Reclaiming his hand, Jenner felt the skin almost tingling where David had touched it, like he had the ability to set the molecules in your skin vibrating and knocking around with excitement.

Jenner’s mind went blank. His tongue felt thick and clumsy in his mouth and he glanced down with embarrassment at his own less impressive shirt and slacks. If the other guys on his team could have seen him then, they would have laughed their asses off. He’d never felt so out of his element, but he knew he needed to catch up, fast.

“Back to my original question,” David said, his voice low, his tone making it feel like this was a private conversation, just between them. Somehow, he was paying even closer attention to Jenner, and the rest of the room, the rest of the entire mansion, faded back. All that mattered was keeping David’s attention, and doing anything that might impress him. If Jenner could impress David, he’d have it made. “What I’d meant to say was… what in particular brings you here tonight, Mr. Parrish? I make sure to know who my guests are. It’s only polite, don’t you think? But, with someone as… intriguing and attractive as you, I knew I had to come and introduce myself. I know more than your name, you know. I already know exactly what I want from you. What I don’t know is what it is you’re looking for. The reason you’ve sought us out.”

There were discreetly dressed security guys flanking both entrances to the room, keeping an eye on them and everyone else nearby. Jenner didn’t know how he hadn’t noticed them earlier. They must have arrived with David because they hadn’t been there before. The pressure mounted even higher, the thrill of what was happening even bigger but Jenner kept tripping over his attempts to reply, stammering, “I, uh… um…”

He couldn’t tell the truth, which was that he was hard up. It was too pathetic.

“Are you looking to meet someone?” David guessed. His voice was hushed but, other than the guards, no one else nearby was paying them much attention. “Looking for a boyfriend, maybe? Or just a blowjob? Something… dirtier?”

Jenner’s blood pressure shot through the roof, his heart pounding, his skin too tight. Suddenly overheated, he felt constricted by his clothes and too aware of each and every part of his body. It was like being thrown into a game where all of the rules had changed on him and he just had to scramble to figure things out play by play, move by move.

“I’m not sure. I don’t… Not a boyfriend, no. Just… company.”

More people were gathering in the room. Drawn to David, maybe? They kept their distance, but some of them began glancing their way. David raised his eyebrows at Jenner’s answer. “Conversation then? A game of pool or cards?”

“No,” Jenner laughed breathlessly, his skin too hot, his body too big and cumbersome. “Not exactly.”

“Then what exactly? Please. Tell me. It’s all right.” His lip caught between his teeth again, and Jenner stared at that, breathing a little harder. “I mean, I can’t help you get it if I don’t know what it is you’re after, can I?”