THE GENTLEMEN'S CLUB Corey Written by Lady Poetess egiggles at moose-mail.com /~bbp Please do not reproduce on any website without permission. This story has no resemblance to anyone dead or alive. ONE "Watch me. Name your mark," Drew King Fisher Daniel stated confidently. "Don't do it, Wesley. He'll do it alright and you'll lose your money," Jesse Bradford warned Wesley Cotton. "I've seen him in action and he will fucking damn well win the bet." Wesley Cotton wasn't a man who give too much thought over his actions, however. He rarely listened to caution. He drove fast, loved hard, and partied hard. Usually his restrain came in the form of his partner Bryce, but tonight Bryce was across the country in a swim tournament down in Florida. Wesley's interest in playing the field had long ceased now that he was with Bryce but he was still a devil to be reckoned with when it came to creating trouble in parties. Jesse Bradford knew Wesley superficially since they were both wild and carousing bachelors looking only for a good time and their friendship became more concrete only they both settled down and Jesse stopped running away from his life by traveling to countries he didn't particularly enjoy visiting. Now that he divided his life between NYC where his boyfriend Scott lived and in DC where he was using his family's political connections to make life a little more colorful for the Democrats that took him on as their intern, he knew Wesley better and became closer to Wesley's friends in the process. Jesse had been through some wild times but he was actually ready to cringe at some of the mischief Wesley could get into. Anyone who made videos of guys behaving like idiots in public would come on the spot if he or she met Wesley. Wesley Cotton had mellowed considerably since Bryce Johnston came into his life, but he had no compunctions of throwing the first punch in a brawl. Right now he was gleefully making a foolish bet with Drew Daniel, the deceptively angelic fresh-faced cute guy who, in the one month he had been in town, had left a trail of broken hearts and furious souls vowing payback in his wake. Wesley had apparently forgotten that it was a bet that caused Wesley to become infatuated with Bryce despite Wesley's best intentions. Or maybe Wesley never learned anything from that bet since he never viewed the subsequent fallout as undesirable. Hell, maybe Wesley thought he was doing Drew a favor! "That guy," Wesley said, ignoring Jesse and gesturing towards the man in question with his hand that was holding his drink. "His underwear as proof. And you have one hour." "Jesus fucking Christ," Jesse exclaimed when he saw the man Wesley was drawing into the bet without the man's knowledge. "Drew, don't. That's Corey Sevier. He'll really kill you when he finds out what you two are doing." "Who is he?" Drew asked, giving the guy a closer study. "He's the new bouncer, right?" "Ask Wesley," Jesse asked pointedly. "Wesley was the one who persuaded George to give Corey a job in this club after no one would hire Corey. He was just released from the can for manslaughter. Killed a man when he was sixteen and recently released on parole." "He's innocent," Wesley said defensively. "I believe him when he says so. We grew up together and I know him, he won't kill unless he is forced into it, like any of us would." "Fascinating," Drew said, his expression now of unabashed curiosity. "He really has a dangerous vibe about him. He looks like the devil. Maybe he'll need to know an angel to cheer himself up." "You're no angel," Jesse pointed out with a snort. "But I bring benediction to the lonely and in need everywhere," Drew said with an arrogant smirk. "And this Corey looks like a man in need of salvation." To Wesley, he nodded. "One hour. Prepare to pay up." Jesse watched as Drew pushed through the crowd towards Corey Sevier. "I don't understand. Why are you setting your friend up with the devil like the Kingfisher? Drew will only bring him grief." "Who says I want to bring Corey pain? I know Corey. He'll be good for Drew just as Drew will be good for Corey." "But..." Jesse sighed in exasperation at Wesley's smug face. "Why can't you just introduce them like normal people, Wesley?" asked Jesse after draining his glass. "Because if this backfires, I can pass this off as a stupid bet. But trust me, Jesse, this will be fun." Jesse didn't have much faith in his friend's words. TWO Corey Sevier was relieved when Donald showed up. He wasted nearly an hour past his shift and he had to make the paper route at four as always. Since he wasn't getting paid for working overtime, his temper was slowly bubbling into a boil when Donald showed up. The sight of the man quickly defused Corey's temper and Corey counted to ten, like the prison counselor advised him to. He could now go home, sleep for two hours, and then dash for his paper route before working at the K-Mart near his place for the rest of the day. There was no need to blow a fuse. He gave the obviously inebriated Donald a pleasant greeting he didn't mean and the man didn't hear, grab his coat, and dashed out of the club to the street where his bike was waiting to take him home. "Hey there! Can you spare a minute?" Corey turned, a "Sure" on his lips, only to have the word die as his mouth fell open at the sight of the man walking towards him. His first thought was that an angel had come down from the heavens