleep. It was only seven now, and I didn’t want to fall asleep in the movie theater tonight. My dog and I agreed on the game plan and walked back home. I flopped onto my bed, peeled off my sweaty running clothes, and fell back asleep.

  At eleven, the sound of Ronan shuffling around outside woke me up. I heard him making food, and my stomach growled. I slowly pulled myself up from the bed, sent Sullivan a “have a good day” text, pulled on some pants, and went to the living room.

  “Y’all right, mate?” Ronan asked, touching his fist to mine and offering me a sandwich. I nodded, joining him on the couch.

  “’Bout as good as I can be. Kinda accepting everything, y’know?” I looked over to him, his hair limp and dangling over his face. He was nodding, devouring his sandwich.

  “I can’t believe this shit. Why didn’t they give us some advance warning, or ask if we wanted to go to the Manhattan site?” Ronan tilted his head toward me. I shrugged.

  “I imagine they give no fucks about their employees.” I shrugged again. I truly had no idea why we’d been treated so shitty. “But I’m really trying to stay positive. Sullivan keeps harping about it, which is why we’re doing a movie tonight. Something uplifting, he said. I’d rather just cuddle up with him in bed.”

  Ronan waggled his eyebrows. I waggled back.

  “Sock on the door?” he asked around a bite of food. I pretended to ponder over it.

  “Sock on the door,” I replied, bumping my fist against his once more. “Enough about my shit, tell me about the dog date you had with what’s her face.”

  The rest of the day was surprisingly pleasant. Ronan and I cleaned up the whole apartment and took our clothes to the laundromat. We stopped at a game store, picked up a few used games, and made our way back home. Around five, we began our struggle for the bathroom, with me getting ready for the movies and him getting ready to get drunk in public.

  At 6:30, I kissed my dog goodbye and began my journey toward Sullivan’s apartment. There was a small theater not too far from there, and we told ourselves we would see whatever was there, no matter what, as long as it was cheery. I saw him perched on the walkway, wearing something bright and floral. His hair was pulled up into a bun, and as I kissed him hello, I could smell his shampoo. It smelled like peaches today.

  “Hello, handsome.” He grinned, taking my hand in his. I tipped an imaginary hat.

  “M’lord,” I responded, kissing his knuckles. We walked toward the theater, the streetlights guiding us, casting Sullivan in a golden glow. He told me about a new project he was working on, something secret that wasn’t ready to be shown yet. I assumed it was a new dance, but when I asked, he only gave me a wink. I was going to ask about work, and his boss, but we arrived at the movie theater before I got the chance.

  “We could see the new Dwayne Johnson movie. It looks pretty decent,” I commented, staring up at the movie listings. Sullivan wrinkled his nose.

  “There’s this,” he pointed to a musical poster, “and it’s got Hugh Jackman in it.”

  “You know I’m a slut for Wolverine.” I smiled, opening the door for him. We paid for our own tickets and snacks, at Sullivan’s request. Usually, I sneak snacks in, but I didn’t figure breaking the law was good date etiquette, and I was too broke to buy snacks.

  I found my customary back corner spot, and we shucked off our jackets. We settled into the theater seats, and the place was pretty full. I began to shove stale popcorn into my face. Sullivan popped a few pieces at a time into his mouth, very rarely drinking his soda. I frowned. Maybe this was too downscale for him?

  “Sorry,” I muttered to him. He looked at me with a raised brow. “Sorry this isn’t a better date, I mean—”

  “Honey, this is a wonderful date. I haven’t been to a movie in ages. I just wish this food wasn’t so bad for you.” He glanced at his soda again like he was looking at an incubus. Something so clearly bad but so tempting. I took his hand.

  “A soda won’t make you go up any sizes. You’ll always be sexy,” I whispered to him as the lights dimmed. I kissed his exposed neck, and I felt his hand tighten in mine. He bit his lower lip, shifting in his seat. I smiled, turning my attention to the screen.

