Fear-boners and Unpleasant Dreams
As you may be aware, work I posted on Lit was recently plagiarised and published without my consent. I've had the stories taken down, but I didn't enjoy the experience.
I write as herdirtymind on this site and as Jesse H Reign on others. If you see work I've published here under any other name, please let me know.
For the avoidance of doubt, no part of this story may be reproduced without my written permission.
Thanks, and Happy Halloween to those who celebrate.
Jesse
*****
"
That's
what you're wearing?" says Hadley. His incredulous tone draws the attention of Jeff, who comes to the door to inspect me.
"
That's
it? Is this a joke?"
I'm wearing jeans and t-shirt and a cowboy hat I bought when I still lived in Austin. I knew I'd take flack for my low-effort outfit, but the hat's the real deal. It's made of tan leather that's been worn in. I hoped that would count for something.
"We spoke to you about this last year, Dan. We were very clear."
"Honestly," sighs Hadley, "you spend so much time with us, sometimes it's easy to forget that you're not gay, but when you pull shit like this, it makes it
abundantly
clear."
"Mmph, a
bun
dantly," agrees Jeff.
In stark contrast to me, these two have spared no effort. Hadley is dressed as David Bowie, complete with make-up, a wig and a surprisingly authentic-looking asymmetric leotard. Jeff is a gladiator or a God of some sort. He's wearing bootie shorts and a Caesar crown and is covered from head-to-toe in gold paint.
"It's a real cowboy hat, I got it i..."
"Don't care," says Hadley, cutting me off.
"I don't even think they'll let you in like this, I really don't," says Jeff, in mock despair. "Take off the top, at least."
Hadley nods his agreement, his eyes gleaming in mischief. "Yes, it still won't be ideal, but the shirt off might help a little."
"Take it off."
"Take it off."
"Take it off," they chant in turns.
I shake my head and sigh as I pull the t-shirt off over my head. These guys have been my friends for a while. A long while. Mainly we're friends, but sometimes we're friends who fuck. The flirtatious banter between us is one of many reasons I like hanging out with them. I might not be gay, but I'm sure as hell bi.
"Much better," says Jeff.
I almost manage to resist the urge to flex, but I can't. They don't miss it. Neither of them do.
"Oooh, hello abs," trills Hadley, as Jeff rakes his fingers down my belly with a well-practised purr.
We pre-game at their place for a while. A handful of other guys join us and by the time it's late enough to head out, we're all in the mood to get into trouble.
We get to the club, and I'm instantly hit by the intense beat and the heat and the pulse of the sea of men dancing. The club is unreal. It's new and has mirrored surfaces and avant-garde lighting that makes it look a bit like a spaceship. Despite fact that I've got a nice buzz going, I feel suddenly sober and a bit out of place. This always happens to me when I'm in a place like this. We've barely walked in when we spot a gaggle of cowboys. In contrast to me, their costumes are well put together. Hats and boots and neckerchiefs, shiny and perfectly co-ordinated with cut-off denim shorts that show half their asses, and that's putting it mildly.
"You see, Dan," says Jeff, never one to miss an opportunity to teach, "
that's
how cowboys dress."
I shrug and laugh and then I head to the bar and shuffle around until I find an open seat. I order a beer and lean back against the bar, watching the scene. The guys I came with are dancing nearby. They're on top form. I love seeing them like this, though personally, I'm the kind of guy who doesn't dance unless I've had shots, and lots of them.
I nurse that beer and the next one. I'm feeling removed from the vibe to the point that I'm almost ready to call it a night.
Maybe next year, I'll do something more low-key.
I look around for the guys, planning to see if I can make an escape without causing a scene. I don't spot them immediately. I scan the room slowly, looking for Hadley's distinctive wig. I can't find him, but I find something else. Someone else. Someone different. Someone I recognise instantly. Someone I didn't realise until precisely this moment, I've been expecting. I've been waiting for him. I recognise him right away. I recognise him from a teenage dream. My dream. A rare combination of hair, teeth and limbs I concocted in my mind. Body parts and chemicals I assembled and sewed together in the night and then promptly forgot all about. But here he is, seemingly animated by nothing more than a spark of my imagination.
It's him.
Him.
The most beautiful boy in the world.
The place is packed, but there's space all around him. He's dancing. He's moving like water. Like magic. No-one can touch him. The lights are bouncing off his face. Pink and then blue.
His hair is shoulder length and blue-black. He has large doe eyes, impossibly long lashes and heavy eye make-up. There's a soft, fleshy curve to his lips.
Pink.
His jawline is sharp. Could-cut-ice-on-it, sharp. His limbs are long and lean. He's tall and lithe, but as he moves shadows cut into arms and his abs, in perfect time with the music.
Blue.
That little hint of musculature, of masculinity, combined with his beautiful face, is so sexy I start to stiffen immediately. I watch him for ages. I forget all about my beer. I don't move a muscle. He's bare-chested and is wearing a black combat-style kilt and boots. I have no idea what he's dressed as, possibly some sort of anime character I'm way too uncool to know about. It's neither here nor there though. Whatever or whoever he is, I like it.
I'm not the only one who has noticed him. He's drawing a crowd. Guys are jostling to get close to him. They're dancing hard and wild, shaking their cocks and their asses to get his attention. For his part, he pretends not to notice, but he must. No way he couldn't. Maybe for him, this is normal. Maybe causing this type of stir is just par for the course for him.
The song changes and he stops moving. He says something to one of his friends and then starts walking to the bar. I don't take my eyes off him. I can't. He weaves his way through the crowd and walks towards the bar, straight towards me. My heart beats harder, pulsing in my neck and my ears.
Be cool.
Don't panic.
I sit up straighter, shoulders back, subconsciously widening my stance. I raise my beer to my lips and take a careful sip. I flex without thinking. I hate myself for it, but I flex hard enough to burst something.
He squeezes into the spot beside me and looks at me with a little disdain, "Don't worry, Cowboy, I see you."
He's even more beautiful up close. He's wearing lilac contacts that make his pupils look bigger than they would if he was a mere mortal. His chest is coated with a fine sheen of perspiration from dancing. Both his nipples are pierced and God, that excites me.
By some miracle, I don't skip a beat. "How'd you know my name was Cowboy?" I say, looking down and tipping my hat at him.