You Get What You Pay For by RJ
This fictional story is about the developing relationship between two strangers: an escort and his client. While RentMen is a real site, the characters in this story have nothing to do with the actual escorts, and any matching username is purely coincidental.
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~ Chapter 1 ~
The closer it gets to 5 PM, the longer I stare at the clock, silently begging for it to move faster. "C'mon, minute hand," I think. "I believe in you." Not that I hate my job. In fact, I love working in IT. Flexible hours, lax office environment, and I have a knack for computers so my job isn't exactly difficult. But I don't get enjoyment out of the typical routines anymore. I haven't for about a year.
Dave pops in and taps on the top of my cubicle, grinning at me over the partition. "Wakey wakey," he says.
I blink a few times, smiling slightly. "Just one more minute." It's 4:59. So close.
"Just one more minute until... you come out with us?" he asks suggestively.
"Don't tell me..."
"We're getting drinks," Dave says, and I sigh. I know exactly what he means when he says "drinks." It means him and the Boys (or at least, that's what they call themselves as a collective) are going to throw back a few shots of Jim Beam and peruse the local strip club.
"You know that's not my thing," I remind him. Dave of all people should know. He's the only one of the group that I've outwardly told that I'm gay -- though I'm sure the others suspect something, considering how negatively I respond to their locker room talk of women and their embarrassing adoration for strippers. I used to go out with them, just for the sake of going out. But then, Miguel...
"It'll still be fun. C'mon," he insists, loosening his already half-undone tie. "Come out with us for a change."
"I'm not really in the mood for strippers," I say, and I feel that little tingle of excitement when the time switches from 4:59 to 5:00. Finally. I hastily close all the applications, log off my computer, and shut everything down for the weekend. As I stand up, Dave looks at me sadly. "What?" I ask.
"You need to get over him, Teddy."
Leave it to Dave to hit me where it hurts. He doesn't know much about my last relationship -- just how it ended. He met Miguel maybe once or twice, and I'm not one to discuss the intimate details of my romantic life, so it's not like Dave really understood just how much Miguel meant to me. But even then, considering the circumstances, I find it almost insulting that he thinks he can tell me to just "get over it."
"I'm trying," I tell him, snatching up my badge from my desk.
"It was, what, over a year ago?" he asks. "Time to move on."
Less than a year, actually. "I'm trying." That's all I can tell him. I'm trying, Dave.
The thing is, I feel like I've mostly gotten over Miguel in terms of him as a person. But the feeling, the security of a relationship, the strange freedom of being yourself around another person, I miss that terribly. The openness. The vulnerability. The mutual exchange of emotions and thoughts and perspectives. It's a beautiful thing, to be in love like that. Even when I tried to "get back on the dating horse" or whatever, all I did was try and see how the guy lined up with Miguel's silhouette. Could they take his place and give me exactly what I had before? Miguel was too good to me. For me. And in a lot of ways, it ruined me. I suppose that makes me sound ungrateful, and I feel a pang of guilt whenever I think like this.
Dave sighs. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find us."
I try and give him an appreciative smile. "Thanks, man."
I do appreciate him inviting me out with them. They're honestly a good group of guys, as (almost offensively) heterosexual as they are. But today is just one of those days where I'm really feeling that loss. I'm eager to just get home, throw back a few glasses of whiskey, and pet my cat. Maybe rot in front of the television for the remaining hours today has to offer. That's my plan for the evening.
But Ling comes up to my cubicle as I'm packing up, slinging his arm around Dave as he looks at me. "You coming out with us, buddy?"
Dave jumps in to my defense. "He has plans."
"Oh come on," Ling says, unconvinced. "Come out with us. I'll pay for a lap dance for ya."
I force a smile. "Lap dances don't really do it for me, Ling," I say, pocketing my badge and turning off the computer monitor.
"Oh, you need the real thing?" Ling says with a grin. Then he turns to Dave. "He doesn't need a stripper; he needs an escort."
They both laugh before Dave says "Leave him alone," pushing Ling playfully off of him.
"Fine, fine," Ling says, holding his hands up in surrender. "But you gotta come out with us next time."
I just shrug, not outwardly saying "no" but definitely not saying "yes." I don't understand the appeal. Having a stripper one-on-one, sure, but aren't they all straight? What about sporting boners in a room full of other men excites them so much? I just don't get it. But whatever. You guys have your fun. I'll try and have mine.
I almost forgot about the mess. I groan as soon as I walk into my apartment, seeing my place in near-total disarray. Maxi comes up to me, meowing her little tail off as if telling me how she disapproves of the state I've let our apartment get in. But I'm a slob. It's my biggest flaw. Even one that Clark can't fix. I hope he doesn't visit soon, because he'll take it upon himself to clean my apartment for me after glaring at me with particular disdain.
I don't deserve his kindness. Clark is basically a gay father figure to me. He took me in when I was kicked out of my house after coming out to my parents. He helped me through that tiresome, uphill battle against addiction, and even paid for my rehab. He set me up here, in this snazzy apartment, since he owns the whole complex. The benefits of knowing the landlord, I suppose. Too often I feel like I'm taking advantage of him because I don't do much in return, but he constantly reassures me that that's not the case. I guess the least I could do is clean up around here.
Tomorrow, though. I'll do it tomorrow. Right now, I just want to sit. I take off my jacket and my pants and my work shirt, revealing a graphic tee and an old pair of briefs underneath. Ultimate relaxation. I'm feeling kind of horny, now that I think about it -- but it's the bored sort of horny, where the thought of jacking off is only appealing because it's a way to pass the time. So, after refilling Maxi's bowl with dry cat food, I head straight to my desktop.
What to watch, what to watch... My go-to site is usually Gay Male Tube, considering all the different categories they have. The list is endless really, and I can spend hours sifting through videos if I want to. I'm in a particularly oral mood, so I choose the "Cum-swallow" channel and open up a few tabs' worth of videos (just based on the thumbnails) to sample them each. As expected, the first two videos aren't that hot. There's no swallowing of cum whatsoever. Either it splatters on their face and the receiver recoils (which is a turn off for me), or the guy spits it out (which is even more of a boner killer). Why is it so difficult to find decent videos with actual cum eating? So I try the third video.