  The movie was surprisingly good. As we exited the theater, I expressed my desire to watch more musicals to Sully.

  “I have every single one that’s worth watching!” He beamed up at me, his hand finding mine again. “I’ll introduce you to the world of culture and song, and you can show me sweaty, gun-toting hulks.”

  “I’ll take that deal.” I smiled, pulling him closer to me.

  We reached my apartment, and I opened the front door for him. Tiberius sprang from the couch, dancing around our feet as we entered. Sullivan plucked him from the floor, showering the dog with compliments and love. I smiled softly to myself.

  I wrapped my arms around his waist, sucking the skin of his exposed collarbone. I felt him shiver, turning in my arms with the dog still pressed to his chest.

  “Excuse me,” he purred, laughing when Tiberius scrambled from his arms to my shoulder. We plopped him to the floor again before making our way into my bedroom. I shut the door, keeping Tiberius in the living room for the moment. I’d make it up to him later.

  I turned and saw Sullivan already sprawled across my bed like a pin-up girl. I shucked off my shirt, dropping to meet his lips with mine. His hands spread across my shoulders, my spine, tracing unseen patterns into my skin. I felt how hard he was beneath me.

  “Hey,” I rasped as his tongue flicked against my earlobe. He paused to look up at me. “Is this okay?”

  “Absolutely,” he moaned, and I took his cues. I helped him out of his pants and shirt, throwing them to my floor. He fumbled with my zipper, his haste getting the better of him. He was writhing now, and I couldn’t wait for him to undo my pants. I kissed his smooth chest, his ribs, his stomach. I nipped his hipbones as I slid his sexy briefs down. I looked up at him, but his head was already tipped back. His fingers wound into my hair as I ran my tongue up the length of him.

  “The safe word is blueberry,” I said against his dick. He laughed, picking his head up to meet my gaze. I took him completely into my mouth, and his hips bucked wildly. I was almost afraid he’d hit my gag reflex, but I moved with him just in time.

  It had been a really long time since I’d sucked dick. I wondered if I was fucking it up somehow, but between both of his hands digging into my scalp and the sounds coming from his throat, I quickly remembered that this wasn’t a science.

  He pulled my head up suddenly, and I met his eyes. He was breathing rapidly, sweat sticking his hair to his forehead. I gave him a moment to catch his breath.

  “I didn’t want to finish yet,” he finally gasped. I smiled, wiping the spit from my face and kissing him again.

  “I want you,” I managed to get out. He nodded madly, wrapping his hand around my cock as I fumbled in my bedside drawer for condoms. I looked down at him, my brain processing if it would be rude to ask if he was a top or bottom. He snatched the condoms from my hand and bit one open, sliding it down onto my dick.

  “If that’s okay.” He grinned at me, and I nodded. I managed to find the bottle of lube buried under various chargers and flicked the top open. It was supposed to smell like strawberries, but I never thought it did. I squeezed some into my hand, slathering it down my cock. Sullivan motioned for the bottle, getting his own handful and rubbing it between his cheeks.

  “Okay, so, I haven’t done this in a long time, and—” He shut me up with a forceful tug on the back of my neck. I kissed him hungrily, his legs wrapping around my hips, his hand sneaking down to help guide me.

  “You’re okay,” he whispered, looking up at me. He placed his dry hand to my face, running his thumb over my cheek. I nodded. I slowly slid inside him, the feeling curling my toes. His back arched, his nails dug into my spine. He began to moan my name with each thrust, and I balanced on my knees, pumping into him and stroking his dick at the same time.

  “I’m gonna…” he panted, bringing me back down to kiss him. I landed on one hand, refusing to stop working him with the other. I could feel myself getting close too. I picked up the pace, losing any composure I’d previously had. I bit down into his neck, harder than I meant to, as I exploded into him. I felt his cum splatter against my stomach and chest. He pumped his hips instinctually, gripping my shoulders as the shudders from both of us stopped.

