Lights flashed and the bass pulsed in Sinsation, Phoenix’s finest dance and sex club for the LGBT crowd. It had only been in business for a little less than a year, but had become a huge hangout in no time. Terrence’s head was pounding from the loud electronica music, and he marveled that the strobes hadn’t given him a seizure yet.

What the hell is the matter with me tonight?

Typically, Terrence loved being there. He craved the energy and fantasy the club provided, all wrapped up in a safe environment. All members had to be tested regularly for STDs and security was available if things got out of hand. The dance part of the operation was open to the public. However, the basement sex club was only available to invited guests, and even then, they had to be able to cover the monthly fee. A BDSM area was provided, but it wasn’t strictly a dungeon. It had several themed alcoves where attendees could put on masks if they chose, shed their inhibitions and just explore their sexuality. It was a huge turn-on for Terrence and he spent any free nights he had there.

As an EMT, recently advancing to a paramedic in the local suburb of Mesa, he was lucky to have snagged day shifts. But as an emergency responder, he sometimes had to deal with changes in his working hours, depending on the needs of the city. A few months before, all available personnel had needed to be on duty because of a rash of arson attacks. Now, it was mid-winter and both the arsonist who had wreaked havoc on the town and—more recently—a vicious serial killer, had been caught. Terrence figured Mesa was due some quiet for a while.

He finished sipping his gin and tonic. He didn’t go for fancy, trendy drinks—there was something about the classic style that appealed to him. But he couldn’t deny just how grateful he was to be in the twenty-first century. As a gay black man, even if things weren’t always great, they were a hell of a lot better than they would’ve been had he been around in the twenties or thirties.

“Terrence, my man, are you headed downstairs tonight?”

Terrence swiveled on the bar stool where he was perched against the purple LED-trimmed glass counter of the large main bar. He gazed into the slightly boozy face of one of his frequent hook-ups, Marcus. As much as he was into almost anything sexually, he tried to only party with guys he knew something about. He inwardly snickered. Unless I just can’t help myself. Marcus was his main fuck-buddy, and they hooked up with several different guys there. Because being at the club gave Terrence a sense of security, he was able to explore sexually and indulge in a few kinks without worry for his safety.

He had lost his partner back in San Diego—where he had moved from a couple of years back—when his lover had gone out with a stranger from a personal ad. Theirs had been an open relationship, and all Cory had wanted was a quick booty call. But Cory had picked the wrong stranger to get with.

Thinking about Cory being beaten to death was killing Terrence’s buzz—and certainly any thoughts of getting down. Dwelling on past regrets didn’t do him or anyone else any good. The club had kept him sane in many ways.

“Hey, you awake, man?”

“Sorry, Marcus, I was just thinking about something else.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s got you lookin’ all depressed and shit. Fuck that. Let’s go downstairs. I have this twink waiting for us who is going to make your mouth water and your dick cry for mercy.”

Terrence had to smile. Marcus was a non-stop party guy. He was really all about having fun no matter what, the same vibe Terrence tried to give off. Used to give off. He frowned. He’d felt a bit out of sorts for the last few months, and it was eating at him, eating into his good times.

“Sure, Marcus. But I might just watch tonight. I have a bit of a headache.”

“Shut. Up. This one’ll suck the headache right out of you. Come on now, before he gets tired of waiting.”

Terrence slid off the stool, took one last noisy sip of his drink, then left it behind. He followed Marcus to the VIP archway at the very back of the almost ten-thousand-square-foot club. The main bar greeted patrons near the front where he’d been, and a large dance floor dominated the middle of the wicked establishment. Another, smaller bar stood next to the DJ booth to the left of the VIP entrance. The club remained completely dark with the exception of the purple LED trim, strobes, and other flashes of light going in time with the music. The décor was streamlined and futuristic. He loved it.

Downstairs was another story. The low ceilings gave the play area a different vibe, and the many small alcoves separated only by screens or curtains offered a degree of privacy. Only the dungeon, a much larger room fully equipped with many devices, was never private. Terrence was aware that if he opted to go in there, whether to play or to scene, he had to be prepared for an audience.

The niches were different. Once someone laid claim to a room, they could choose who they wanted to partner with and who they didn’t. Several bouncers remained positioned throughout the downstairs in case things got out of hand. More than once, management had eighty-sixed a belligerent customer.

Five nights a week, the club was available to men only. Then there was a women-only night and a mixed gender night. That one typically turned into a mass orgy and was popular with the swingers’ crowd.