to find him. Corey didn't know why any angel would bothered with him, so this person had to be mortal, a beautiful, angelic mortal with an open and very handsome boyish face that seemed to hid nothing and radiated only honesty. A very desirable angel, Corey's treacherous libido assured him, as Corey's eyes greedily - reluctantly - moved away from the man's face to drink in the sight of that tightly-muscled physique obvious under form-fitting shirt and tight jeans. Here was a man with the face of an angel and a body made to sin, with lips so luscious that Corey ached to nibble on them just as his cock ached to have those lips on it. Corey would be comforted to know that the other man was equally dazzled by the instantaneous sexual attraction between them. Drew had a simple plan of seduction formed in his head, but his plan was forgotten as he gazed upon Corey Sevier. Up close, Corey's face was fascinating. Gorgeous, yes, but Corey's beauty came from his strong cheekbones and firm jaw that bestowed on Corey an aristocratic majesty that Drew was drawn starkly to. Corey was a little too thin, but his simple T-shirt hugged his body tight, revealing a well-muscled body, while his jeans mould nicely around a well-developed basket and muscular thighs. Drew didn't care about seduction. His body was melting with need even as his mind sizzled with primitive instincts he wasn't even aware that he had. This wasn't seduction as much as he was a man feeling the powerful biological urge to mate and be dominated by a more powerful male. He could only whisper, "Fuck me!" to Corey as he hurried his pace and threw himself into Corey's arms. Corey took him against the wall in the alley. Drew pressed his front hard against the wall, his shirt pulled up until his armpits as he pressed his palms against the wall, not caring that the roughness of the wall was scraping his chest as he thrust his buttocks high and met Corey's every wild and hard thrust from behind. Drew had many cocks up his ass, some bigger, some smaller than Corey's, but fuck size - it was Corey's masterful fucking that had Drew coming like he never had. Corey's right hand reached around Drew to roughly pinch Drew's nipple as the man's other hand gripped the man's left buttcheek and squeezed a handful of hard, taut meaty flesh with each inward stroke of Corey's cock into Drew's heated anus. Drew groaned harshly as he entered an orgasm that shattered his control. Corey's cock throb and the first of the man's molten ejaculation gushed in fiery spurts into Drew's male womb as he joined Drew in a shattering climax. Drew was laughing as he clung to Corey and Corey sped down the road a few minutes later. Wesley and Jesse saw them as they emerged from the club, and Wesley shot Jesse a smug look. Jesse cursed and dug into his pocket for his wallet. Corey was aware that Drew could very well spell trouble for him. He was an ex-con fresh out of the can looking hard for a way to rebuild his life. Drew was a very rich, spoiled twenty-two year old kid who had just graduated from college and was now at a stage in his life where he didn't know what he wanted to do. He was like those kids back when Corey was a teenager, back before he was convincted, rich kids who saw Corey as a thrilling way to have fun and rebel against their parents at the same time. As long as he didn't fool himself into believing those flings meant anything more than a quick fuck in the backseat, he was safe. Drew was different, however, dangerous even. He could draw Corey into laughter when Corey thought he'd forgotten how to laugh, and Drew made it very easy for Corey to believe that they would have something deeper than a fling out of this. How long had it been? Two days? Drew had groaned when he discovered the grueling schedule Corey had, but he'd only laughed when he sleepily joined Corey on his paper trail. "Why the hell would anyone do this kind of shit?" he asked. Corey just smiled and kept silent. He was aware of the disparity between their worlds and in fact, he wanted Drew to be out of his life. The sex was great but Corey believed that he'd bleed in the long run if Drew stayed. He was starting to see through Drew's angelic face to find the spoiled young man who never had to work for anything in his entire life. That wasn't a condemnation, just a fact. Drew would soon grow bored with Corey soon enough or Drew's parents would start believing that Corey was trouble, as Corey's experiences had shown him. The only difference here was that Drew charmed and danced circles around Corey, making Corey believe too easily that Drew cared for him, and Corey knew he had to stop before he got hurt. Or worse, lose his temper and fuck up his life again. It wasn't easy to tell Drew no though. Corey couldn't stop kissing those succulent lips and dreaming of heaven or pressing his palms against Drew's chest and marveling at the realization that here was Drew, vivid and alive, in his arms, kissing him back. "Please leave," he whispered, begged, between kisses that night. "I can't see you again, Drew." Drew, confident in his worth, shrugged, certain that he could change Corey's mind. "Rubbish," he said determinedly. "Now, let me see your cock, Corey. I've been dreaming of sucking it all day long." Corey groaned. It took nearly more willpower than he had to gently disengage Drew from his arms. "Drew, listen to me. I enjoy fucking you. I like