Living in LA my entire adult life, you’d think I’d have been to Vegas by now. But it seemed like the type of place to go with a friend, get drunk and crazy, and make memories. Going by myself would’ve been pathetic. I’m a little embarrassed by how wide-eyed I am when we hit the strip.

“This is insane.” I look around at all the huge buildings and all the people on the streets. “I’ve never been here.”

“I’m glad we stopped then.” Rebel puts an arm over my shoulder, and we head into the hotel Rebel had the foresight to book ahead of time.

“Holy shit, this room is amazing. This must’ve cost a fortune.”

Rebel shrugs and tosses his suitcase down beside the couch. “I make plenty, and I don’t spend much, so I figured I’d splurge a little.”

I swallow around the lump forming in my throat. There’s no way I can repay Rebel for all this. I’m barely making enough to get by, and the last thing I want to do is be in anyone’s debt. Rebel is watching me carefully like he can tell how much I’m struggling to accept the gesture, waiting to see if I flip out.

“Guess I’ll have to find some way to pay you back,” I tease, shaking my ass in his direction to lighten the mood.

Rebel’s shoulders relax, and an easy smile spreads across his lips. “You don’t have to pay me back, but you know I won’t turn down that ass.”

Rebel gives me a quick smack to my left ass cheek, and I yelp in surprise, straightening up and rubbing the abused flesh.

He heads over to the window, and I join him to check out the view. Our room overlooks the crowded pool and all the lights of the city. I can even see the Eiffel Tower.

“So, one night in Vegas, what’s the plan?” I ask, excited to get out and get into some trouble. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be in Sin City with than Rebel. The dude is wild, and I love it.

“I’m thinking we hit a casino for a bit, because we’re in Vegas, so it’s basically a law we need to lose some money gambling. Then we’ll do dinner and drinks, strip club, and check out the pool later tonight.”

“I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

“I didn’t either,” Rebel says with a wink. “Now I’m going to hop in a cold shower real quick, because I’m already melting in this heat and then we can get this night started. You coming?”

“Hell yeah.”

I strip down where I’m standing and follow Rebel into the bathroom. After the hottest cold shower of my life, we both get dressed in fresh clothes and head out onto the strip again.

The casino downstairs is exactly what I would’ve pictured if you’d asked me to imagine what a Las Vegas casino looks like. It’s bright with all kinds of flashing lights and chiming machines. There are waitresses in short skirts and little black vests over white shirts, offering complimentary drinks to keep people playing and always putting money into the machines.

“What’s your game?” Rebel asks.

“Uh, not a clue. Blackjack maybe?”

“All right, let’s give it a shot.”

It turns out Blackjack is not my game. I lose a hundred dollars before I decide to try slot machines instead, where I lose even more money. I cringe inwardly knowing how much time and effort it took to make that money.

“Okay, I’m calling it. Apparently, I’m unlucky, and now I’m a few hundred dollars poorer. I say we move on to the dinner and drinks portion of the evening.”

“I’m good with that. I could use a big slab of meat and a stiff drink,” Rebel agrees.

“If you wanted something stiff, all you had to do was ask,” I tease, leaning over and flicking my tongue along the shell of his ear. To my satisfaction, Rebel shivers and lets out a quiet groan.

“I never thought I’d meet a man who could match my sexual appetite, but damn dude, you are one horny fucker.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I chuckle.

“Good, that’s how it was intended.” Rebel slings an arm over my shoulder and guides me outside.

I blink a few times, surprised to find that the sun has already set. People are right when they say time passes differently inside a casino. I feel like I’ve stepped into another dimension. And if the strip was something to see in the daylight, it’s unbelievable at night, all lit up.

As we walk down the street, Rebel tells me about the porn convention he and the guys were at last year in Vegas and all the trouble Brewer managed to get into.

“Wait, he didn’t know the guy was a prostitute?” I laugh at the end of the story.

“No, he gets propositioned everywhere he goes. He had no reason to think this guy was working him. Oh my god, Tank has never let him live that one down.”

“What kinds of shenanigans did you get into?” I ask, bumping my shoulder against Rebel’s.