Terrence and Marcus showed their passes to the VIP gatekeeper then headed down the dimly lit stairs.

“What room did you pick tonight?”

“My favorite—the Arabian Nights room.” Marcus groaned. “Wait till you see him, man. He’s luscious. Snow-white skin, long platinum hair, legs that go on for days, thin as a rail and not one speck of hair on his body. I can’t wait until he’s splayed out over those pillows. Mm-mm-mm.”

Terrence shook his head and chuckled to himself. Marcus loved to role play, loved all sorts of scenarios and every type of man. Body size, skin color, age, top, bottom—he wasn’t choosy. Terrence couldn’t say he actually had a particular type, except he did love class—a man who gave off a certain sense of sophistication and refinement. Sadly, he had the feeling that finding that type at the club might be a long shot. But it was cool, he was only twenty-five, and it wasn’t as if he was really ready for anything too serious.

They approached the room and Marcus yanked the curtains aside. As promised, a very young twink already waited, displaying himself across large, multi-colored velvet throw pillows. Marcus was right. His nude form was exquisite. The only bit of fabric on him was a long glittery scarf, loosely wrapped around his slender throat. Brass lanterns with intricate designs and faux candles within them supported the ambience of a sheik’s tent.

Terrence smiled at the young man and Marcus wasted no time in removing his black leather pants and neon-pink mesh shirt. Marcus was a lot huskier than Terrence, in addition to being a few inches shorter. In contrast, Terrence was six-one and all lean muscle.

When Marcus was completely nude, he laid down next to the twink and caressed his smooth, hairless chest. Terrence loved the stark contrast between Marcus’ deep mahogany skin and the twink’s alabaster shade. His tone was somewhere in the middle with it boasting a warmer hue of brown that was closer to a sienna. He’d also become hard enough watching the two men together that he literally wanted to be in the middle.

“What’s your name, sweetie?” Terrence asked as he removed his own, much less flashy clothing. He maintained his love of style and sophistication in his own dress.

“Jason,” the twink said, tittering behind his hand.

“Come on, Terrence,” said Marcus. “Come over here and let him suck you off. He’s the best, I promise you.”

Marcus stroked his thick boner and moved over a bit to give Terrence room to straddle Jason’s face. The young man let out an ‘oh’ at the sight of Terrence’s long dick and lay back, raising his arms above his head.

“Would one of you please tie my wrists together?” He said it softly, as if he were asking for a glass of milk. Jason was a sweet man, and Terrence had a twinge of something inside he couldn’t name. Was it worry? Shrugging it off, Terrence paused, still standing above him, waiting for Marcus to do what the vulnerable Jason had requested.

Marcus had what Terrence thought of as the ‘gleam’. He saw it whenever they were about to get into it. His buddy would appear as if he were going to devour whoever they were with. He’d sometimes seen the same expression from Marcus when he was watching Terrence in non-sexual situations at the bar, or when they were dancing.

Terrence did like Marcus, but barely knew what it was he did outside of the club, other than that he worked as concierge at a large luxury hotel in Phoenix. Marcus claimed to have serviced male guests for money when they’d asked about where to discreetly have a good time. That sort of thing made Terrence uncomfortable—a feeling he didn’t want—so he stayed away from the subject. It also made him glad that the club required the members be tested frequently.

Marcus finished tying up Jason, and Jason said, barely above a whisper, “Thank you. You know how tight I like it. Don’t be gentle.”

“You know I won’t,” Marcus growled. “Come on, Terrence, my man, fuck our little captive’s face.”

Terrence frowned. The only thing he didn’t like about being with Marcus was that he talked too much. Terrence liked to lose himself in the moment and feel every sensuous nuance of fucking, tasting and touching. Marcus’ constant jabbering threw him off at times. But Terrence was chill and didn’t ever want to criticize another man’s enjoyment, so he kept his opinions to himself.

Trying to ignore Marcus’ words, Terrence lowered himself over Jason, kneeling. He watched as Jason closed his eyes and offered his pretty, feminine mouth to him, opening it wide to accept Terrence’s cock. Jason wrapped his lips around the head of Terrence’s shaft and Terrence groaned with absolute pleasure. The wet heat was heavenly, and he pushed farther into Jason’s mouth.

Jason sucked Terrence, running his tongue along the length of his dick’s underside, and each time he pulled out, Jason suctioned the head deliciously. Terrence leaned over, placing his hands above Jason’s head so he could thrust deeper. He also knew from previous encounters that it would make his ass available to Marcus. Face-fucking while being rimmed was right up there with his absolute favorite sexual experiences.

