Anthony's Story
"Uh, Manuel. Please. We can't."
"You are a tease, Anthony. I am becoming weary of it."
The slim dancer rolled out from underneath the larger, muscular Cuban, who sat up on the bed and snorted his frustration. The two had been in a sixty-nine position on the bed, the dark-skinned Cuban on his elbows and knees suspended over the dark-complexioned, smaller man with the sultry, almost pretty face, and the black curly hair. Nonetheless, as a background dancer in movie musicals, he was as hard bodied as the muscular Cuban and could crack walnuts with his thighs.
The two had been stretched out in reverse and sucking cock. Manuel had also let his fingers wander into Anthony's crack, with his middle finger toying with the rimâwhich Anthony had moaned for but not objected toâand from there tapping on the hole itself and starting to sink in. That had moved into taboo territory. Manuel didn't force the issue, but he did test it on occasion.
Anthony, whose pay was low despite having worked in movies since he was sixteen, had lived in Manuel's apartment since he had turned eighteen two months previously. As a saxophonist in background orchestras and at clubs, when he needed cash, Manuel was better off financially than Anthony was.
Manuel had taken Anthony in at a cut rate as a roommate because he wanted to fuck the luscious little dancer of Italian origin. He'd been working on doing that for the past two months. He wouldn't take the smaller man by force, though. It had to be Anthony's choice. Anthony had continually said it was what he wanted, but that it couldn't happen yet.
"Why?" Manuel asked out of frustration. "I can understand waiting until you're eighteen, but I didn't lay a hand on you until you wereâI didn't take you in as a roommate until you were. I'm not doing anything more than you keep saying you want to do with me. You suck my cock and let me suck yours. You let me come in your mouth. Why don't you let me fuck your ass? Are you afraid of it? Am I too big for you?"
"Yes, of course I'm afraid of it. Of course it's bigâit's huge," Anthony said, forcing a grin, trying to take the edge off Manuel's suppressed anger. "But that's not it. Just be patient. Probably just for a few more days."
"Patient for just a few more days. You can't do something today that you will be willing to do in a few days?" His eyes went to the nightstand and to the book laying there. "Say, this doesn't have anything to do with the interview you said you had tomorrow with that movie producer . . . what's his name . . . Atkins . . . Ted Atkins, would it?"
"Why do you ask?" The tone of Anthony's voice was suddenly defensive.
"You're reading this bookâ
Danny's Choice
. And I've heard Atkins is going to produce a movie on it. Jorge is composing a soundtrack score, on the hush hush, and is already lining up an orchestra. I said I'd play. But does this timing have anything to do with Atkins? I've heard about him and his first-time fetish. How he collects young men's cherries. You're not saving yourself for him, are you?"
"That's a lot of questions, Manuel," Anthony said, but he was looking away from Manuel. He couldn't look the Cuban in the face.
"OK, let's count them off, then. And be truthful with me or you might find your suitcase out in the hallway. You've teased me long enough. Are you reading this book because you want to audition for a part in the movie? You know it's to be a graphic underground homo coming of age movie, don't you?"
"That still isn't one question."
"Answer them." It wasn't a request.
"Yes, I know what the screenplay will be about. And, yes, I want to audition for a part."
"With the producer himself? Aren't minor speaking roles worked out between central casting and your agent?"
"I'm not auditioning for just any role. I'm auditioning to be Danny."
"The lead?"
"Yes."
Manuel whistled. "That's quite a jump from the dance line. And you're going to try to get the part by letting the producer fuck you? To take your ass-channel virginity? Is that it? I can't fuck you in the ass until Ted Atkins has fucked you?"
"Yes, that's right. But it's more complicated than that."
"Sounds pretty complicated to me already. How much more complicated can it get?"
"Ted Atkins has already paid for my virginity. He did that two years ago. He just accepted that he couldn't cash in until I was eighteen. I had to promise to wait for him to exercise his option."
"Exercising an option on an ass? That doesn't sound just complicated. It sounds Byzantine. What did he pay for this privilege? Looking around at what you own in this apartment, I gotta say that you must have sold yourself cheap."
"Not cheap. If I reneged, I have no idea how I'd pay him back. When I came to Los Angeles, I couldn't find any jobs better than a restaurant dishwasher. And I had a talent, a skill for the entertainment industry. Do you have any idea how few male dancers there are compared to female ones?âI'm not talking about Chippendale pole dancers. Classically trained dancers to work the stage and in movie musicals." He didn't wait for Manuel to guess.
"Ted Atkins saw me at an audition. I didn't get that gig, but he made a deal with me. If I'd give him my virginity when I reached eighteen, he'd make sure I'd have work from thenâwhen I was sixteen. He's been good at his word. I've had work."
"Not great work, and not work that advanced you."
"But work. I managed to stay in Hollywood and to feed myselfâand to be in the movies and do some stage work too. I wouldn't even have an agent if Ted Atkins hadn't gotten one to take me on. I wouldn't have worked the last two years at what I wanted to do. I probably wouldn't even still be in Los Angeles."
"But your ass. You sold your ass."
"I am gay. I knew when I was sixteen I was gay. I've shown you I want male sex, haven't I? I just haven't done it all with you. That doesn't mean I don't want to or don't intend to. I'm not sure whether Mr. Atkins would be thrilled to know how much I've done with you. It's just for a couple of more days, I'm sure. I got the interviewâfor 6:00 p.m., when it would be just him at the office. He'll call in the chit, I know."
"I don't know."
"And, don't you see? I'm asking for more. I'm taking advantage of what he couldâand probably willâdemand to hit him up for the lead in
Danny's Choice
. If I can make him want me again and again, I maybe can parley this into my big chance."
"You might have to fuck a lot of toads. You might become Atkins' boy toy."