Chapter 4

Karl joined the others into the water, but not without throwing Francesco a pointed look over his shoulder. It was hard to ignore the guy’s body; it was all hard planes and round muscles where it should have been. Francesco hated him more.

“Damn, so good to wash after walking in all that heat,” Karl said as he rubbed his wet hands all over his torso.

Francesco tried not to look.

“Whatcha standing there for? You too good to join us?” Karl asked.

Karl switched from talking with the accent of someone who must have been at least a B student in school to ghetto talk whenever he felt like it. Francesco ignored him and continued to wash as he could. He was miserable and tired and not in the mood to be taunted by that asshole.

“Cesco, hey, Cesco,” Karl called.

“Let him be,” Leon ordered.

So Mouse was right. Leon would take his side if push came to shove. But even that made him less of a man. He took off his sneakers and jeans, but kept his underwear. It would dry in the sun later. Then he dove into the water, jumping from the shore with skill to a point where the bottom wasn’t visible.

He was met with whistles and applauses when he reemerged. Karl looked at him with hooded eyes and a smirk. Francesco searched for Mouse with his eyes, but the redhead was no longer in sight.

“Ah, damn, I’m still so hot,” Karl said. He pushed himself up on a stone ledge, letting his feet dangle.

Francesco couldn’t help but look. The blond was stroking his cock with loving moves and biting his lower lip, moaning from time to time. “What I wouldn’t give to have my cock sucked now. Anyone offering?”

This time, Francesco looked away. He could hear Ty or Anya offering in giddy voices. He had no use for that, so he swam a bit farther. From a fair distance, he took a look. Karl had his head thrown back while Ty and Anya both were rubbing his cock between their joint lips. The blond had his hands in their hair, guiding them to give him pleasure.

“They’re good, aren’t they?”

Francesco could swear he was about to jump out of his skin. “Jeez, Mouse, you really want to give me a heart attack.”

Mouse swam toward him from behind. He wrapped his arms playfully around Francesco. His skin was smooth and pleasant.

“Hey, cut it out,” Francesco protested weakly.

“I can’t let Karl get to you first,” Mouse whispered.

Francesco took Mouse’s hands and pushed them away from his body. “Nobody’s getting to me.”

The redhead didn’t look like he was hurt by the rejection. He put some distance between them. “Why don’t you like Karl?” he asked. “Blonds don’t do it for you? Or you just like the dark and handsome type better?”

“I like girls,” Francesco said stubbornly. “I like tits. And pussies.”

Mouse laughed and got closer. “I got tits, too.” He rubbed his hands over his hardened nipples.

Francesco stared for a moment and then snorted.

“And my clients always said my boy pussy was the best,” Mouse added.

The last words were said more quietly. Francesco looked at Mouse and saw that the smile was gone. “You had to work the streets?” he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

Mouse nodded. “After my old man died, I had to do something. And I didn’t want to end up in some foster house.”

Francesco searched his mind for something meaningful to say to that.

“Hey, Cesco, this one’s for you!” Karl shouted.

He and Mouse both looked and saw the blond shooting his load. The two cock polishers between his legs didn’t appear to give a damn that their hard work wasn’t recognized.

“Don’t think he likes you or anything,” Mouse said. “He just wants to fuck you,” he added.

Francesco shrugged. “Whatever. I don’t care. He won’t get close to my ass anyway.”

He tried to act all nonchalantly, but on the inside, he was getting scared. Between Karl’s blatant showmanship and Mouse’s warnings, he was sure he would have to stay glued to Leon like stamps on a letter.

“How about I give you a hand?”

Mouse took him by surprise as he grabbed his cock through the wet underwear. Francesco jumped and pushed the other boy away. “What the fuck, slut?” he said without thinking. “Get away from me!”

The boy’s eyes filled with hurt and looked away. “Okay, Francesco. Don’t mind me if I get away from you.”

Francesco cursed as Mouse swam away without one look back. He had few allies, and now he could only count on Leon. But if Mouse let the guy know Francesco was an asshole, then he would be in serious trouble with Karl.

And that big-ass knife of his.

They decided to make camp close to the river. The first on the order of the day was to improvise some lean-on tents from branches and leaves and everything they could find. Mouse had taken away somewhere and not in sight, although Francesco had searched for him with his eyes more than once.

“Where is Mouse?” he asked Karl who was busy giving orders and less working himself.

“Catching us some food,” Karl said. “What? Is he your sweetheart or something?”

“Just shut up with all the fag talk,” Francesco replied. “Didn’t you get your cock sucked already?”

Karl’s eyes lit up. “You looked, then?” He smacked his lips. “I can barely wait to blow my load inside your ass.”

Francesco dropped the branches he had in his hands on the ground and walked over to Karl, stopping inches away from the asshole’s face.

Show no fear, show no fear, he repeated himself. “Karl, get it through your stupid skull. You’re not going to fuck me unless you want to lose your dick.”

Karl guffawed. “Oh, me like. You’re the kind that fights back, right, Cesco?”

“Those two would suck your cock day and night.” He pointed at Ty and Anya who were pretending to be busy with work, but were obviously eavesdropping. “Why the fuck are you bent on my ass?”