“None, actually. With the guys and at the studio, I sort of feel like I’m supposed to set an example, be a role model, I guess. I think it’s because I’ve been with Bear and Ballsy Boys since the beginning, so it sort of feels like it’s my baby as much as it’s Bear’s. So, I’ve been to Vegas, but I’ve never really let loose, because I had to make sure I was being a good boy.”

“Sounds like we have to make up for that tonight. Drinks and then debauchery,” I declare. “Who knows, maybe we’ll even get a prostitute.”

“No, thanks,” Rebel laughs. “I’m perfectly happy with this ass at the moment.”

He grabs my ass, and I tense for a second. Not because I have a problem with PDA or anything, but because that sounded kind of exclusive and couple-y.

“Why wouldn’t you be, it’s a fantastic ass,” I joke to hide my discomfort.

Luckily, we reach the restaurant before I can reach epic levels of awkward avoidance.

“Tell me more about the degree you’re working on. It’s video game design, right?”

“Yeah,” I clear my throat and reach for my glass of water as we wait for the steaks we just ordered. “Some people think it’s kind of a pipe dream, because it’s not an easy industry to get into. I mean, every other frat boy thinks he wants to play video games for a living, right?”

“But, you’re not every other frat boy,” Rebel points out. “What appeals to you about it?”

“I guess it’s the challenge of combining the technical aspects of coding with the creativity of telling a story through images, character development, level design, and so on. It’s very complex, but it also seems so rewarding to have this story in your head that you want to tell, and be able to turn that into something millions of people can experience. I know that probably seems weird…”

“Not at all, I think that’s amazing. I know it’s not exactly the same thing, but it’s similar with porn, the behind the camera aspect anyway. Bear has let me do some work with him from that end of things, and having this idea and being able to see it come to life, it’s really surreal.”

“Yeah, exactly,” I agree.

Rebel smiles at me, and I feel a warm flutter in my chest. It’s like he really gets me. I’ve never had that before. If I’d known it would feel this good to have a friend, maybe I would’ve tried it a long time ago.

I have the strange urge to lean across the table and kiss him just for the hell of it, but luckily, that insane notion is interrupted when the waitress drops off our drinks—a Jack and Coke for Rebel, and a Seven and Seven for me—and a basket of bread.  

A handful of drinks and a giant slab of meat each later, and we’re both feeling a bit giggly and a lot ready to hit the strip club. Yet another thing I’ve never done before, because it felt too pathetic to do alone. If you go to a strip club with friends, you’re having fun. If you go by yourself, you’re a creep with your hand in your sweatpants.

“Hunk Mansion?” I laugh at the name of the strip club when we reach it.

“Yes, and there will be hunks galore, I assure you.”

“Good, I need to see some naked men.”

Rebel smacks my ass again, and I nearly fall over laughing. How crazy is it that the porn star I was crushing on from afar just a few months ago is now the best friend I’ve ever had? I feel like it shouldn’t be this easy to let go and have fun with him, but he’s just as crazy as I am, so there’s no judgment. It’s so...freeing.

Inside Hunk Mansion we grab seats near one of the stages with a good view of a cute little twink working the pole. And it only takes a minute for a buff waiter—wearing nothing but a pair of shiny underwear and a healthy dose of oil glistening on his muscles—to come over and take our drink order.

“Are you two going to get your fine asses up there in half an hour when amateur night starts?” the waiter asks Rebel and me with a flirtatious smile for each of us.

“What?” I ask with surprise.

“Amateur night,” he says again. “You just sign up at the bar, and then you get a chance to get up there and shake your money maker for some cash.”

“Oh my god, we have to do this,” Rebel says in a giddy tone, grabbing my arm excitedly. “Let’s go sign up right now.”

“Sure, why not,” I agree. “But you’d better make my drink a double, so I’m drunk enough to do this in a half hour,” I add to the waiter.

I save our spot while Rebel goes and signs us both up to take our clothes off in front of a bunch of strangers. I guess for him this is no big thing. I’m not exactly body shy myself. I’m more worried I’m going to dance like a spaz or freeze when I see a bunch of eyes on me, or worse yet, suffer the humiliation of not getting any tips.