On the side, though, I notice something. Usually I come across plenty of those janky ads that say things like "Hot 'n horny studs in your area" or "Slutty young teens looking to FUCK you". They always look sketchy, and I always ignore them. But what Ling said rings in my ears: "He doesn't need a stripper; he needs an escort." He had a point there. I don't like the teasing quality of stripping. I'd need to go all the way. Though the concept of escorting has always confused me. Is it not just prostitution?
This ad looks different than the others, too. It looks almost, dare I say, professional. Curiosity makes my mouse hover over the ad before I click. Immediately, I'm directed to a site called RentMen. A dozen or so small profiles pop up on screen in a somewhat overwhelming fashion. It looks like a cam site, but that's not what they're advertising. They're selling sex. Is this... legal? When I allow the site to access my general location, it refreshes and shows me who's available in my area. Wow. I'm intrigued by all the different profiles of guys: Latin lovers, BBCs, woodsy lumberjacks, buff daddies... I spend a solid bit of time just perusing them. After sifting through a page or two, I start to realize the type that doesn't appeal to me: the type with a username like CollegeMuscles69 or HUNGDADDIXXX or (the ever original) Hunkk, all plastered with a photo of their muscled torsos, or their asses, or sometimes their hard-ons. It's all a little too self-indulgent for me. Too in-your-face.
That's what makes one profile stick out: NotTheBoyNextDoor. It makes me smile for some reason. Plus, his photo is just one of his face rather than a body shot. He's exceptionally handsome. A little scruffy, with perfectly straight teeth and an angular face reminiscent of Eastern European models. He's sexy. So, intrigued, I click on his profile.
Right off the bat, I like him. There's something about his ad. "Looking for a good time? So am I." Immediately I laugh. It's nice to see that at least someone enjoys a little humor. "Seriously though, your satisfaction is my top priority," it says before getting into his bio more. It's less self-glorifying and superficial than other profiles, I notice. I find myself interested in him. And I can tell there's an ease about him, especially in the way he says "Guess I gotta sell myself, so here's me at my most narcissistic: I'm personable, sweet, social as hell, passionate, curious, very open-minded, and I like to pretend that I'm funny." I like him. That's all I can say.
It doesn't help that he's fucking hot. I scroll through the public pictures listed on his profile and feel my cock responding to a few particularly tantalizing ones, including a nude. He looks young, tall, and tastefully hairy. And he's got a great body. Not a body builder by any means, but something more my type: in-shape. He clearly cares about his physique without being so strict about it -- though his thighs? Those look pretty damn powerful.
The last thing in his personal ad says "Discretion is of the utmost importance. I respect your privacy." I start to fantasize about calling him up and inviting him over. What would happen? Would I get to kiss those luscious-looking lips of his? Nuzzle into that dark scruff along his jaw? Would he let me suck that thick, soft cock between his legs to hardness? To completion? Damn, I'm starting to get warm...
I explore his profile more. There are more details towards the bottom, like things he's "available for" (erotic massage, videos, something called "the boyfriend experience") and "into" (including anal, kissing, cum, role play, oral, stripping, rimming, verbal, daddy, bears, jocks, muscle... the list goes on). There are a few things listed under "stats" as well. Seems he's twenty-seven. Six feet tall on the dot. Caucasian. He describes his body as lean-muscular, and, when I look back at his pictures, I'd have to agree. "Orientation" is listed as "ask me", which I find interesting. There are even reviews towards the bottom. Close to thirty people have all given him a five-star rating, and every single one of them answered "Yes, definitely" to the question "Would you recommend this person?" Must be a guaranteed good time. And if this guy is recommended by people like CumslutNYC420, who am I to question?
It is tempting, though, to click on that little mail icon in the corner. What happens if I do...? I bite my lip, selecting the icon, and a pop-up appears. Seems I can email or call him. I let my curiosity take over and select call, and his number pops up on the screen, inviting me to tempt fate. I lick my lips, glancing towards my pants that are lying on the floor so haphazardly. Should I grab it? Maybe I could text him. Just to see what this is about. He seems like a nice enough guy. Probably wouldn't tell me to fuck off.
Who am I kidding? Why would he waste his time with me? And why should I waste my time? I haven't had sex since Miguel -- am I really going to start with this guy? ...Maybe. Maybe it's not a horrible idea. It's not like I've been putting myself out there lately.
Somehow the temptation becomes overwhelming, and I find myself grabbing my phone from my pants' pocket, inputting his number, and typing up a message. "Hey... love your ad on RentMen..." I send, and then I pause. What else should I say? What else DO I say?
But he responds almost immediately. "Aw, thanks! Looking to meet up?"
Oh shit. Meet up? I didn't think this through. "I don't know yet," I send back quickly. "I'm sorry, I've never done something like this before."
"Oh, a first timer? Not to worry," he sends, tacking on a smiley face at the end of the message. "How about you give me a call? Easier to talk that way."
Why is my heart racing? It's not like I've committed to anything yet. But I feel anxious for some reason. I think it's the prospect of a hookup. For one, I haven't had sex with anyone in almost a year. So there's that aspect of being completely off my game. Then there's the possibility that, if he DOES come over, I won't be into it. That happened the last two times I tried to have sex with someone new. Even though he's wildly attractive, who knows what will happen when I see him in the flesh. THEN there's the fact that it's through this site, which I'm assuming is not completely illegal considering the quality and availability and glaring transparency of the site... Maybe I'll just call him and see what happens. One call won't hurt, right?
So a minute later, I finally buck up enough courage to call his number. He picks up after a few rings. "Hey there."
"Hey," I say, laughing slightly.
"Didn't think you were gonna call," he says. He has a nice voice. "Cool," for lack of a better word.
"Sorry, I'm all nervous and stuff."
"It's okay," he says with a chuckle. I hear him moving around slightly. "What's your name?"
"Um. Ted. Or, Teddy if you prefer."
"Short for Theodore?" he asks.
"Nope."
"Really? So, Edward?"
"Nope," I say again. "Just Ted."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah," I say, laughing.
"Interesting. Usually parents don't go for the nicknames right off the bat."
"My parents are no-nonsense kind of people."
That makes him laugh, which makes me smile. "Well that's cool. So, Ted," he says, saying my name in a sultry sort of tone, "I gotta say, you have a great voice."
Do I? I can't help but smile. No one has ever said that about my voice alone. "Thank you."
"Tell me about you."
"Oh. Um..." The hell do I talk about? "I'm twenty-eight. I work in IT. Um..." Suddenly, my mind goes blank. Who am I again? "What else do you wanna know?"
