Behind the Lens (Behind the Lives) (28 page)

Corey
started crying. Sledge climbed onto the bed, and pulled Corey into his arms,
glaring over him at Tama. “Fuck off,” he mouthed.

Looking
pained, Tama pushed to his feet. “We knew each other first,” he said, his voice
sounding hurt, making Sledge feel bad for the first time.

“I
love Corey more than anyone,” Sledge said, pushing his guilt aside, because
Tama had brought this down on himself. “And if you want to compete with him,
you’ll lose.”

“But
you can’t be a fag, you’ve fucked chicks. You said you liked it, loved tits and
pussy.”

“So
the fuck what? I love fucking Corey more.”

Tama
screwed up his face. “That’s sick.”

“In
your opinion: convicted rapist.”

“I’m
not a rapist!”

“Again,
I don’t know who to believe. Maybe Nike had a right to take you down.”

“No,
he didn’t! And you should believe me! Mates stick by each other.”

“And
they don’t threaten each other’s loved ones.”

“I
love you like a brother!”

“I
love you the same way, but I can’t have you in my life if ya do shit like this,
cos love is so fuckin’ close to hate.”

Tama
shook his head. “No, I saved your brother, you owe me.”

“Then
he
owes you, not me, and I’d like to see ya try to get payment from Ash
other a fist in your face and your balls in your mouth.”

“You’re
both ungrateful bastards!”

“Just
leave, Tama, and be
grateful
I didn’t bash you for what ya did.”

“No,
I live here.”

“Not
any more. I risked everyone in this house for you, and this is how you repay
me?”

“I
did everything for you.”

“Bullshit!
You did it for yourself. No one hurts Corey and gets away with it.”

“But,
we’ve been mates since we were thirteen, way before you and Corey became
mates.”

“You’re
repeating yourself, and he’s my lover, not my mate.
Big
difference.”

“No!
This shit happened cos I went to prison and you didn’t. You bashed Nike too.”

“But
I didn’t stab him! And I didn’t fuckin’ get with his wife and stab his sister!
I stuck by you, but you didn’t stick by me when I told you to leave Corey
alone. So. Fuck. OFF!”

Tama
shook his head. “Please.”

Sledge
had never heard Tama say please for anything.  He looked down at Corey, who was
staring up at him, his wet face so sweet. Sledge leaned down and kissed him on
the lips, wanting to protect him so bad, but fucking up every time. When he
pulled away from the kiss, he straightened Corey’s beanie, then looked back at
Tama, who stared across the bed at him in horror.

Sledge
sneered back. “What are you staring at, fag hater?”

Tama
shook his head. “I could never hate you.”

“So,
you pick and choose which fags are okay? Or am I the exception to the rule?”

“You’re
not a fag to me, you’re a bro.”

“And
what is Corey to you?”

Tama
clenched his jaw.

“Will
you ever be able to accept him being with me?” Sledge asked.

“No,
he’s not right for you; he can’t give you real sex.”

“He’s
given me the best orgasms ever.”

Tama
screwed up his face, spitting out his next words. “That’s foul! And no matter
how much cum you pump up there he can’t give ya kids.”

“I’m
already having a kid. Stella’s pregnant with my baby.”

Tama
swore. “Then you should be with her.”

“You
can’t stand her.”

“So
the fuck what? You got her pregnant; therefore you should do the right thing
and marry her.”

“What
a load of crap. You wouldn’t do that if you got her pregnant, so stop giving me
shit. And that woman wuz just a one-night stand, whereas Corey’s a lifetime
commitment.”

“Who
the fuck speaks like that?”

“Me,
and I mean it, I’d die for him.”

Tama
ran a hand over his head. “That ain’t right, that shit’s only said in movies,
it ain’t real. Real love is for family and mates, not for a gay cock-box.”

“Don’t
call him that! I told you, I love him more than anyone.”

“Why?”
Tama pulled a face. “Cos I don’t get it. What does he give you? He’s a skinny
li’l
Pākehā
with no
hair and a smart mouth that asks to be smacked.”

“You
should see his smart mouth wrapped round my cock,” Sledge said, purposely
taunting Tama, wanting him to storm out.

Tama
threw his hands up. “So he’s a good cocksucker, whoopy-fuckin’-doo, but no
amount of sucking can substitute for pussy.”