Rebel returns a few minutes later, as does the waiter with our drinks. The twink who was dancing on the stage in front of us hops down and makes his way in our direction.

“Sorry if this is super rude, but are you Rebel?” he asks with hearts and stars in his eyes.

Rebel gives him a charming smile. “I am, nice to meet you.”

“This is so cool! My friends are never going to believe I met you. Do you, um, want a lap dance?” he offers with fluttering eyelashes and a cute little blush.

“Um…”

Rebel looks over at me like he’s asking for permission, and I bristle a little. “Dude, I’m not your boyfriend, do what you want.”

There’s a little too much venom in my tone, but the implication that I should have a say in who touches Rebel has my chest tightening and my palms sweating.

“Sure, I’d love a lap dance.”

“Oh my god, this is so cool. You can call me Glam, by the way.”

Glam wastes no time straddling Rebel and working his hips in mesmerizing circles. His hands are all over Rebel’s chest and combing through his hair.

A flash of something hot and possessive flares in my gut as Rebel smiles at the kid and runs his hands up the back of Glam’s thighs to cup his ass. Apparently, Glam’s not going to enforce the no groping the dancers rule that was posted at the entrance.

Glam leans close and whispers something in Rebel’s ear that makes Rebel smile and shake his head. What did he ask? Maybe he was asking if Rebel and I are together or if Rebel has a boyfriend.

I swallow the bile in my throat. What do I care, anyway? Rebel can fuck anyone he wants. He’s a porn star. He fucks people for a living and that doesn’t bother me. And he’s not my boyfriend.

When an announcement cuts over the music that amateur night is about to start and that all those signed up should claim a stage, I jump up and tap Glam on the shoulder. “Sorry, man, Rebel and I are signed up to dance.”

“Oh.” Glam’s face falls as he climbs off Rebel’s lap. “If you change your mind, here’s my number.” He slips a piece of paper into Rebel’s pocket, and I have to bite back a growl.

“You okay?” Rebel asks, clearly noticing the tension vibrating off me.

“I’m great; let’s get up there and make some money.”

Rebel and I climb up onto the nearest stage, and immediately, we have a few bachelorette parties and a horde of men gathered around to watch us.

“Uh, this is a little daunting,” I whisper to Rebel.

“Just relax and have fun,” he suggests as he tugs his shirt over his head and tosses it into the crowd.

I shrug and follow suit, and then we start shaking it to the music. With the strange, hot, territorial feeling still lingering, I reach for Rebel and start to grind up on him like I’m staking a claim in front of the whole club. I run my tongue along his neck, and I hear a cheer go through the small crowd we’ve amassed.

Rebel’s hips work in perfect time to the beat, and he doesn’t falter as he makes quick work of getting my pants open. He drops into a crouch, tugging my jeans down with him, and then twerks it for the ladies directly behind him.

Another cheer goes up and money starts landing on the stage. I step out of my pants and kick them over so I have room to move but don’t lose them. Then I help Rebel get his pants off, much less elegantly than he managed for me, but we get the job done.

I catch sight of Glam beside the stage watching us, and out of sheer pettiness, I grab Rebel and shove my tongue into his mouth, grabbing his ass and pressing our bodies close together as we move to the music.

We’re met with whistles and cat calls.

“Not sure we’re supposed to put on a live porn show,” Rebel jokes, giving me one more quick kiss before pulling away.

In just our briefs, we dance our way toward the edge of the stage and are met with tons of groping hands, trying to shove money into our underwear and stealing a quick grab of our asses and junk when they can manage it. By the time the song ends and we have to give up the stage to the next guys wanting a chance, we’ve made back at least three times what I lost at the casino.

“Okay, that was fun,” I admit, pulling my pants back on.

“Hell yeah, it was,” Rebel agrees.

Our shirts are long gone, so when we leave the club after a few more drinks, we do it with our glistening abs on full display.

“So, uh, what did Glam ask you?” I blurt as we walk back to the hotel, both more than a little tipsy.