you. But I can't see you anymore." "Why?" Drew demanded. That came out as a soft wail of bewilderment to his own ears and this stumped him briefly. Drew realized that he hadn't foreseen the end of this fling, unlike those flings of his in the past where he was already planning to move on once he'd made his conquest. He was annoyed, angry even, but maybe he was angry because he was the one who did the dumping. No one ditched the Kingfisher, no fucking body, and certainly not Corey! But his anger deflated as quickly as it arrived and he ran his fingers wearily through his hair. Should he beg? Should he argue? Suddenly weary, he just wanted to get out of here. "Okay," he told Corey. "We'll call this off. It's been fun." "Yeah," Corey just said tightly. "You have my phone number." Drew tried to shrug in a nonchalance he didn't feel. "Anytime you want a fuck, call me, okay?" "I will think about it," Corey answered. He looked down on his feet. "I have to wake up early." "Yeah, the paper route," Drew said. He tried to smile. He attempted to crack a joke. He just stood at the doorway instead and gave Corey one last look. Three heartbeats passed before he quickly walked away. He managed to contain his angry-despairing sob until the elevator doors shut on him and he slammed his fist against the wall. THREE It came as a shock to Drew when his eyes threatened to water at the sight of Corey, in that silly uniform, taking orders inside the restaurant. He had been jumpy this week since his break-up with Corey and his restlessness only increased when he realized that Corey had quit bouncing at the club and Drew had no way of meeting Corey without coming off as a pathetic lovesick dog. He wasn't lovesick. He didn't miss Corey. If he had lost all interest in sex even when he had the opportunity since then, it wasn't because Drew wanted only Corey. No, he didn't threaten to beat the shit out of Wesley unless Wesley told him where Corey now worked. He certainly didn't run all the way here like a fool. No, he didn't miss Corey. He didn't care. He never cared about anybody. He whispered, "Corey." He couldn't help it. Just the sight of Corey was enough to make Drew forget that he was a mess these last few days. His life felt okay again because he could at least see Corey again. Corey looked up then as if he'd heard Drew. He saw Drew standing through the glass pane and hesitated. Drew didn't care. His right hand pressed against the glass, he could only look his fill of Corey. Corey, as if in a dream, walked towards Drew. Drew watched, his breath caught in his throat, as he watched Corey's hand touched the glass where his hand was. Drew's hand clenched into a fist and he had to stop himself from trying to smash down the glass that tried to separate him from Corey's touch. Corey nodded towards the door. Oh yes, the door. Drew could walk through the door and see Corey, talk to Corey, breathe in the scent of Corey. Funny how his brain seemed to forget simple things when all he could think of was Corey. "Why did you leave the club? I looked all over for you," Drew told Corey as Corey packed up to leave for the evening. "This job pays well enough for me to give up my other jobs," Corey said. "How are you?" "I've been through hell, Corey," Drew stated, beyond pride and caring. "I can't think or sleep because I'm missing you too hard. What will I have to do to get you back, Corey? And I don't mean for this week only. I want you back for a few years, maybe for ever. I have money. You don't have to work, I can support the both of us. I have access to my trustfund since my twenty-first birthday, did I tell you that?" "And what then, Drew? What happens when you realize that you're bored and want to move on to someone more to your type?" asked Corey quietly. "I know I am not the most responsible person. Hell, I always fight with my parents because I don't want to work at my father's company like they wanted and I sure as hell don't know what I want to do on my own. But I'm begging you to give me a chance, Corey. Trust me, please, to give me a chance at making this right." Drew got down on his knees on the pavement. "Tell me what I have to do to win your trust, please, and I'll do it." Corey moved to sit down beside Drew and gestured the other man to do the same. On the pavement, among the dirt, the spoiled rich kid and the man from the wrong side of the streets could finally talk like equals. "Okay, I'll believe you," Corey told him with a gentle smile. "I just don't know how we'll work out, but I'll give my best shot." Drew gave Corey a look. "Would you tell me why you kill someone? Just in case my parents ask." Corey chuckled without much humor. "My father killed a man in a fight. He was drunk. I confessed to the act and took the hit for my father." "Where is he now?" "Drunk himself to death, I hear." Corey shrugged. "He never wrote or visited." "I'm sorry," said Drew quietly. "Nah, don't be. I made my decision so I'll have to live with it. I love that bastard, I don't know why, even if he didn't deserve any of it." Corey sighed. He turned to Drew. "I've never told anyone this, not even to Wesley." He bit his lower lip. "All I want now is to catch up on things. I missed out on seven years in my life. I want to get an honest job, have people stop seeing me as a no- good scumbag, and maybe have a few people in my life who will even care for me." He smiled at a memory. "I