“Oh,
you haven’t had his arse clamped around your cock. It’s so much tighter than a
pussy; it makes me wanna come instantly.”

Tama
covered his ears. “Shut up!”

“And
the way he moans when he comes makes me hard just thinking about it,” Sledge
said. “And you should see him frig himself for me, making his hole big enough
for me to slip my cock in, it’s the sexiest thing ever—”

“You’re
disgusting!” Tama took off out of the room, half-hobble, half-run, no doubt his
balls still hurting. Sledge heard Tama rummaging in the next room, then a few
minutes later the front door slammed. Sledge let go of Corey and headed to the
window, peeking through the curtains. Tama was standing in the middle of the
lawn with his head bowed, then he swiped at his face like he was wiping away
tears. He glanced at the window that Sledge was looking through, his expression
devastated, then he took off, limping away as though he was broken.

Sledge
turned back to Corey and slid into the bed next to him. He nestled into his
lover’s arms, gripping onto him tight, feeling like he’d won his heart, but lost
his soul.

15

Dante

Dante woke up to a mouth on
his dick. He kept his eyes closed, groaning into the sucking, the tea-bagging,
and after a few minutes, a very happy morning release—until he opened his eyes
and saw Jade’s cum-smeared lips.

“Shit!”
Dante bolted upright, banging the back of his head against the headboard. He jumped
off the bed, not understanding why the fuck he’d just had his stalker at the
end of his dick. He pointed at Jade from the other side of the bed. “Why the
fuck are you in my house?”

“You’re
in my house,” Jade said, licking his lips.

Dante
looked around the room. White saturated the walls, bed, and carpet like a
snowstorm had washed away the colour, except for the gold, silver and bronze
pictures lining one wall, looking like music awards. His gaze moved to an
ornate cabinet, its swirling designs inlaid with silver. On top was a pile of
cash, which made something prickle at the back of his mind, telling him it was
payment for… “Fuck no!” he yelled. “I wouldn’t take money for sex, I wouldn’t!”

“You
most certainly did,” Jade said. “And by the way: you were a
very
rough
boy, and to clarify rough, you held me down and rammed me so hard I deep-throated
you from the other end.”

Dante
stared at the guy, not believing what he was hearing. “I fucked you up the
arse?” he croaked.

“So
hard I can’t sit on it.”

“Fuck,
fuck, fuck, fuck!”

Jade
smiled, looking seriously happy. “Yes, that word’s very apt
,
and because
you were so rough, you promised to make it up to me.”

Dante
shook his head, horrified with himself, not believing he could do that, even
while drunk.

Jade
nodded towards the money. “You should put that away, it’s yours.”

Dante
looked at it again, thinking there was a shitload of red there. “I can’t
believe I fucked you for money.”

“It
was the only way I could get you, and by the way, you promised to stay with me
today
and
tomorrow. I’m also taking you to a party at your old boss’s
place.”

“Craven?”

“Yes,
but I call him Nigel.”

Dante
indicated to the money. “Is that what the money’s for as well?”

“Yes,
and one more thing, we have to go shopping to get you some new clothes.”

“No
fuckin’ way, I hate shopping.”

“Regardless,
it’s happening.”

“No
it ain’t.”

“Do
you remember what you said about the police?”

Dante
frowned. “What did I say?”

“You
wanted me to turn you in for raping me—”

“I
wanted what?!”

“Don’t
worry, it was all a misunderstanding. You totally got the wrong idea why I was
screaming, but you still hurt me, which is why you wanted to make up for it.
Hence,” Jade rounded the bed, “you’re going to let me buy you some hot new
clothes.”

Dante
backed up. “I like my old ones, and how’s it making up for things if I’m
spending your money?”

“It’ll
make me extremely happy seeing you in clothes that I’ve bought.”

Dante
sneered at him. “Like you own me. Well, fuck off, no one owns me.”

“I
do, because I bought you with that money, well, your time anyway, and,
gorgeous, I know you owe
a lot
of money to
a lot
of people, so
you can’t exactly turn me down.”

Dante
looked back at the money, then rubbed his sore head, thinking that the guy was
right. “What’s this party for?” he asked, wondering whether he could have a
private chat with Craven.