"What your interests are. Things like that."
Interests? I'm assuming he means sexual interests. "I don't really know, um, what I'm looking for," I admit.
"Just feeling around?"
"I suppose." I scratch my thigh nervously. Calm down, Ted. Just a phone call.
"Hm. Well, you already know about some of my interests," he says. "Anything you wanna know about me?"
"Oh. Uh... Well, one question, I guess. Or concern, rather." I turn to his profile again, scrolling to his list of things he's into. "It says you're into, like, jocks and muscles and stuff."
He laughs. "I put a variety of stuff in my interests to get more clients. It's okay if you're not some muscle stud."
That actually relieves me. "Okay, cool, because I don't look like that."
"Not to worry, Ted," he says gently. Then: "If you don't mind me asking, what DO you look like?"
I look down at myself. I go back and forth on the whole confidence thing. I know I'm not the hottest guy out there, but most days, I don't think I'm ugly. Miguel referred to me as his "bear cub." I'm a little hairy, and just a hint chubby, mostly in my stomach. Nothing crazy, if I'm being honest. Anyone sane would say I have an average body, but in the gay world, I might as well be obese. "I have kind of a dad bod," I tell him.
"We refer to them as 'father figures', now," he says, and I immediately burst out laughing. I hear him laughing on his end too. "Hey, someone liked my joke!"
"I thought it was funny," I say, resting my hand on my stomach.
"I do too, but I rarely get the reaction you gave me." He chuckles again.
I smile softly to myself. He really does seem so easy-going, like he said. So I offer something. "I could just send a picture, if that's... easier."
"You don't have to if you're not comfortable," he says. "I just like to know what I'm getting into."
"One sec," I say, standing up and heading to the bedroom. I stand in front of the floor-length mirror and bite my lip. Should I take my shirt off and just be in my underwear? Should I crop my face out of the picture too? Does it even matter? If this is happening, he's going to see it all anyway. So I quickly remove my shirt, snap a picture of my full-body, and send it to him quickly, before I can think twice about it.
When he gets it, he says "Damn, Teddy. The name fits." I smile a bit, pulling my shirt on. "Love the body hair, too. I don't know what you were worrying about."
"Thanks," I say, sitting back in the chair.
Then he chuckles. "You're actually good-looking. I'm surprised."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, my usual clientele from that site consists of men who are, let's say, less than conventionally attractive," he says.
I laugh. "I can only imagine."
"That's just part of the job," he says. "Really attractive people don't really go looking for escorts."
Now I'm curious about his actual job. "What do you do if you're not into them?"
"There's a pill for that," he says, and we both laugh. "No, but, when you're in the moment, it's not as hard as you might think," he explains. "Besides, it's not always about sex. Sometimes it's for companionship."
"Is that the whole 'boyfriend experience' thing?"
"Part of it, yeah," he says. "Sometimes people just need to feel, you know, loved." I nod to myself, completely understanding that need. Frankly, I'd probably fit in that category right about now. "It's about selling my time, not my services," he says. "Think of it like that if you're still nervous about meeting up."
"Okay," I say. Guess that explains the legality. Maybe it's a weird loophole or something. Either that, or no one cares.
"DO you still wanna meet up?" he asks after a moment.
"Um... When?"
"How about now?"
"Now?" Wow, this is happening, isn't it?
"Yeah, why not?"
"I... Um..." I take a breath. "Okay. Sure." My heart is fucking racing now. I said yes. I can't believe I said yes.
"Sweet. Text me your address then. Oh, and last thing to discuss: pricing."
"Oh." I had completely forgotten about that. I have to pay for this.
I think he sensed that in my tone because he laughs. "How much?"
I blink. "You're asking me?"
He chuckles. "It's not a fixed price."
"I don't even know like, what's fair..."
"Well, just so you know, I usually charge $150 per hour. But since it's your first time, I'll dock it down to $100."
I don't even know if that's a lot or too little. A hundred dollars' worth of anything is always a lot to me, but part of me is eager to see what this whole thing is about. Especially considering I feel somewhat... comfortable talking to this guy. Something that hasn't happened in a long time. "Cash?" I ask.
"Or Venmo, or Paypal, or any of those cash apps. I have 'em all."
I exhale. Am I really about to pay for this? To do this? Christ, I must be way lonelier than I thought. "Okay. I can do that."
"Great!" he says, and even I can sense the smile in his voice. "I'm excited to meet you, Ted."
I look down at my lap with a grin, shy as if someone is watching me. "Me too."
As soon as I hang up and text him the address (as well as send him the $100 as promised), I look around my apartment. Anxiety floods me immediately. Fuck. It's a fucking mess in here. I bolt from my chair and start cleaning up as fast as I can, first dealing with miscellaneous trash that's littering the living room. I have to ignore the dishes piling up in the sink -- there's no way I can get to those in time. And my bedroom... Luckily it's mostly just clothes lying around, so, in the interest of time, I scoop up anything off the floor and stuff it into my closet. Out of sight, out of mind.
I head into the kitchen once I'm relatively satisfied with how things are looking, going straight for the gin. I take two decent swigs out of the bottle, wincing and feeling my stomach turn before the alcohol gives me that relaxing, warming sensation. Hopefully that helps calm my fucking nerves. I can't believe I'm doing this. What would Miguel say?
Minutes later, I hear the knock on the door and freeze, nervous all over again. Relax, Teddy. This will be fine. You've gotten nothing but good vibes from this guy. Just relax and let him make you feel good.
I answer the door after clearing my throat a few times and smile at him. "Hey!" he says cheerily, looking me up and down. I do the same to him. Should I have put pants on? I'm still just in my fucking underwear and a stupid t-shirt. Jesus Christ, I didn't even shower! God, I'm a mess. And he's so well-put-together right now, dressed in his snug jeans and a denim jacket. "I'm diggin' the underwear," he says with a chuckle.
It's probably the pattern. Has Pacman symbols all over it. I just smile. "Thanks," I say, stepping aside to let him in. I get a whiff of his cologne as he passes. Damn, he smells good too.
"Nice place," he says, looking around curiously before his eyes fix on me. "Should I do something with my shoes?"