  I kissed him again, much more tenderly. His hair was a mess, the bun half fallen out and knotted. I reluctantly slid out of him, taking the condom off and throwing it into my trash can. I stood, holding my hand out to him. We both trotted to the bathroom to clean ourselves off. He asked if Ronan was home, and I reassured him that we were fine.

  We made our way back to the bedroom, this time with Tiberius following closely behind us. We all sank into the bed, Sully’s head resting on my shoulder. I kissed his temple, drifting off to sleep before I could stop myself.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sullivan

  Waking up next to a man who’s been up and wants to canoodle is just so amazing. In the movies.

  In reality, I am not allowing another human being to touch or kiss me until I’ve tinkled, showered, brushed my teeth, and tended to my hair and skin. This was a concept that Duane had a little trouble with. See, he was a cuddle bunny, and while I adore snuggling close on the couch to watch Queer Eye, or after mind-blowing sex being wrapped up and kissed on at dawn just isn’t my cup of tea.

  “No, honey, I have dragon breath,” I pleaded when he wiggled close, his cock hard as a phone pole, grinding into my ass. Both dogs were on the bed, and truth be told, their breath was fresher than mine.

  “I made pancakes to celebrate our one-month anniversary,” Duane purred as he nibbled on my bare shoulder.

  Oh, how sweet…but pancakes? They’d settle on my ass like an anchor. Anchor ass was not a title I wanted on my resume. I reached back to pat his hair. It was soft and bouncy. He must have recently conditioned it as I’d mentioned in passing but not really passing.

  “You’re so precious. Can you put mine on a plate and I’ll warm them up when I’m done prettying myself up?”

  “Mm, yeah, okay.” He slipped a hand into my briefs and cupped my junk. “You sure you don’t want to mess around?”

  “I’m too gross and yucky, babe, but I can get you off,” I offered graciously. He mumbled a little then declined the offer. “Are you sure? What’s a little more spunk on my back?”

  “Well, if you’re sure.”

  Turns out I rather enjoy a good fuck in the morning as long as my face is in a pillow and my hair is wrapped around a hand. Still, when we were done, I ran from the bed to the bathroom, the dogs following me then departing when they got bored. Forty-five minutes later, I stepped into the kitchen, fresh as a daisy and feeling like a ray of sunshine. Duane jumped up from the table, Aliyah, sitting with him, burned me to a crisp with a look.

  “The next time you two go at it at six in the morning, will you please use a ball gag?” She lit a cigarette while glaring, never taking her eyes off it. It was rather impressive.

  “You’re the ugliest morning glory ever.” I walked past her to give Duane a long, sweet kiss. He grabbed my ass then hoisted me up and onto him. A little purr escaped me.

  “For God’s sake, give it a fucking break will you?” my darling roomie snapped. We pulled apart. I wiped at the corners of Duane’s plump lips to remove the pink gloss I’d left behind. “I hope you get to the bored with each other phase of this relationship soon. This giggly, daffodil, sigh-infested stage is going to kill me.”

  She rose, grabbed her coffee, and gave me another dark look.

  “Oh, do go back to bed. You’re cramping our happy times with your hungover bitch aura,” I threw out then wiggled into Duane’s embrace even closer.

  “Two words. Ball. Gag.” Aliyah pointed her smoke at Duane then stormed off, her door slamming loudly enough to make Tiberius bark.

  “She kind of scares me,” Duane said into my hair. “You smell so good. Sit down. I’ll get the plate of pancakes warmed up for you.”

  I sat, and I smiled, and I fussed over the stack of flapjacks, but I only ate a quarter of a pancake with some strawberries sweetened with Splenda. Duane was crestfallen.

  “You know eating more than a twig every day isn’t going to hurt you,” he said then tugged the plate of pancakes to his side of the table.

  “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips,” I gently reminded him. He rolled his eyes. “And I did eat a half of one. It was yummy. Don’t be cross. It’s not that I don’t want to eat them, I do. God, I just want to slather butter and syrup all over them and…” I had to stop to compose myself. “It’s just that as a dancer—”