Terrence started as Marcus probed his insistent tongue against his asshole. He was jerked out of the moment by the throbbing at his temples. His blasted headache still wouldn’t go away. Terrence held his head up a bit higher, trying to keep the pressure off his skull so it wouldn’t distract him. Jason moaned around Terrence’s cock, and Marcus licked harder and faster, finally pushing his way into Terrence. Marcus swirled his tongue inside Terrence’s rim and, even though he was enjoying it, he didn’t feel the overwhelming urge to come the way he normally would.

Damn headache. I should’ve taken a pain reliever before coming down here.

Marcus pulled out, panting with obvious arousal. “Come on, Jason, I need to pound that tiny ass.”

The sound of a condom wrapper tearing could be heard and Jason’s legs brushed the sides of his own as he lifted them to accept Marcus up his ass. A jolt threw Terrence’s rhythm off as Marcus plunged into Jason. The young man whimpered around Terrence’s dick. The thought that he should pull out and help Jason get off nagged at him. So far, they had been using him as if he were a couple of convenient holes, and that was not at all how Terrence liked to play. He was into everyone having a good time, enjoying each other’s bodies, feeling pleasure from what was happening.

He moved above Jason’s head, pulling out of his mouth, and lay by the young man’s side. Marcus stopped fucking and frowned at Terrence.

“Hey, man, I was going to finger your ass, why did you climb off him?” Marcus’ irritation was clear from his huffy voice. “That was so hot watching you fuck his mouth, your ass in my face. I want to do him real good… I mean, us, for us to do him real good.”

Yeah, it’s always about you.

Terrence kept his tone light. “It’s all good. I just want to suck Jason off—let him enjoy himself.”

Marcus appeared annoyed. “Yeah, whatever, man.” He went back to fucking Jason, pushing his legs up even farther to impale him to the hilt. In that position, it made it impossible for Terrence to be able to get in there and get his mouth on the kid. It was as if Marcus was purposely preventing Terrence from helping Jason come.

“It’s okay, Mr. Terrence, I don’t mind,” Jason said in his soft sweet voice. “You can sit on me, and I’ll lick your ass, okay?”

“Uh, that’s okay, baby, I’ll just watch you guys.”

Marcus pointedly ignored them both, eyes closed, seemingly locked in his own world as he vigorously fucked Jason.

“Don’t you like me, Mr. Terrence? Did I do something wrong?” Jason grunted between words from the pounding he was taking.

Terrence was pulled into something surreal. The twink gazed at him with pleading eyes, as if he were oblivious to the forceful grinding of Marcus’ cock. Overcome by a strong need to cradle and soothe Jason, he leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the lips. Terrence wanted to take away the pain he saw in his eyes and he still wanted to give him pleasure.

Terrence used one hand to gently caress Jason. He explored his mouth with his tongue, deepening the kiss as he reached between Marcus’ tight, flat stomach and Jason to grab Jason’s dick. It was hard, but as Terrence stroked him, it softened under his grip.

What the…?

He let go and broke their kiss. “Hey, what is it? Are you okay?”

Terrence didn’t get his answer. At that moment, Marcus yelled out his orgasm, pistoning into Jason who screwed his eyes shut.

Terrence softened as well. Things had gotten too weird for him. He didn’t mind some rough play, or having threesomes or even foursomes, but the helplessness he’d seen in Jason’s eyes and heard in his voice had left him with an unpleasant sensation in his gut.

Marcus pulled out and Jason winced as he put his legs down. Terrence was sure he was hurting, but didn’t want to say anything.

“Phew! That was some fine ass. Terrence, why don’t you get yourself some of that? I’ll be ready for round two in a minute—I took half a Viagra earlier—so I’ll be able to ram my dick down his throat real soon. Then we can all be doing it together at the same time, the way I like it.”

Terrence frowned. “I don’t think so, man. Your definition of ‘together’ is a bit whack.”

He reached for his clothes and Marcus grabbed his wrist.

“Let go of me. Right. Now.”

Marcus backed off instantly. “It’s cool, it’s cool. Just chill, man. I just, you know, want you to have a good time too. Get yourself a piece of that.”

“It’s okay, Mr. Terrence,” Jason chimed in. “I like it when I’m forced to do things and don’t get off. I don’t care what anyone does to me.”

Terrence tried to keep the look of disgust off his face. He didn’t want to hurt Jason’s feelings.

“That’s not okay, baby, you should care. Why don’t I give you a ride home?”

