3
Dylan began to relax as Garrett coaxed him into a partner’s game of eight-ball against Lucas and Hal. Dylan and Hal had played probably hundreds of games of pool over the years and Dylan had proved to be just a little better than his friend. Of course, that wasn’t how Hal would tell it.
“How good are you?” Garrett asked as he chalked his stick.
“Better than him.” Dylan smiled and nodded at Hal.
“Well, all right.” Garrett laughed and bumped fists with him.
“What is this crock of shit you’re spewing?” Hal snorted, looked at Lucas, and shook his head. “He ain’t better than me.”
“Then we got it in the bag.” Lucas smirked. “’Cause Garrett isn’t better than me.”
“Only in your little fantasy world are you better than me.” Garrett rolled his eyes and nudged Dylan. “We got this.”
Lucas grinned. “Bring it on and let’s see whocumsouton top.”
The blatant sexual innuendo and lusty look in Lucas’ eyes reminded Dylan where he was and who these guys were. And Lucas’ next words drilled in that reality.
“So, what’re the stakes?” Lucas asked with a dark gleam in his blue eyes. “Winners get to fuck the losers?”
The bystanders liked that idea and cheered Lucas.
Dylan looked anxiously at Garrett.
“Why does there always have to be stakes?” Garrett asked. “Why can’t we just play the game?”
Draping his arm across Hal’s shoulders, Lucas chuckled. “He knows they can’t beat us. They’re afraid of us, baby.”
Hal nodded and winked at Dylan. “I believe they are.”
“Fuck you.” Garrett laughed.
“That is the idea,” Lucas returned. “So, those are the stakes?”
Garrett shook his head and grinned. “Just play the fucking game.” He leaned toward Dylan and spoke low. “Doesn’t matter the stakes, we’ll kick their asses.”
Dylan smiled nervously. He was only slightly less uneasy aboutdoingthe fucking as he was at the prospect ofgettingfucked. Either way, he would be having sex with aguy.
Lucas went up first and broke. Each time he bent over to make a shot, Hal’s eyes drifted to his ass. Lucas was aware and arched his ass just a bit, tempting Hal.
When it came Dylan’s turn at the table, he was self-conscious about leaning over and “presenting” himself with a roomful of gay porn stars gathered around. So focused was he on the other men and who might be standing too close, that his hands shook a little, throwing off his shot. The ball ricocheted off the corner pocket and spun haphazardly across the table.
Dylan straightened up, his gut knotting. He rubbed his face. “Sorry,” he mumbled at Garrett.
“Don’t sweat it.” Garrett clapped him on the back. “We’re just beginning. We’ll win this.”
Hal smirked as he took his turn and sank his ball, then another. He grinned and blew on the tip of his stick and winked at Dylan. “Better step up your game, baby.”
Normally, Dylan was quick with snarky comebacks to Hal’s ribbing. Not today. Hal was loving this, but for Dylan—this experience could unravel the very fabric of his life.
“You can beat him, Dylan! We believe in you!” The twins gathered nearby, arms linked, faces bright with excitement.
Garrett laughed out loud and pointed at Lucas and Hal. “You boys are fucked now. Whoever the twins root for—always win!”
Was he joking?
“It’s true!” the two boys piped up. Dylan looked around and the other guys in the room nodded and grinned.
