Robert paused the video, picking up his pencil again and began sketching out the curves of hip to thigh, pausing to trace out the firm fingers digging into hip. He focused on adding weight there, so you could really feel the grip, the need of those fingers, rocking him, keeping him steady. The man was riding, gripping the other's chest to be held steady, looking back only slightly so the smallest sliver of a confident, panting grin could be seen: the hint of eyeballs rolled upward in pleasure. The man being ridden looked...
Robert stopped. The man was lying on his back and looked - snarky? Lustful? He began unconventionally, tracing out the eyebrow, and then stopped. It didn't look right. Was it something about the jawline? Was it -?
He turned the page and started over, looking at the clock. It was already eight in the morning. Damn, had he really not slept? He just wanted to do a quick sketch, maybe add color. He looked over at the other failed drawings of flowers, cars, a landscape. Normal stuff. Pretty stuff. His eyes wearily turned back to the paused porn video, which now had an ad promising to make his dick bigger.
He closed his laptop. Started to pack up. He hadn't even showered, and he imagined he still felt Mason's sweat on him.
~~~
He went to work a bit early, grabbed himself a coffee and a muffin, and picked at it, sketching expressions until he looked up and saw Mason walking through the door. He stood up. "Hey."
Mason turned. Looked at him. Smiled. "Hello."
"I, uh, I'm sorry for leaving, last night, I just - "
"No worries." Mason turned and continued to walk up the steps. He was wearing a purple suit today, complete with a yellow tie, white collared shirt, and black shoes. Robert took that in, then realized he was still wearing the same outfit from last night. He hadn't even thought about it.
He started walking up the steps, trying to keep pace. Wordlessly Mason opened the door, and Robert stepped inside, sat at his desk, and started to work on the cat from last night. Mason was clacking away at his computer.
There was no good morning, how are you, or acknowledgement. Just the sound of a keyboard clicking and sharpened graphite on textured paper. Mason usually played music, to the distaste of Joseph - top 40, jazz, indie, something - but today it was quiet.
Robert heard himself swallow loudly. His heart throbbed in his ears.
The door flew open. Joseph blinked, groggily. Mason brightened up, eyes unshining, smile a little too wide. "Good morning!"
"Yea." Joseph said, shuffling over to his table.
"The client sent your last illustration back. They have edits."
"They always do." Joseph said it flatly. Robert peeked over at Mason, who was still smiling harshly.
"Well, I'll forward you the email so you can get started on that."
"Fine." And Joseph pulled out his phone. He looked over at Robert, who was staring at him. Robert tensed and looked away, but not before seeing the annoyed look on Joseph's face.
Meanwhile, the cat was not popping out at him. It didn't look solid enough to Robert. He made a small stroke with his dark pencil, then thought it looked too dark, and started to erase softly. This was due by the end of the day, but maybe he could start over if he worked hard enough...
No. No, the cat didn't look right. And Mason was mad at him. Maybe Joseph was, too. Maybe Mason had told Joseph something? This cat was horrible. He wasn't a very good artist. What was he doing here? He was nothing but a pervert who'd slept with his boss. And all he ever did was draw porn anymore. The fuck?
The cat gazed away from him, shunning him somehow. The fur was all wrong. He'd gotten the style wrong. He squinted, and started to see the texture of the graphite, the grays and blacks between small freckles of white. The image had no movement. The whiskers were too thick. Mason was mad at him. He was wearing yesterday's clothes and he hadn't showered. Joseph was pissed. His heart was still pounding away at his chest and he could feel himself breathing in and out, and -
He stood up.
Walked in heavy movements down the stairs.
He should leave. He should leave right now. This was all wrong because of him. He had fucked everything up. It was all him. He had to go back to his mom now. That wouldn't be so bad...
He walked out the door and the sunlight stung his skin and eyes. He looked around. Nothing felt real anymore. He had to go home. Why was he around people? What was he even -
"Hey."
He shuddered and looked back. Joseph was standing there, arms crossed together.