“It’s
for the next series of big-brother-styled pornography. Considering how you used
to work for him, I thought you would’ve been told about it.”

Dante
continued to massage his sore head, the guy’s voice hurting it. “I don’t know
everything he does, but I’m definitely goin’, cos I want my old job back, while
someone else can fuck you, cos I ain’t a whore.”

Jade
exhaled. “You really do have a huge chip on your shoulder. Well, it doesn’t
matter, because we’re all whores to our trades, whether it’s fucking or getting
fucked. Me personally, I prefer to get fucked in the bedroom, and to fuck my
competitors over in business. So, Dante, would you like to continue fucking in
the bed while getting fucked over in business?”

“Change
the second one, cos I’m sick of it.”

“Then
how about you work for me instead of Craven?”

“I’m
not a gigolo.”

“I
wasn’t referring to that, but if you’re willing to become my lover, then I’ll
pay you handsomely.”

“Minus
the lover shit, what do ya want me to do?”

“You’re
a fantastic singer, and were
so
much better than that poor excuse from
that pub band. And with your looks, I think you’d sell extremely well. Hence,
I’d love to sign you up to my label.”

“Your
label?”

“I’m
a music producer. I have offices in the US, England, Sweden, Australia, and of
course, here.”

“Really?”
Dante said in awe. “What type of music do you make? Cos I’m a hard rock or rap
type of guy. I love reggae too.”

“You
can do a lot—and
very
well.”

Dante
pulled a face. “We’re talking ’bout music, not fucking, so don’t rub what I did
in my face.”

Jade
grinned. “I’d love to rub my—”

“Shut
it!”

Jade
laughed. “You are so easy to rile. Anyway, after we have a fuck, shit, shower
and shave, we can head out; buy you some clothes, then go to the studio.”

“Minus
the fuck part.”

Jade
pouted. “Spoilsport.”

Knowing
Jade was all talk, definitely not up for another fucking with the way he was walking;
Dante rushed him, wanting to turn the tables on the smart cunt. He pushed Jade
onto the bed, then climbed on top of his naked arse, making the guy scream out,
“No-oooooooo!”

Laughing,
Dante got off him. “Spoilsport, your sore arse.”

Jade
shot up off the bed. “Don’t ever do that again!”

Dante
stepped closer, moving his face down to Jade’s. “I’ll do whatever and whoever I
want, and it’s not you. But if you fuck me off, maybe I’ll do sumpthin’ you
aren’t willing to pay for.” He grabbed Jade’s wrists and clamped them behind
his back. “By the way, I forgot to take my meds last night, so it’s not a good
idea to piss me off, cos when I get pissed off I tend to go psycho.”

A
tremble ran through Jade’s body. He closed his eyes, his features far too
turned-on for Dante’s liking. Dante moved to the side, not wanting to get
anywhere near Jade’s cock, because the little prick was saluting him. He
whispered in Jade’s ear, “I bet I could make you come without even touching
your dick.”

Jade
moaned long, looking like he—

Dante’s
eyes shot to Jade’s cock. Streaks of cum dribbled down Jade’s stomach.
Disgusted, he let go off Jade and stepped back. “You dirty li’l bugger, you’re
worse than a fuckin’ teenager.”

“I’d
love to be your slave,” Jade breathed out, his cheeks flushed.

Dante
raised his head. “My what?”

“I
want to be your slave.”

“What
am I? A wacko magnet?”

“I’d
pay you for it.”

Dante
cocked his head to the side and grinned, wondering just how far he could push
Jade. “’Kay, you can be my slave. Now kneel.”

Jade
got down on his knees, staring up at Dante far too sweetly for his liking.
Pretty little bugger.

“Kiss
my feet,” Dante snarled.

Jade
kissed them, making Dante’s sour mood drop. He laughed, thinking this was
fucking hilarious. “Suck my toe.” He whipped it back as Jade went for it.
“Christ, you were actually gonna do it.”

“Of
course.”

“Did
I tell you to speak, slave?”

Jade
shook his head, looking liked Dante had whipped him.

“Don’t
look at me,” Dante said.

Jade
bowed his head, making Dante smile again. He looked over at the safe. “Gimme
all of the money in the safe.”

Jade’s
head shot up. “No way!”