"What? Oh. Um. Just leave 'em by the door," I say, appreciating how respectful he is even though things are still a bit messy. I tidied up as much as possible, but it's not exactly the picture of someone who has their shit together. He unlaces his boots and sets them appropriately by the door before taking off his jacket. Underneath, he's wearing a simple black t-shirt tucked into his jeans, along with a long gold necklace. How does he make such a simple outfit look so chic? I'd look like a fucking chump. "You look good," I find myself saying. "Even better in person."
He laughs. "Thank you," he says, eyeing me now. "Not half bad yourself." I see his eyes scan the features of my face and I feel self-conscious for a moment.
"I'm a mess," I say, running my hands over my short beard. Usually I keep a clean-shaven face, but I've let it all grow out lately. I honestly like the look. But maintenance is key, and I haven't been taking care of myself lately.
"Not at all," he says, smiling.
I smile slightly before looking away. "Do you, um, want anything? Water or something?"
"I'm all set," he says. "Thanks, though."
"Sure."
He looks at me with an expectant grin before saying "Wanna show me the bedroom?"
"Oh. Right. Yeah, sure," I say, scratching my head and leading the way around the corner into the master bedroom. If I cleaned things up a bit, it'd be much nicer, but Clark set me up really well. The bedroom is my favorite part of the place: spacious enough to not feel suffocated even with such a big bed, but cozy enough to feel comfortable without being too open. Plus, being towards the top floor, I can open the doors to the balcony and enjoy a fantastic view of the city. It's a warm night, so I have the doors opened a crack. "Ignore the mess if there's any," I say, my eyes scanning the floor for loose clothing.
"Wouldn't bother me," he says. "Although, I gotta say, you have a pretty nice setup here, Ted," he adds, and when I look over at him, he's checking out the space with intrigue.
"Thanks."
"Is it expensive?"
"A bit pricey," I admit, "but I know the landlord."
He looks at me with a knowing grin. "Oh?"
I blush. "Not like that," I say, laughing in an embarrassed manner. "Just, he helps me out."
"Hey, I don't judge," he says playfully, chuckling.
"Okay."
He smiles at me for a moment before he takes it upon himself to lie on the bed, patting the spot next to me. "C'mere," he says. "Let's have a little chat."
So we talk, mostly about me. He's full of questions. When was my last kiss? Who was it with? When was my last fuck? Who was it with? How does a normal hookup unfold for me? What am I comfortable with? What are my limits? What really turns me on, every time, without fail? What would I like him to do to me? Is there anything I'd like to do to him? This comprehensive questionnaire seems strange but necessary, and even though I feel awkward answering these questions, he's doing it for my benefit. This will only help me in the long run, right?
I answer his last question with something more playful ("There's a LOT I'd like to do to you") before we both laugh. Then, he asks me another question. "Still feeling nervous?"
"A little," I say bashfully. "But I took a couple shots, so..."
He laughs. "Sometimes that helps," he says, smiling. "I told you, I'll take care of you. I'm here for you, remember?"
"Yeah."
"I don't bite unless you want me to, either," he adds with a grin, but I wince. He laughs at my reaction. "Sorry, too corny?"
"No, no," I say. "It's just... something my ex used to say." I still hate using that phrase. "My ex." But I don't know what else to refer to him as.
"Aw, sorry," he says. "Recent break up?"
"Um. Not really." Usually when discussion of Miguel gets this far, I switch the subject. But I don't know what compels me to tell this escort I paid to come over, but I spill. "He died."
He looks at me with wide eyes, his playfulness disappearing for a moment, replaced with complete, sincere concern. "Teddy," he says, putting his hand on my arm.
"It's okay," I assure him. "It happened a while ago." Long enough for people to tell me that I should be over it, at least. "Almost exactly a year ago, actually. I don't know. I think I've just been feeling crazy lonely lately because of it."
"Jesus, I'm so sorry, Ted," he says in such a different voice than what I've heard thus far. I almost feel worse for upsetting him. "Is that why you haven't really done anything?" he asks me, referring to the large gap in my sexual history.
I nod. "Nothing felt right, and eventually I just kinda... gave up." I remember the last guy I somewhat fooled around with. It was months after Miguel was mugged and killed, and I was drunk, and he was a sweet guy, exceptionally kind to me. We kissed and touched each other a bit but I couldn't for the life of me get into it. Couldn't get it up. I offered to blow him because I felt bad, but I never called him after that night. I just knew I couldn't get back into the swing of things. And that was months and months ago.
"Don't give up," he says earnestly. "I obviously can't and shouldn't speak for HIM, so this is coming from me: don't give up. I gave up too and it only drew out how long I was miserable for."
I blink. "Did something happen to you too?"
He looks away for a moment as if deciding whether or not he wants to talk about it. I'm sure he probably doesn't get in this deep on a first date with his other clients. "The first person I was ever in love with died. Car accident," he says with a sad smile.
Both my gut and my heart lurch forward. I feel the saddest form of kinship between us during this moment, and (having already felt pretty vulnerable to begin with) I almost want to cry. In fact, my eyes are watering right now. "Oh my God, I'm so--"
"You don't have to apologize," he says quickly. "It was in high school, so I've had a lot of time to, you know, work through it." He rubs my arm affectionately before giving it a squeeze. "But I'm telling you because I want you to know that I understand what you've been going through."
What a lovely guy. I can't help but sense nothing but sincerity from him. "How long did it take you to... be okay again?" I ask, trying to blink the tears away.
"Several years," he says with a grimace. I frown. Fuck, I hope that's not me. I'm trying my best here -- and I think he recognizes that. "But I was only a kid. I didn't know how to deal with anything. You'll get through it," he says, giving me a soft smile. "Just put yourself out there. Start dating again. Remind yourself what you deserve."
I think he understands that it's easier said than done, but I appreciate the sentiment regardless. I just don't know how to get over something like this. I thought I had it all, and then it was taken from me. If Clark hadn't been there to support me through my grief and keep me from relapsing, I don't know what would have happened. I smile back at him before wiping a stray tear off my cheek and laughing. "You probably didn't expect to get this heavy when you came over," I say.
He laughs. "I definitely didn't," he says. "But it's okay."
"Guess this is my first step to 'getting out there again'," I say with a laugh. I don't want to completely dampen the mood, but I do want to know more about him, so I continue on this vein. "Do YOU date? With the job and whatnot?"
"Yeah," he says hesitantly before laughing. "It's... not easy. Usually my dates bail when they find out what I do for work. Plus," he adds, holding up a finger, "it can be a problem if I both date and work locally."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah," he says with a chuckle. "Example: one of my exes, when I went to meet her parents, I recognized her dad."
