Page 45 of Pieces of Me

Feeling like a side of beef, Rylan spun in a slow circle before facing him again, and he could feel a blush spreading from his chest up into his face, making his ears burn.

“A little skinny,” the man finally pronounced, “but nice ass and great package. Guys who go for the twinky look will love you. Okay, shift started ten minutes ago and ends at five. Like I said on the phone, two hundred dollars in cash for the day, plus tips. You get a half-hour lunch, and you can take it whenever you want. Drop the stuff off here and lemme know when you’re going.”

Rylan nodded, and the man stepped a little closer. “And whatever, um, ‘arrangements’ you make on the side, I don’t wanna know about ’em, and you better not be fucking around while on my clock. Got it?”

“Arrangements? Fucking around?” Rylan’s voice had gone squeaky again, and this time he didn’t care. His eyes widened as the man got so close his barrel chest was brushing against Rylan’s bare arm.

“Baby, this is Pride. Sex sells, and you are one sexy little thing.” He licked his lips.

Rylan took a step back. “Well, I’m not here for that. I’m here to work.”

The man shrugged. “Up to you, cupcake. I’m tellin’ you that if I catch you fooling around while you’re supposed to be selling, I won’t pay you. And I mean it.”

Rylan nodded, and the man winked at him. “Good. Now that we understand each other―” He turned away to rummage in a box of something. “Let’s get you ready.”

“Ready?” Rylan asked in horror. “You mean I’m not ready yet?” He waved his hand down his half-naked body. “Unless you have some more clothes for me to wear―” Please God. “―I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Nah,” the man said laconically, his brown eyes holding a hearty gleam of amusement. “It’s like this: your body is my advertising, so I’m gonna need to put a few more things on it.”

“You want to put things,” Rylan said flatly, “on my body.” He heaved a resigned sigh. “Whatever.”

The man moistened a piece of paper towel with a bottle of water sitting nearby and reached out to brush the wet cloth over a patch of skin on Ryan’s chest directly above his left nipple.

“Mmm, no body hair,” the man said approvingly. “Makes putting the tattoo on so much easier. Sexy.” His pinky finger grazed Rylan’s nipple as he worked, causing the sensitive bud to stiffen. Rylan started to jerk away but forced himself to stand still.

“What―what’s your name?” Rylan croaked, doing something―anything―to distract himself from his embarrassment. The guy bent over him wasn’t bad looking. He was muscular, with a neatly trimmed beard and shaggy hair that brushed his shoulders, wearing tight jeans and a pink tank top with the words “Sloan’s Novelties” scrawled across the front.

The man was busy pressing the temporary tattoo to Rylan’s damp skin, but he peeked up at him through surprisingly long eyelashes. “Sloan,” he said, his voice dry as a bone.

Rylan cleared his throat. “Well, I guess that makes sense, considering the name of your company. I mean, I should have assumed you were the Sloan of Sloan’s Novelties, but I―” He stopped babbling as Sloan carefully lifted off the backing and blew softly over the fresh tattoo, drying it. He was so close his lips were almost touching Rylan’s chest, but he suddenly straightened, putting his hands on his hips and looking at his handiwork with satisfaction.

“Perfect.” He picked up another one and repeated the exercise, until Rylan had tattoos on both pecs. Rylan peered down at them and winced, trying not to groan. Apparently he was to advertise something “Lickable” and “Suckable,” since those words were now emblazoned on his chest in bright-red temporary ink.

“Okay,” Sloan said briskly, stepping behind the folding table and lifting a tray up from the ground. “In case you didn’t know, I specialize in penis lollipops. I call them―wait for it―Cock Suckers.” He cracked up, and Rylan managed a smile, wondering if it looked as sickly as it felt.

“How original,” he muttered, but the sarcasm went right over Sloan’s head because he beamed.

“I know!” Sloan exclaimed. “And they come in various sizes: average, mouthful, and choke me.” Sloan held up a fistful of colorful lollipops, waving them at Rylan proudly. “Rainbow colors, of course. Cherry is my favorite. Try one!”

Rylan held up his hand to demure, but Sloan unwrapped the cellophane from a penis and shoved it at him anyway. With a dubious look, Rylan lifted it to his lips, and gave it a cautious lick. Sloan was staring at his mouth avidly, and Rylan lowered the sucker and lied, “It’s good.”

“It helps with sales if you suck on one all throughout your shift,” Sloan informed him. “Guys like to see a hot young thing with a cock in his mouth, even a candy one. If you notice someone watching you, put on a show, make it really sexy and suggestive. Get them to come over and look at the merchandise.”

Rylan nodded, all the while thinking, Like hell I will, and Sloan widened his eyes encouragingly. “Go ahead. Show me how you’d do it.”

Rylan gulped, the cloying sweetness of the lollipop coating his tongue and drying up his mouth. “Excuse me?”

“Suck your dick!” Sloan gestured at the lollipop in Rylan’s hand. “I want to see how you’re gonna do it.”

Rylan opened his mouth to say, “You can’t be fucking serious,” before thinking better of it. Rent and food. Rent and food, he chanted to himself. If sucking a candy cock was what it took to get those, then by God, he would suck it.

Feeling horribly self-conscious, Rylan lifted the candy to his lips and was about to slide it inside his mouth when Sloan suddenly burst into laughter.

“Oh, you absolute cutie,” he wheezed, slapping his thigh. “I was messing with you! You’re gonna have to be a good sport out there, and that was my test. You passed.” Still chuckling, he began arranging the lollipops on a tray, alternating them with some colorfully wrapped condoms. Rylan was so relieved to be let off the hook that he couldn’t even be mad about the trick. He discreetly tossed the penis pop into a nearby trashcan with a grimace of distaste.

“Flavored rubbers,” Sloan mumbled to himself as he worked. “Cock Suckers.” He raised his voice to address Rylan. “I’m also putting in a few samples of my new product, some squeeze packets of flavored lube, okay? Those are free for when someone buys the condoms.”

Rylan nodded, and Sloan finally pronounced the tray ready. He looked Rylan over one more time. “You look hot,” he said approvingly. “Hot and cute and sweet all at the same time. Must be the glasses in contrast with the sexy bulge. Do a good job selling today, and maybe we can make this a permanent gig. I do several trade shows in the area each month.”