“You
hafta do everything I say, slave, so empty it now.”

“No,
there’s a hundred grand in there.”

Dante’s
eyes widened. “Are you nuts? Who the hell has that sort of money in their
house?”

“It’s
for Nigel.”

“No,
it’s mine, cos you’re my slave and will do what I command.”

“You
can’t command me to do that, that’s not what a slave means; you can’t take
everything from me.”

“That’s
precisely what a slave is, dipshit.”

“No,
it’s a sexual thing.”

“Like
hell it is. If you were my slave, you’d belong to me, and I could do whatever
the hell I like to you, whether it’s making you work for me, or licking the
floor clean. You have absolutely no free will.”

“That’s
not what I want. What I’m asking for isn’t the same as a real slave, just a
sexual one.”

“I
don’t want a male sex slave; that sucks, and not in the right way, but if you
grow some tits and get a pussy, and chop off wee-willy-winkie, then maybe.”

“Do
you have to be so rude?”

“That’s
my nature and you love it.”

“You
still need to learn some manners.”

“And
you needa learn to kiss my arse, slave boy.”

Jade
shuffled towards Dante, making him jump back. “I didn’t mean it literally!”

Jade
looked up at him. “Okay, I’ll give you money; I’ll pay you ten percent of what
I earn if you live with me.”

“I
ain’t living with you, and ten percent’s shit.”

“It
isn’t when I’m worth millions.”

Dante’s
eyebrows lifted. “How many millions?”

“More
than you can handle, and plenty to buy whatever you want. Do you want a Harley?
Maybe a Ferrari or a Maserati? A Maserati would be worth more than your house,
and you’d be able to purchase one in under a year by living with me—
with
cash
.”

Dante’s
eyes widened. “Yeah, I want a Harley and a dirt bike with all the gear.”

“Then
you’ll be my lover?”

“Hell
no, I’d rather cut off my nuts and eat them than do that.”

“But
you enjoyed what we did last night.”

“For
all I know you’re spinning me a load of bull, cos I don’t remember jack-shit
after the pub.”

“Okay,
we’ll compromise,” Jade said, looking annoyed. “You live here, but instead of
fucking me you’ll sing for my label.”

Dante
ran a hand over his mouth, definitely liking that idea. “Sure, I can do that,
just as long as I have a lock on my bedroom door, cos I don’t wanna wake up to
you sucking me off again.”

Jade’s
jaw clenched. “You came.”

“Under
false pretences.”

“That
doesn’t make sense.”

“So
the fuck what, I get to choose who sucks me, not you.”

“But
you have to give me something else. I want to see you naked. Every. Day.”

“I
don’t give a shit, you can look away, you already are,” Dante said, holding out
his arms. “But just as long as you keep your hands to yourself.”

“No.
I want to be able to touch you, but I promise to keep my cock to myself,” Jade
smiled, “though, you can put your cock wherever it pleases you.”

“Which
is in a chick, and if you stick your fingers where the sun don’t shine, I’ll
make sure it’s up yours and not mine.”

“Deal.”
Jade held out a hand.

Dante
stared at it for a moment, then took a hold of Jade’s hand and shook it, hoping
he wasn’t going to regret this.

***

Following Jade to the next
shop, Dante entered through the sliding doors, holding a bag with snakeskin
boots and a box belonging to the VERY expensive pair of sunglasses he was
wearing. He pushed them to the top of his head, and sized up the store,
thinking this one might not be so bad, the line of leathers on his left
definitely of interest.

The
salesperson, a skinny dude in a pink polo shirt and white pants, rushed over to
Jade. “Can I help you, Mr. Park?” The young bloke’s face flustered as he stole
shy glances at Dante.

Dante
smiled at him, making the guy even more flustered.

“You
most certainly can help me, Remy,” Jade answered. “My client, Mr. Rata, will
require a full wardrobe to be delivered to my house. Charge everything to my
business account.” He pointed to the rack of leathers. “He needs to try on some
fitted pants, a range of low riders and ones like he’s wearing now, but
obviously much better quality.”

Dante
glanced down at his pants, thinking they weren’t cheap shit, costing him well
over three hundred bucks. He walked to the rack of leathers, checking the price
tag on a black pair. “Shit,” he said, his eyes popping at how many zeros there
were.