"Oh no," I say, a wide smile appearing on my face. That can only mean one thing...
"Oh yes," he says bitterly. "I had fucked her dad like six months prior."
I burst out laughing. "Holy shit."
"Yeah, that was awkward to say the least," he says with a slight grimace before laughing along with me.
"I'm assuming that didn't last long."
"You'd assume correctly," he says, smiling and shaking his head.
I can't even imagine something like that happening to me. Then again, before I met Miguel, I did have a thing for older guys. So I suppose, under the right (or wrong) circumstances, if I was still fucking around a lot, something similar could have happened to me by now. "So you date girls too?" I ask him.
He raises an eyebrow. "Too?"
"Yeah, like, as well as guys."
"Oh!" he says, seeming to understand my question. "Oh, no. I'm straight."
I pause. What? Straight? Did I hear that correctly? I almost laugh in his face. "Sorry, what?"
He laughs softly. "Yeah, I know it's weird."
He's serious, isn't he? "You're actually straight?"
"Yep. Is that cool with you?"
"I..." Huh? "Is that cool with YOU?" I ask back, surprised and confused. Now I'm looking at him differently.
He laughs again. "I escort for both men and women, if that makes you feel better," he says.
"But... why men at all?"
"There are waaay more men in the city looking for escorts than there are women," he says.
That makes sense. At any point in history, that would be the case. The money is where the men are. "Wow," I say, slightly amazed. A straight dude who escorts for bi and gay guys? Now I'm even more intrigued. "Do you... I don't know. Do you like it?"
"The job?" he asks. "Yeah, I like the job."
Not necessarily what I meant, but I'll take it. "Even if you're having sex with guys?"
"Sure. It's just a job. And it's kind of nice being able to give people what they want, you know?" he says, shrugging. "I'm a pleaser."
I bet you are, handsome. "Are there things you just don't do?" I ask. "As a straight guy."
"Well there are things I don't do in general, whether or not it's with a guy," he says. "But with guys specifically? I don't really like playing catcher. I'll do it sometimes, but it's just not my thing. Harder for me to get into. Hope that's okay with you," he adds.
"No, that's fine," I say, not at all minding being the bottom. "I'm pretty easy-going in bed."
"I get that vibe," he says with a smile.
I stare at him for a moment before I blurt out "I'm sorry, but I'm so intrigued by the straight thing."
He laughs. "Do I fascinate you?"
"Yes."
"You're sweet," he says. "Honestly, you've been a breath of fresh air so far. When people find out I'm straight, they immediately wanna do all this weird shit to me. And, between you and me, my last couple clients were not great."
"Crazies?" I ask.
"Just, creepy, you know? Just the way that they talk to you and whatnot. Plus, the last guy I escorted took my condom home because he wanted my cum."
I let out the most sudden, ugliest laugh. "Sorry, but... you should probably get that back," I say between laughs.
He winces but chuckles. "You're probably right."
When I compose myself, I pat his arm. "I promise I won't do anything weird like that."
He smiles. "ARE you into anything weird?"
"Not really," I admit. Sometimes I feel embarrassed by that fact, but with him? No. "I'm kinda basic." We touched on a few things earlier. All I could say was kissing, lots of oral, fucking, body contact... Guess my favorite flavor is vanilla after all.
"Well it's a good foundation," he says, smiling. "In the mood for anything in particular tonight, though?"
Oh. So... are we getting into it now? "Um..." Then I laugh. "I don't know. It still feels weird telling you what I want."
"Don't feel weird about it," he says. "If you tell me, I can provide."
I bite my lip a bit as I look at him before speaking. "Well, I like it a bit romantic."
He grins. "You really are a teddy bear, aren't you?"
I blush. "Is that okay?"
"It's perfect," he says, sitting up slightly. "Looking for more of a roleplay situation, or...?"
"No, we don't have to go that deep," I say with a laugh. "Just... you know, good feelings and all that."
"Good feelings. Gotcha." He chuckles a bit before he sits up fully and then shifts onto his knees. I peer up at him as he slowly takes his shirt off, and I ogle his form. God, he's attractive... His body looks just like in his pictures, right down to the subtle "V" near his waist. I swallow thickly, feeling nervous. My body doesn't match up to his as well. But then again, he's straight, right? He doesn't care how I compare. Fuck, this is so weird.
He beckons me up, and so I kneel in front of him, letting him reach forward, grab the hem of my shirt, and slowly pull it off of me. Once it's off of my head, I fuss with my hair a bit, which makes him smile before he puts his hands on my sides. "Want me to kiss you?"
I swallow, my heart racing. This is it, right? Time to see how I respond to another man. I just nod, licking my lips as he leans forward. I taste the mint on his breath before our lips even make contact, and when they do, I'm hesitant at first. I laugh softly against his lips before kissing him back, letting him snake his arms around me a little more until our torsos are pressed against each other's. I follow his lead, letting him take the reins as he guides me through a slow, intimate kiss. And then, he spices it up by softly biting on my lower lip. I let out a mix between a whimper and a laugh. That move right there, the lip-biting? That always gets to me.
"What?" he asks, grinning.
"Nothing. I just love that," I tell him. So much that I feel myself chubbing up in my underwear, right against his crotch.
He smirks and says "Good" before doing it again, this time tugging slightly until my lip slaps back against my teeth. I lick my lips before he ropes me in for more kisses with the intensity turned up a notch. His grip on me gets a little tighter as he moves his lips over to my neck and kisses me there. I let out a soft moan, letting my hands run down his back. I almost want to grab his ass, but I'm unsure. He mentioned he didn't like bottoming, but does that mean his ass is totally off limits? He probably has the most edible peach around.
"I just realized," I start to say, laughing as he sucks on my neck, "that I don't even know your name." There was no real introduction from him. I only know him as a screenname.
He laughs before saying "It's Adam" right in my ear.
Adam. Hi, Adam. He leans back in and resumes the slow kissing and teasing against my sensitive neck. I can't help but notice how sure his movements are, how firm his grip on me is. I feel oddly safe right now, my anxiety and awkwardness shrinking more and more with each tender kiss. He moves more towards my shoulder and, at the same time, starts pulling my underwear down.
