Three, Two, One (321)

“Now you see where I’m coming from.”

“No, Ray,” I shake my head. “No, I actually do not see where you’re coming from. I make porn videos. I made a shitload for you and now I’m gonna make a shitload for me. And maybe, if I’m lucky, in a year or two I’m gonna be set just like you are. Have I ever fucked with your business? And as far as that goes, when it comes to the movies, we run a legitimate business. All of us. We’re one hundred percent on the up and up. So why this is even coming up, I have no idea. Because I’ve got nothing on you. You’re an open book as far as I can see. We’re friends. More than friends. I’d never fuck you over and I expect the same loyalty back.”

He takes a deep breath and sits down in his chair. He nods to the chair in front of his desk one more time and I can sense we’re gonna set this right, so I walk back over and take a seat.

“OK,” he says after a few seconds of silence. “I get it. I’m just being paranoid.”

“Why though? I mean, if something’s happening and it involves me and JD, we need to know.”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m just worried that I’ve made mistakes. And I’ve relied on you two for years and I won’t have you anymore. Just… nervous, I guess.”

“Dude,” I laugh. “Ray, man. You’re one of my best friends. I’m not going anywhere. And if you need anything, just ask.”

He stares at me for a moment. “You can get the films for this week?”

“I can.”

“And it will be public?”

“They always are, Ray.”

“You have some secret go-to girl for this?”

“I might.”

He stares at me some more. “OK, good. Thank you. I need the Public Fuck stuff, Ark. It’s good shit. I’m sure this won’t be your best, but you’ll get me some good movies—good club movies—before you go?”

“We’ve got girls lined up for next week. All three are repeats and we got the clubs on board too. We’ll bring you in some good shit next week, I promise.”

“All right, then. If I don’t see you tonight—”

“I know the drill, Ray.”

And then we shake hands and I walk out.

I don’t know why they are being nice to me. Especially this one. The one called JD. He’s got me wrapped up in his arms against his chest. The hot water is running again, because we’ve been sitting in the tub for so long it’s gone tepid. He’s stroking my hair and his lips are pressed up against my head.

We say nothing. We just listen to the water as it barrels out of the faucet.

I start to think about things and then shake my head a little to make it stop.

“What’s wrong?” His voice echoes through the large bathroom.

I can’t say. So he gets silence.

He waits to see if I’m just taking a moment to think, and then decides I’m not. “Too much, huh? The marks? Whoever it is you’re running from did a nice number on you.”

If he only knew.

“We’ll pay you for the photos. So you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

Like I have many options.

“But we won’t mind if you do stay.” His fingertips continue to play with my hair as we both think about that.

What would it mean to stay here? They can’t possibly be offering up a temporary home with no expectations.

“I think Ark likes you.”

I let out a long breath. “I don’t think so.”

“Ah, she still speaks.” JD peeks around my face and flashes me a smile. He’s very good-looking. His blond hair is wet and tousled, and a little darker now with the water. His eyes are a bright blue and they look—well, not quite kind. Neither of these guys look kind. They are rough in all the ways I need to avoid right now. But this one’s eyes tell me they are understanding, at least.

“Believe me.” JD’s voice rumbles across my neck, sending a chill through my whole body. He reaches down to cup my breast, then squeezes the nipple. “I know Ark better than anyone. But he’s never walked in on a job before.”

I narrow my eyes, glad he can’t see my annoyance and confusion. “What’s that mean? A job?”

A half-hearted laugh resonates from JD’s chest. “We make porn, darling. That’s how we live in this place. That’s how we pay the bills. We get girls like you to suck my dick in public. Occasionally I fuck them in public too, but most of the time it’s just a blowjob. Ark is the cameraman. He’s done some videos in the past, but in all the four years we’ve been working together, he’s never walked away from his camera to join in.” And now JD laughs for real. “You know what he said before he left?”

I can’t help myself. “What?”

“Some shit about you being his since he was the one who saw you first.”

Did Ark see me first? I think back. My mind is weary and my body is aching in all the wrong places. But now that I remember, he did see me first. He asked me if I was OK and that was when JD walked up behind him.

“What if I don’t want him?” The words spill out before I can stop them and then, expecting the slap or the hair pull for mouthing off, I twist and turn, trying to get away from JD before he can hurt me.

I stand up, sway and fall sideways into the wall. Strong arms reach out and grab me just a little too late, and my head connects with the hard tile.