wrote to someone while I was in prison and we exchanged letters. He told me that it was better to live life and die without any regrets, and I think he's right. I had almost died a few times back there and I knew I didn't want to die like that - alone with people either not caring or thinking me a murderer. I want to get out, be clean, and be someone I can be proud of." "Who's that someone?" asked Drew. "I dunno where he is now. We lost contact when I got into trouble with the warden and he stopped letters from coming to me, among other things. I guess he assumed that I lost interest in writing to him because he soon stopped writing. I wanted to write to him now that I'm out of there but I don't really dare to. I mean, what will happen if we somehow meet and I am not good enough to him?" "What's his name?" Drew asked. He knew everyone that mattered in this place at least by name. He was, after all, the son of one of the richest men in America and he was a very sociable young man. "Tobey Maguire." Drew had to laugh. "You're in luck, Corey. I know how to find Tobey." "Really? What does he do? Is he a teacher? I always thought he's some sort of preacher." Drew grinned at Corey. "He's better than a preacher. He's very rich and he's also suffering from a huge guilt complex that happens to every one out of ten rich idiots in this country. He makes money very easily due to some devil's luck in investments and he gives most of them to charities, many of which he plays an active organizational role in. Hell, I know he participates in penpal programs with prisoners, orphans, and every fucking body who wants a penpal. I never thought that you'd be one of his penpals. What I'm saying, Corey, is that you're a very lucky man. You have me, of course, but that aside, if you want someone to help you, Tobey is that fellow. He's especially generous in helping a fellow gay man down on his luck. Today is your lucky day." "No, I just want to meet him and say thank you, Drew. I can do well on my own. I have to." Corey smiled at Drew. "I have to prove to myself that I can be someone." He caught Drew's expression. "What is it, Drew?" "I don't whether to laugh or cry." Drew placed his hand over Corey's and squeezed it briefly. "I have never thought of what it's like to be if I'm not who I am. I mean, only a few days ago I was thinking that I really should just move out and stop talking with my parents because they are such nags. It seemed like a dream then, you know, to have no parents to tell me what to do, treat me like a kid. I guess they're right. I'm just a kid." "Drew - " "No, I know what I am. I bummed my way through school, knowing that my father would make sure I graduate from college by donating a few hundred grand to the college when I'm in danger of dropping out. I've always cared more for sleeping around or partying like hell until I couldn't stand on my feet anymore. You make me feel... I don't know, humbled, I think. I have never felt like this before so I don't know what I'm feeling, but I want to get a job and show you that I'm more than just a rich, spoiled kid. But I don't know how, Corey. And I'm scared that you'll get tired of me because I'm a spoiled kid and send me away." Drew gave Corey a pleading look. "You're wiser than me, so tell me, Corey, what should I do?" "I don't know," Corey said honestly. "I'm scared." "I'm scared too. When I first got out of that place, I was actually afraid to leave because I was terrified of what will happen to me out here. I don't know how to stop feeling scared, because I am fucking well scared. I don't know whether I will have a job tomorrow or whether I will piss of my parole officer. Or whether your parents will hate me and use my past to make life hell for me. Or whether I will still be with you next month. But I know that I can only deal with these things when they happen. It's all about taking chances." "And you're taking a chance on me," concluded Drew. He smiled weakly. "You know what I'll do?" "No, what?" "I'll tell my parents that I will start working with Dad. I'll tell them about you and this conversation I am having with you now. Hopefully that will tell them that you're the good guy here and get them off your back. And we'll see each other until we decide that it's good to start living together, and then we'll plan on where we would live. But there's no hurry, we'll take it slow, and it'll be good, I hope." "Looks like you're more mature than you think," Corey pointed out. "Nah, I'm just repeating what Wesley did with Bryce. Wesley moved in with Bryce three months after they agreed to go steady, so I'm sure that plan is as good as any." Corey laughed. "Wesley, huh? I don't know whether I should be scared that you're making him your role model." "But we're good?" Drew asked hopefully. "Yeah, we're good," Corey assured him. He got on his feet and offered his hand to Drew. When Drew took it, he helped the man onto his feet and into his embrace. "We'll be very good." "I hope not," Drew murmured with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I don't want a well-behaved gentleman in my bed. Never liked those men and sent them packing before breakfast." Corey pulled his key from his jacket pocket. "Then you better get your ass on my bike so that I can get you back to my place and show you how bad I can be, babe." Drew punched the air with his fist and happily did as Corey ordered.