"Lie down for me," he whispers, and my body does as instructed without so much as a second thought. I rest on my back in the middle of the bed as Adam hunches over me, his gold chain dangling from his neck. I glance down between my legs as he hooks his fingers into my underwear and slowly pulls my briefs down my legs. My pubes come into view first, then the base of my cock, and then the shaft as it's set free. I lift my legs to make it easier for him to strip me naked. "Relax for me, handsome," he says, hitting me with a charming smile before he bends down and puts his face between my legs. I gasp slightly, feeling his combination of soft lips and light scruff working along my inner thighs. He kisses back and forth slowly, making me tense up the closer he gets to my cock. I can't help but be nervous. I'm sporting a semi right now, which is impressive on its own, but what if I can't really get it up? It's hardly something to be ashamed about and yet, it's so easy to let yourself feel the crushing weight of embarrassment. Too much pride is put into our cocks.
But Adam nuzzles his face into my balls, and as soon as his lips make contact, I feel the blood pulsing through my shaft. Damn, this guy really knows how to act romantic. Tender, loving kisses. Soft laps. The lightest bit of suction. And he slowly makes his way up my shaft until he gets to the tip. I watch him wrap his slender fingers around the base of my cock and hold it up. By the time his lips reach the head of my cock, I am fully hard. And fully willing.
I moan once he finally takes me into his mouth. He looks up at me and sucks slowly, pulling my dick gently towards his mouth as he slides up and down. Okay, straight boy. You clearly know what you're doing. I lick my lips and feel my hips raising on their own, trying to get deeper into his mouth. I stop myself though, not wanting to put him off. But this guy is full of surprises, because, in response, he takes me right into his throat, deeper, deeper, deeper, and then holds. My mouth drops as a choked moan escapes my throat. Fuck. Even I can't do that.
He pulls off slowly, saliva coating my cock and making it shine as he takes a breath. He gives it a few good, deep strokes before he catches me looking at him. He smiles before kissing the head and then going right back down on me, constantly swapping between a handjob and a blowjob. I lie back and just let him do his job, feeling my legs spreading even more to give him better access. Do your worst, Adam.
After a few minutes, he slides off and then starts slowly kissing up my body. I laugh when he kisses my stomach, feeling ticklish there, and he chuckles as he makes his way up to my lips and then kisses me. Something about that moment felt so erotic, so adorably sexy, that all the negative energy I was feeling completely evaporates.
"Did you shower?" he asks me.
And, now it's back. The embarrassment, nervousness, anxiety, ten-fold. "Oh my God," I groan. "Do I smell bad?"
"What?" He laughs. "No, no. Not at all."
But I'm not hearing it. "I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to shower before you got here."
"It's okay, Teddy, really," he says, amused. "You smell totally good. I like a bit of musk." He could just be saying that to make me feel better, but in a way, it works. I relax a little. "I just wanted to know because I wanted to rim you."
I replay his choice of words in my head. HE wants to rim me. A straight guy said he wants to go down on my ass. I can't deny that's pretty fucking hot. "Oh," I say, blinking. "Well, um. I can hop in the shower, if you want me to."
He smiles. "Only if I can join you."
"Y-yeah," I say, laughing a little. "Sure." But then I let my eyes slide down between us. "Can you, um... get naked first?"
He grins and then sits up in front of me on his knees, slowly undoing his belt and then the button. THIS is the type of stripper I need, gentlemen. Some one-on-one time with a terribly hot guy. A STRAIGHT one, no less. Man, I'm really living out this fantasy tonight, watching him slowly undo his zipper. And then I gulp. He's not wearing underwear. He puts his thumbs in two belt loops to slowly push his jeans off his hips.
Then, that pretty cock of his comes into view, hanging soft from a clean, trimmed set of pubes. "Fuck, you're thick," I say, reaching forward automatically to test the weight. It feels hefty. Perfect. I look up at him as I lean in a little closer. "Can I?" I ask.
He just grins. "All yours."
Fuck yes. I lean forward, open my mouth, and take him in. I moan immediately. Something about the taste, the feel, the presence of him coaxes a nice little moan out of me. I wrap my lips snug around his softie and start sucking, reaching between my legs to slowly stroke myself. What surprises me is that, very gradually, Adam gets hard in my mouth. I glance up at him but his eyes are closed and he's licking his lips slowly. Is this doing much for him? I wonder who he's picturing. Maybe some ex-girlfriend he particularly liked. I'm surprised the presence of facial hair isn't taking him out of it. But regardless, whatever I'm doing is working for him. I feel almost proud of myself to bring him to a solid erection with just my mouth. I bob back and forth slowly, working that sizeable piece against my tongue and teasing it with the back of my throat. I don't claim to be a deep-throat expert, so I steer clear of that, but I more than make up for it in enthusiasm and long reach with my tongue.
Soon he pulls me off, putting both hands on either side of my head and then leaning down to quickly replace his cock with his tongue. I moan against his lips, kissing him back with equal fervor before he pulls away with a little grin. "C'mon," he says, hopping off the bed. I take a gander at his impressive cock swinging between his legs before I take his hand and let him pull me to my feet. I point the way to the master bathroom, just on the other side of the bedroom, and he heads right over, unintentionally giving me an excellent view of his ass as he walks. So shapely I just want to pinch it.
Surprisingly enough, the bathroom is the cleanest part of the apartment. I suppose it's because I only ever use this bathroom to shower, which is a shame, because it's a pretty snazzy bathroom. Adam lets himself in first, sliding the glass door aside and turning on the water until it's warm. "How hot do you like it?" he asks me.
"Very."
He grins a bit before adjusting the hot water valve and then steps inside. He beckons me in with one finger, and I let myself be pulled in as if by an invisible reel. As soon as I slide the glass door shut, he's on me, kissing me deeply, letting his hands roam my body. I let out slight whimpers of pleasure against his lips, unable to keep too quiet. It feels so good to be touched again. To be caressed. It's almost nourishing. And then, somehow, Adam gets a hold of the soap and grabs at my ass as we kiss. I feel a slippery finger slide between my cheeks, and I moan harder into his mouth, my knees buckling. It's been a while since someone touched me there, and Adam's insistent rubbing against my hole is killing me.
Then, after all this kissing and washing, he turns me around and presses me against the shower glass. I gasp a bit in surprise, loving the brief flash of manhandling before he goes right back to those soft caresses. He kisses the back of my neck as the water washes the soap off of me. I feel his hard-on pressing up against me and I almost shiver. Thank God I took a chance on this guy.
