Chapter 68
“My name is Troy,” he said. His brown eyes captivated me.
“Rudy,” I said.
He pulled away and went back to his sheets, giving me ample opportunity to look at him from head to toe.
His body wasn’t perfect, but his face was indeed as beautiful as his picture online. From his dark features, I guessed he was perhaps Greek or Italian. He was shorter than I expected, and also a bit heavier. Still, it was just a small paunch, and his thighs and ass were so amazing they could have been sculpted. Gorgeous hair covered his legs, but I noticed his stomach, ass, and back were quite smooth. He almost certainly waxed.
His mattress and box springs were on the floor, and to tuck in his sheets he had to bend over, thrusting up that magical ass. I tore my eyes from his body and looked at my surroundings, noticing several bottles of medication on a cardboard box he used as a nightstand. All of them anti-depressants.
Eying his trash can, I said, “You’re a busy lad. Three different men have fucked you since the last time you emptied this.”
He blushed. “That’s right, but how do you know it’s not the same guy three times?”
“One regular Trojan wrapper. One extra-large. And the third is some other brand. My guess is that fellow brought his own.”
“Good work, detective. I ran out earlier, but I just bought some more. Have a seat while I find them.”
I sat at his computer and saw our conversation was still up on his screen. He also had a photo folder open, and I froze. All naked pictures of muscular young men. No one older than maybe thirty-five.
“Aha. Found them,” he said, picking up a pharmacy bag from the floor.
“You’re not attracted to me at all, are you?” I said. “Why am I even here? You like young guys like yourself.”
He fell onto his bed face up and spread his legs. “No, those aren’t guys I want to be with. Those are guys I want to be. Those are all pics of porn star bottoms.”
Now that I looked again, they were mostly pictures of naked backsides. “So that’s your goal in life? To be in porn?” Maybe if he worked out a lot he could have a chance, but I didn’t say that.
“No, my parents would kill me.”
I nodded. I approved of young people who still respected their parents’ wishes. “So what is your goal?”
“I don’t know. I guess to make guys happy by giving up my ass to them.”
I looked at him lying there naked, waiting for me. My dick was rock hard, but I felt a knot of anger gnawing at me. “That’s it? That’s what you’re going to do with your life? That’s absurd.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“You have the freedom to do whatever you want and this is what you do? God, take some responsibility! When I was your age, I’d already had ten times the pain you’ll ever have and none of the pleasures.”
Annoyance creased Troy’s brow. “I’m sorry, but what are you talking about?”
“I always did what I was supposed to. I wanted to go to DC and be gay and join the Mattachine Society, but instead I went to Viet Nam. When I got back, I wanted to go to New York with all its free love, but I stayed in Richmond and took care of my parents.”
“Sounds like you’re a wonderful and responsible guy,” Troy said with no hint of sarcasm.
“Do you know I never break the law? Never. That’s how I was raised.”
He looked at me for a moment. “So, until Virginia was forced to repeal the sodomy law, you’d never screwed?”
I nodded. He was smarter than he looked. “I marched. I donated money. I wrote letters to politicians, but I never had sex. All so you could lie about and spend your life getting fucked.”
He gave me an impatient look and lifted his legs in the air. “But now you can put your frustration aside and reap the benefits of all your hard work!” God, his rump was nice. How did I get myself so worked up? Why was I mad at him?
“Do you even have a job?” I asked, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice. “Or is this what you do for a living? I figured I’d have to pay you. Just like the rest.”
He kept his legs in the air. “I work in a candle shop in The Fan District. It’s not much, but I’m saving money so I can go to one of those online colleges. And if you’re paying guys for sex, then actually you are breaking the law.”
I shook my head. “I don’t pay cash. We just work something out. A used car. A trip to Miami. Maybe I should pay for a college class for you.”
“No.” Troy looked irritated. “You don’t have to buy me anything.”
“You’re not attracted to me,” I said, looking at the floor. “Why would you be?”
He sighed and lowered his legs. “Rudy, trust me, I like you. Or I did like you, but I’m feeling insulted now. I think we should forget it.”
My stomach lurched. What had I done? Why am I always my worst enemy?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”
“It seems like you think because I didn’t serve in the armed forces or dedicate myself to a celibate struggle for gay rights, I’m a worthless person. I think you should leave.” He wouldn’t look at me. Oh, gosh, did I feel bad.