...I returned to the living room, carrying two beer bottles. I handed him one. “Not to start an argument, Reed, but I’ve wondered something about Niki and I’ve just gotta know.”

“Know what?” he asked, flinging aside the bottle top and taking a swig.

“What in the world do you see in her anyway?”

He stared at me for so long, with his face devoid of all expression, that I wondered if I’d made him angry. Finally, his eyes twinkled with something akin to lechery. “The truth?”

“Always.”

“Because she sucks a mean cock.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s a lot.”

“But is it enough to put up with—with—” Once again I held my tongue. Sure, Reed had a tendency to be a little slow when it came to sizing up other people, but even he couldn’t be blind when it came to Niki’s incessant neediness, her frequent tantrums and irksome snobbishness, and her lack of intelligence when it came to the English language. And he certainly wasn’t deaf, so her nasally voice must have grated on his eardrums from time to time. Therefore, I decided not to launch into a litany of her less-than-stellar qualities. “I mean, come on, man, you could do so much better.”

“I could?” He raised an eyebrow before once again bringing the beer bottle to his lips and taking a sip.

“Don’t you ever look in the mirror? Chicks are practically lining up at our door for a chance to be with you.”

“Huh? What?” With dramatic effect only an actor could provide, he presented an aura of stark terror, stalked to the front door, and placed one eye against the security peephole. He gasped in feigned relief. “Nope, nope, can’t see anyone out in the hall.”

“Knock it off. And you know what I mean.”

“Do I?”

“Don’t play stupid. You’re a good-looking guy, a ‘catch,’ and you know it. So I can’t believe you’d stay with someone like Niki just because she’s a decent cocksucker.”

“Every dude in the world craves good head.”

“Of course, but you and I both know you could definitely find a nicer chick who would happily do that job. Hell, even a guy might be preferable to—” The moment the words flew off my tongue, I wanted to reel them back into my big, fat mouth.

“Oh? A guy, huh?” Now a mischievous glint lit his eyes. “There’s an interesting possibility. Hey, Mars, are you hoping to arrange yet another type of audition today?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve heard that guys suck cock better than any woman, and since you’re a guy, and gay…well, you’d know for a fact. Is it true?”

“Ah…yeah…from my experience, it’s true.”

“Fascinating, fascinating.” For an instant, his gaze locked on my face, or more specifically, on my lips. “I wonder…you may have a valid point about Niki and finding someone else. Know of anyone in particular who may be interested? And keep in mind, I’m Cock King, so it won’t be an easy task. I’d need an expert, you know?”

The hairs on my arms snapped to attention. Was my current lust for him that obvious? Or had he realized in all these months how much I ached for him? I felt a bit wobbly, and my cheeks sizzled in embarrassment. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“What do you think I’m saying?”

“That you…you want me to…?”