He starts moving slowly down my body, and I bite my lip in anticipation of what's to come. What surprises me is how suddenly it comes. Adam pries my cheeks apart and immediately digs in with his tongue, and my eyes roll back as he licks deep. Fuck, Adam. I bet he treats his girlfriends right. He may seem modest but his actions, they're cocky. His tongue knows exactly where to go, exactly how to hit me. He probably learned on the job. All those hungry bottoms desperate for his dick. Now I feel like I'm going to become one of those on his list. I rest my forehead on the glass, reaching between my legs to stroke myself and bend over just a hair more. Adam responds by dipping his tongue into me just a little, and even with the steam, my breathy moans probably fog up the glass.
He pulls back slowly before standing up and then kissing my neck. I reach back, tugging on his hair a bit and smiling. "You're good at that," I tell him.
He chuckles a bit, kissing my ear. "Thank you."
I hesitate before turning around to face him. "I know you're a pleaser and all," I tell him, "but I want to make sure it's, y'know, not terrible for you."
"You don't have to worry about me," he says, cocking an eyebrow.
"But I do," I explain. "I'd get into it more if I knew you were at least somewhat enjoying this." I know he's straight, but it comes to a point where sex is sex, no matter who it's with. "Are there certain things you don't like?"
"I'm pretty open," he says.
"I know, but is there anything specific I shouldn't do?"
"You're talking like an escort yourself," he says with a slight grin before he thinks for a moment. "Well. I guess, considering we're both not into the same things, there are really only two things you could do that would really turn me off."
"Hit me."
He counts them off on two fingers. "Don't cum in my mouth without warning me first, and don't try 'n finger me."
"Easy," I say. Seems a simple enough request.
"Everything else is fair game, though."
Everything? "So..." I start to add, "and no pressure at all, but... do you not like your ass played with at all?"
He arches his eyebrow before grinning. "Why?"
Why am I blushing? "I just mean... you have a really nice ass."
He chuckles. "Thank you."
"And I love eating ass. So..."
"So you want to eat me out, is what you're saying?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
He smiles softly before nodding. "Okay."
I blink. "Okay?" As in, yes?
"Okay," he says, grinning before giving my ass a slap and then reaching behind me to turn the water off. "Let's get back to bed."
As we dry off, I rush a bit, eager to get back to the bedroom and pick up where we left off. When we do get back into bed, my mouth is watering at the sight of him resting on his stomach, ass on display for me. He looks back at me with a smile. "How do you want me?"
"Right there is perfect," I say, eyes scanning his backside. I want to soak in every detail, including every freckle on his upper back, before I go to town. I place my hands on each smooth globe, massaging them before I spread them a part. I'm treated to the sight of a furry little hole, and I lick my lips before getting down behind him. He showered before he got here, I'm sure, but enough time has passed where I get enough of his natural scent and, once I slide my tongue against his hole, his natural flavor. I almost moan. Adam does too, letting out a deep "Mmm" sound and looking back towards me as I swipe at him again. I do it slowly, wanting to cherish each moment spent eating him out. I don't know what it is. I'm not even usually a top -- maybe 25% of the time. But I love eating ass. And straight boy ass? Even better.
I wonder if anyone has ever done this to him before. He makes it sound like he's not used to it, because he lets out choked moans and grips the sheets every time my tongue moves against him. Then, he even lifts his hips a bit and pushes his butt towards me, silently asking for more. Let me show you what you've been missing, Adam. I keep a firm grip on his hips and go to town, working my tongue in slow spirals before gently easing the tip of that muscle past his ring. He opens up for me just enough to get a decent amount of tongue in, and I work it back and forth, keeping it slow and methodical. Somehow, Adam ended up on his hands and knees, and his head hangs between his shoulders as I give him the rimjob of his life.
I keep at it for nearly ten minutes before I start kissing up his spine. Once I get to his shoulder blades, he turns around and pulls me down on top of him, kissing me deeply. Another thing that makes my cock throb: kissing after a good rimjob. There's something so intimate about it, feeling his tongue slide against mine. He knows exactly where that tongue has been tonight, and he's playing the role like a damn champ.
He grips my hip and rolls me over so that he's on top of me as we kiss, maneuvering my legs to get around his waist. He grinds into me a bit, and I grind right back into him, our bodies gyrating against each other's in slow movements until Adam starts to reach between my legs. Right past my dick. Under my balls. To my hole. I let out a soft moan when he rubs a finger against it. But then, after he pulls away from my lips to get his fingers wet with his spit, he adds a little more pressure and slips his index finger into me. That elicits a stronger, deeper moan out of me.
"Relax, baby," he says softly. Fingering myself when I'm masturbating is one thing. Having a handsome little hunk do it for you is something entirely different. I stare up at him and he stares down at me as his finger moves back and forth. I forget about the whole "straight escort" thing. Right now it's just me and him, two sexually charged beings in the same bed. Then he slowly pulls his finger out of me, sliding his hard cock up and down my hole. "Do you want me to?" he asks.
I nod repeatedly. I wasn't sure beforehand, but now I can think of no other conclusion for tonight. He has to fuck me. He can't leave without fucking me. He smiles gently before pulling away completely, hopping off the bed. I take a breather for a moment as he picks his pants up and grabs his wallet from them. He must be grabbing a condom. Then, I think of lube. I should probably grab some of that, so I slide out of bed and quickly grab the bottle of KY off of my desk before sitting on the edge of the bed near Adam. He breaks the condom wrapper with his teeth, spitting half the plastic onto the floor before he starts rolling the condom onto his cock. I watch intently before I pop the cap off the lube and squirt a little onto his cock for him, watching him stroke it all in.
His dick looks so much more imposing up close. A little bigger than the dildo I use on occasion, so I wonder how well I'll be able to handle it. I glance up at him and catch him staring at me, and he just smiles a little before leaning down to kiss me again. Slowly, as we kiss, he has me lie down, ass on the edge of the bed as he holds my legs up for me. He keeps standing but puts one knee up on the bed for my thigh to partially rest on as he grabs the lube and applies some right to my hole with his fingers. I gasp a little, quickly reaching down to grip my painfully hard cock, begging him with a look. Please, Adam.
Then, graciously, he grips himself, targets his cock, and slowly sinks into me. I moan out, closing my eyes and willing my body to relax as he works his way deeper. My hole does its best to stretch for him, and I feel my back arching as he gets deeper than I expected him to go. "Oh my God," I moan out.
