It was another normal, but very hot Los Angeles day. Andre walked into his local coffee shop to escape the heat for a little while. The AC had gone out in his apartment complex two days ago and the window unit he had bought just wasn't cutting it. He needed a reprieve.
As soon as the cold air hit Andre's face, he breathed out a sigh of relief. Walking up to the counter, he greeted the barista. They had a vague rapport from his visits to the shop.
"Hey, could I get a cold brew?" Andre asked. The barista smiled and typed it into the POS. Andre paid and dropped a few dollars into the tip jar.
Andre sat down a few minutes later with his drink at an empty table in a corner and pulled out his phone. As he scrolled through social media, he didn't notice the cafe filling and emptying. As he took his last sip of his drink, Andre stood up and brought his empty glass to the counter and set it down. He walked toward the door and noticed a man sitting alone and nodded at him. The man watched Andre, but did not nod back. A small smile played on his lips as he watched Andre walk back out into the heat.
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A few days later, Andre's air had finally been fixed. No more sweating all night! In the mood for a latte, Andre walked back to the coffee shop and ordered a drink to go, with a muffin. While he waited for his order, he glanced around the shop and saw the man from the other day sitting against a window. Andre watched him for a minute, a little confused. He didn't seem like the LA "type"...but stranger things and all. Maybe he had just moved here. As Andre was pondering, the man looked up and caught Andre's stare. The same smile played on the man's lips, as if he knew something Andre didn't. A moment later, the man got up and left, turning the corner and disappearing into the crowd. Andre grabbed his order and headed out toward the park. It was a nice day and he could use some fresh air.
The park was pretty full, since the heat had calmed down some. Andre tore off a piece of his muffin and ate it. He closed his eyes briefly and groaned softly. It was so good, and still just the littlest bit warm. Andre smiled to himself and opened his eyes again. As he did, he jumped eleven feet in the air as the man from the coffee shop was seated next to him.
"Hello," the man said with a smile.
Andre stared at him in shock, and a little concern.
"My name is Dom."
Andre wasn't sure what to say. His mouth refused to form words and his brain had gone on strike.
"Uh. Um. I-. Hi..." Andre mumbled.
The man chuckled lightly, the sound smooth and deep. The sound sent a thrill through Andre.
"I've been watching you. You're a very attractive man. Tell me about yourself."
'Is this a dating show or something???,' Andre thought to himself. "Uh...what do you want to know?"
Dom tilted his head curiously. "Well, you can start with your name, even though we both know I know who you are, Andre."
Andre's heart skipped a beat. "Well, um...what else do you know?"
Dom watched Andre as if he were a toy he was playing with. As if Andre was his prey. "I know you're a Gemini. I know your favorite drink is a cold brew with Irish cream and a splash of oat milk. And I know that you began transitioning seven years ago, but you don't want anyone to know that."
Andre's heart was pounding and his legs had turned to jelly. Who the fuck was this man...? He got up to leave and head toward home, or the police department...Andre wasn't sure which yet. Dom watched him turn to go and waited til he got a few feet away before he stood up and followed him. Dom's hands slid into his pockets. A few minutes later, Andre was walking up the stairs to his apartment. When he reached the door, a card was sticking out between the door and the jamb. Andre grabbed it and read over it.
"DOM LA'TOLSTA
12472 Tenth St."
Andre turned it over and, on the back, the owner had handwritten: "Meet me at 11pm at the address on this card if you'd like me to change your life."
Andre's heart did a few flips. He pulled out his phone to Google the name on the card. To nobody's surprise, nothing showed up. Entering his apartment, Andre thought about the interaction at the park. He had no idea how this man could know anything about him but at the same time, he was intrigued and curious...and maybe a little turned on. The man was very handsome, after all. Almost too handsome, actually...
10pm rolled around and Andre tapped his foot anxiously. He decided to go check the address out, at least. He didn't have to go inside...he could just go, look, and leave. No harm in that...right?
He went and took a shower and shaved where it counted. Why? Who knows. Just in case? Sure. Why not.
By 10:50, Andre stood outside the building at 12472 Tenth St. It was a dark, nondescript building in a crumbling part of town. It looked deserted, with no cars nearby to indicate anyone was even there. 8 minutes later, the door creaked open seemingly on its own. Andre jumped a little but kept watching. To his own surprise, his dick also twitched a bit. He had entertained himself in the shower with fantasies of Mr. La'Tolsta, so he was kind of worked up. It has been a while, after all.
A minute later, at 10:59, Andre walked toward the building and the open door. He pushed the door open enough to slip inside and then shut it quietly behind him. As the door shut, floor lights popped on and electric candles flickered to life. The floor was covered in dark red carpet, and there was a stunning hand-carved banister to his left. The room was sizable, with a hand-carved fireplace on the far wall. Andre looked down the hallway, where the floor lights led. 'I must be crazy', he thought to himself. He slowly followed them, stepping lightly to avoid tripping. At the end of the hall, the lights led down a staircase into a dimly lit basement-type area. Andre walked down the carpeted stairs and into an immaculately finished basement. The lighting was still dim, but not so much that Andre couldn't see everything clearly.
The room was large and inviting, with white walls and black hard floors. The ceiling was all mirrors. There wasn't much in the way of furniture in the room, just a couple of couches and an armchair. They surrounded a coffee table set with tea service. The kettle was steaming, which felt like an invitation. Andre went to sit down and pour himself a cup. When he reached the sofas, Dom walked out of the shadows toward him.
"You came. I must say, I'm a bit surprised after the way you left earlier."
Andre couldn't place his accent but it was so sexy.
"You told me things about myself that I've never told anyone. What did you expect?" Andre responded.
"And yet, here you are."
Andre chuckled softly and sat down. "So who even are you?"
Dom smiled and sat across from him, folding his legs and sitting back. "I'm nobody important. However, I am the man who is hoping to change your life."
Andre snorted. This felt like the beginning of a terrible porno. Probably written by one of those teenybopper vampire authors.
Dom continued, "I'm an inventor. I create and market...enjoyment, if you will. I enjoy making people happy. Making them feel *good*."