“Hey, wait.” Marcus scrambled over then whispered into Terrence’s ear, “I thought you would like this—that’s why I brought you down here. You can do whatever—and I mean whatever—you want to this kid, and he doesn’t give a shit. That’s what’s so great about him.”

“There’s nothing great about that.” Terrence lost the battle to keep his expression neutral. The evening had gone south and he was beyond ready to bounce. He turned from Marcus and grabbed his clothes, hurriedly yanking them on. “Come on, Jason, I’ll untie you and we can get out of here.”

“The fuck?” yelled Marcus. “This is bullshit. I found him, he’s mine!”

A beefy, leather-clad bouncer shoved the curtains aside and stuck his head in. “Do we have a problem here, gentlemen?” It was obvious he was trying to act as though he wasn’t eyeing the still-bound, naked twink.

“No, Mr. Brian. I’m having lots of fun. But I don’t think he likes me.”

To Terrence’s amazement, Jason had directed his gaze on him.

“What? I never said that! I’m trying to help you.”

Jason averted his eyes. “I never said I needed any help. Mind your own business, Mr. Terrence.”

“Fine.” Terrence angrily gathered the rest of his clothing and shoved his feet into his shoes. He’d worry about his fucking socks later. He regarded the bouncer. “Don’t worry. I’m leaving. You couldn’t pay me to stay here tonight.”

Marcus appeared remorseful all of a sudden. “Hey, don’t be like that. I’m sorry, okay? We can all still have a good time. I didn’t mean nothing. I’ve had too much to drink, and those pills make me so horny, I get kinda crazy sometimes.” He laughed shakily. “You know you’re my main man, Terrence.”

“Right. Whatever. I’m outta here.”

“Terrence, please…”

Terrence glared at Marcus, shaking his head as he grabbed his jacket. He turned his attention to Jason. “Good luck, Jason. And for the record, I do like you. I just don’t like what’s going on here.”

“Come on.” The bouncer stepped aside, holding the curtains open, a clear indicator that he wanted Terrence out of there immediately. “Let’s get moving.”

Terrence brushed past him and hurried to the stairs, ignoring the glances of the nearby patrons, who had obviously come out of their respective play areas to see what the excitement was about. All that mattered to Terrence at that point was getting home, getting away from the insanity so he could make his throbbing headache disappear.

* * * *

Terrence arrived at his apartment in Mesa about thirty minutes later and noted that it was past two in the morning. He had a nice place near downtown and had fixed it up with a vague art deco theme that featured primarily black, white and gold in the décor. Several etched mirrors accented the main area, as well as his bedroom, along with framed Erte knock-offs. A few modern touches such as contemporary brass floor lamps and glass tables, also lined with brass, completed the look. His favorite piece was a tall black panther ceramic statue that sat next to the black faux leather sofa. Terrence didn’t have a whole lot of money, but he was creative with what he did have. He wasn’t above shopping at yard sales and flea markets to decorate his home. His surroundings were how he reflected his tastes, how he’d made his small abode into a sanctuary.

Terrence made his way to the bedroom. After putting on a pair of burgundy satin pajamas, he immediately headed to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom to grab some pain relievers. He took the maximum dose then padded into the kitchen to get a soda.

The confrontation with Marcus back at Sinsation still had him wired. He’d never had a negative experience at the club, and he was trying to figure out where things had taken a left turn. Had he somehow given Marcus the impression that using a young kid that way would turn him on? It had certainly made Marcus super-hot.

I must be giving off the wrong vibe. Marcus insisted he just wanted me to have a good time—that he thought I’d be into it. And that kid…

Terrence’s stomach clenched at the thought of Jason. There weren’t any judgements, only concern. He knew guys who were submissives, but their kink was always handled in a positive and safe environment. What had gone on had seemed abusive.

The whole situation was getting him riled up again and he needed to unwind. He had the following day off, but didn’t want to stay up all night. After going through the DVDs in his case, he pulled out one of his favorites, The Misfits. Of all of the actors who Terrence lusted after, Gable was at the top of his list.

The leading man was strong and classically handsome. He was intense and didn’t put up with any nonsense. Kind and protective. The Misfits was Terrence’s top choice because it showcased an older hero with all of those nuances. With the added cowboy flavor, the film was perfect.

As he enjoyed the movie, Terrence not only got hard, but stayed hard. He came forcefully in his hand, arching his back as he achieved his release. It happened right as he pictured his fantasy man’s mouth on his cock, one finger shoved into his ass. That was what he wanted. A man like a classic film star.