I hear Adam laugh a little. He runs his hand up and down my torso soothingly. "All good?"
"Yeah," I say, nodding and licking my lips. "Give it to me."
He chuckles again. "As you request."
He starts moving his hips, and I feel like I'm immediately put into a trance. A blissful, aching trance where I am nothing but a receptor for pleasure. There's a little pain there, sure, but it's almost completely masked by the depth of his movements, and his hand on my chest, and his grip on my thigh. Each small point of contact feels warm, a point of origin for the splattering of goosebumps on my skin. This is what I missed. This type of closeness. This sort of contact. And I can't look away from the man who's giving me these feelings. I watch his face, intense and focused as he works his hips with steadiness and rhythm. I could almost cry. Maybe that's what it is. This all feels more emotional than physical. Like Adam is reminding me what I've been missing for nearly a year. Reminding me what I deserve.
He starts climbing onto the bed more, hovering over me, his chain dangling until it slides against my chest the more he leans down. Then, our lips lock, our bodies close, my hands on his back, grabbing onto him with need and appreciation. He keeps moving his hips, but more so in a grinding motion, keeping our torsos in close contact as our tongues dance in each other's mouths and lips smack lustfully against each other. I'm so hard. I'm so hard that I forgot what it's like to be this erect. This turned on. I moan against his lips and let him take me over.
"I think I'm close," I say after a while. I can't completely tell. It feels like a strange hint of an impending orgasm. A weird itch I can't exactly understand.
But then he reaches between us to grab my cock, and I know. I know instantly that I was right. I was close. I moan out, swearing as he starts to jerk me off in time with his thrusts, bringing me to a toe-curling orgasm that makes my throat sore from trying so hard to hold back most of my moans. I feel my body twitch with each pump of cum, and am amazed at how long my orgasm lasts. So long that by the time it's over, I feel my whole body give way to relaxation. I can't do anything else. I can't move. I can barely breath. I'm like a rag doll, with Adam holding my legs up.
He chuckles softly. "That was some orgasm you had," he says.
I blink sleepily. "Was it? I couldn't tell," I say sarcastically.
He laughs. "It was awesome to witness," he says, reaching up to fix my hair for me. I hum when his fingers nudge my scalp. That feels nice. Soothing. Could put me right to sleep.
"Wait," I say, opening my eyes and looking down. "Did you...?"
"Yeah," he says, grinning as he slowly pulls out of me. He lets out a sigh before standing up, pointing to the condom on his semi. Sure enough, there's a substantial load filling the tip of it. Damn. I was almost hoping I could suck it out of him. But it's still hot knowing he busted one out right when I did.
"Probably best," I say, resting on my back again. "I have no more energy to finish you off."
He laughs. "I came here for you, remember?" he says.
"Yeah, yeah," I say, sighing heavily with a soft, tired smile on my face. "Thank you for that."
"My pleasure, Teddy," he says before pulling the condom off and tossing it in the trash near my desk. "So, I should probably think about going."
I feel a strange sense of sadness hit me. I don't want him to leave, but I understand. "Okay," I say, forcing myself to sit up. I stretch a little before glancing at the clock on my nightstand. "Oh no."
"What?" he asks, picking his pants up.
"You've been here longer for an hour," I say. Nearly an hour and a half, I think. Or longer? I'm not sure. I glance at him, but he's just smiling at me.
"Don't worry about it."
"But you already gave me a discount. I can't--"
"Don't worry about it," he repeats more insistently. So I shut up. This guy is such a sweetheart. I watch him get himself dressed, resisting all the temptations to ask him if he also wants to stay the night for free.
"Want me to walk you out?" I ask when he fixes his hair.
"Nah, you don't have to," he says, smiling again. "Well..." He sighs heavily, standing up straighter. "It was great meeting you, Teddy. Honestly." He extends his hand to shake mine.
I smile. "Thanks for coming over," I say, taking his hand.
He surprises me by quickly pulling me to my feet and putting his other arm around me in an embrace. "Remember what we talked about, okay?" he says softly. "Don't give up."
God, I could melt right now. "I will," I say in a small voice.
He rubs my back once before pulling away with a smile. "Catch ya later, Teddy Bear," he says, nudging my shoulder with a laugh before turning and leaving the bedroom.
"Bye, Adam," I say, smiling to myself. I listen to the sound of him pulling on his boots and his jacket before the door opens and shuts with finality.
When I wake up, the sun is streaming brightly through the curtains to the balcony, a soft breeze drifting in. But that's not what woke me up. It's Clark, standing at the edge of my bed.
"Clark?" I groan, sitting up slightly. I realize I'm butt naked, but if I were in front of anyone else, I would have cared.
"You've been asleep for hours," he says in his deep, intensely masculine voice. "Came in to make sure you're okay."
"Yeah, I'm okay," I say, rubbing my forehead and checking the time. Damn. 1 PM. I've never slept in this late, even at my most depressed. But Clark of course has the key, and I have no issue with him barging in to make sure I'm good. In fact, I kind of like that. It feels like a safety net, to have that support at a moment's notice. And Clark most certainly brings all that support. He doesn't look it, with those muscles bulging in his t-shirt and his chiseled facial structure and dark eyes and full-head of greying hair, but he's the most kind-hearted person to me. I owe him everything. I owe him my life, if I'm being honest. More often than not I've confused my affections for him with romantics, and have even made passes at him a few times when I was feeling low. But no one would blame me. He looks like a sex god who exudes all the appropriate male energy, but he has a heart of gold. I think he understands me best just because he was once an addict too. "I had someone over," I tell him.
He cocks his eyebrow. "What does that mean?"
"I had someone over last night."
He stares at me before, very slowly, his mouth splits into a grin. "Seriously?" he says in a low voice, as if it's a secret. When I nod, he laughs, patting my ankle. "Well that's great news! I mean--" Then he composes himself. "Assuming it was a good time?"
I smile. "Yeah." More than good. I feel different, somehow. It's the first morning I can remember where I don't think of Miguel and want to cry, or curl up into the fetal position, or pick up the needle. Is this what it feels like? To feel content again? Maybe it wasn't about actively trying to work through my grief. Maybe it was a slow but sure process, occurring quietly in the background while I went on about my days. Maybe I just needed something to nudge me into the light. Maybe it was Adam.