“What?” Rebel asks, his eyebrows scrunching.

“When he was giving you the lap dance, he asked you something?”

“Oh,” Rebel nods. “Yeah, sorry, I forgot. He asked if I wanted to meet up after his shift. I said no thanks.”

“Oh.” That hot flare hits my gut again. “Did you want to? If you just said no because of me, you can totally call him.”

“I’m having fun with you, why would I go out of my way to hook up with someone else when I’m enjoying what we’ve got going on?”

“I guess,” I agree.

“Now, let’s go see about swimming. I’m all hot and sweaty. I’d love to jump in the pool.”

We head through the lobby and out back to the pool, which, to my surprise, is completely empty.

Rebel looks one way and then the other before kicking off his shoes then dropping his pants and underwear. He smirks at me and shoots me a wink over his shoulder before doing a cannonball into the pool. I hurry to follow suit, adding a flip to my jump just to show him up a little.

“Show off,” Rebel accuses when I break the surface of the water.

“Don’t be jealous,” I tease and then splash water at his face.

“Oh, you’re going down.”

Rebel launches himself at me and we tussle, trying to dunk each other. Until we both become acutely aware of our naked bodies rubbing together and the fact that our dicks are getting very interested in the action.

“Too bad we don’t have any lube down here with us,” I lament, cupping his balls and then wrapping my hand around Rebel’s fat shaft and giving his a few slow strokes beneath the water. His head falls back, and his lips part on a silent moan.

“Mmm, guess we’ll have to find another way to entertain ourselves. Or just tease until we get back to the room. A little edging action is always fun,” Rebel says, pinching my nipples and then nibbling along my jaw.

“I’ve always been too impatient for edging, maybe you’ll have to show me.”

“I’m not going to say no to that.”

His lips find mine, and I back Rebel up against the side of the pool. His legs wrap around my waist, my hands moving to his ass, his still playing with my nipples as our tongues meet in a teasing dance.

I groan into Rebel’s mouth when he flexes his hips, rubbing his hard cock against mine.

“You’re so fucking hot,” he murmurs against my lips.

A throat clears behind us, and we jump apart.

“What do we have here?” A stern looking security guard stands over us at the edge of the pool. “You two do realize that public indecency is a crime, even in Las Vegas, don’t you?”

“Oh shit,” I mutter, sure this big dude with a stick up his ass isn’t going to go easy on us.

“We’re sorry, sir. We got a little carried away,” Rebel apologizes with that charming smile back in place.

The guard glares down at him, and then suddenly his expression changes. “Wait, you’re not…?”

Rebel’s smile brightens. Damn, does everyone in this town know who Rebel is?

“I take it you’re a fan?” Rebel asks, straightening up a bit.

“Uh, yeah, you could say that.” The guard blushes. Then he looks around like he’s making sure no one else is out here. “Listen, I’ll let you off with a warning, but you can’t do this again. There are still rules here, and it’s my job to make sure they’re enforced.”

“We understand,” Rebel assures him.

Then he hoists his hard, wet body out of the pool and stands before the security guard stark naked with a semi like he doesn’t have a care in the world. The guard’s eyes widen as he takes in Rebel’s body. Poor guy didn’t even get any warning before Rebel unleashed the beast on him.

“Do you think...um...could I get an autograph?” he stammers.

“Sure thing, man.” Rebel claps him on the shoulder. “Do you have a pen? As you can see I don’t exactly have a place to carry one at the moment.”

“Oh, yeah.”

He whips out a pen and a pad of paper. Rebel writes something and signs it with a flourish.

“Here you go, and thanks for being cool. Now, if you don’t mind, we’ll just head up to our room before we get into any more trouble out here.”

Rebel winks at him, and the guard quivers a little. I stifle a laugh. The guard leaves, and I climb out of the pool as well, and Rebel and I hurry to dress.

“Well, this was a night for the history books,” Rebel jokes as we ride the elevator up to our room, our jeans sticking to our wet skin. “And it’s not even over yet. I promised to school you in the ways of edging, which means we have a long night ahead of us still.”