Chapter 3

C hapter 3

P aul was confused when he and Jason were taken to a cabin on the ship, rather than escorted off the boat. Two older men he didn't recognize were waiting inside the cabin.

The dark-haired, green-eyed man offered his hand and a friendly smile. "I'm Max. Do you mind if we speak for a moment?"

Paul and Jason shook his hand, uncertain what was happening. "Uh… yeah, I guess," Jason mumbled.

"Have a seat." Max gestured to a leather sofa, then introduced the other man in the room. "This is my husband, Horatio. We're the sponsors for this cruise."

The men in charge. Could they keep Paul from being turned over to his father? Would they stop it?

"The guy out front said we could board," Jason spoke up. "We didn't sneak on board." He faltered. "I-I mean, we tried… but they stopped us. Then they said we could…"

"I know," Max said. "You're not in trouble. I just wanted to talk to you before we decide what to do."

Paul swallowed. "What to do… about what?"

"Which one of you were running from their father?" Max asked.

"Me," Paul whispered.

"As I'm sure you know, your father is demanding we remove you from the ship and return you to him."

Paul nodded.

Taking a seat in the leather armchair adjacent to the sofa, Max continued, "What I want to know is, why were you running from your father?"

Jason squeezed his hand and answered for him. "His dad wants to send him to some ex-gay concentration camp," he said with an edge to his voice. "Which is on some fucking island out in the middle of nowhere. They could do whatever they want to him and no one would know."

"An island?" Max stared at him. "Does this camp have a name?"

"I'm not sure what it's called—"

"The Sons of Zion resort," Paul mumbled. "That's what my dad called it. He said it's on an island so the kids can't run away."

"Sons of Zion…" Max glanced at his husband. "Have you heard of it?"

Horatio shook his head. "I don't think so."

"I won't let that bastard send Paul there," Jason said stiffly. "If you kick us off the boat, we'll run away somewhere else."

Max looked at Paul. "Your father said you were underage. How old are you, exactly?"

"Seventeen," Paul murmured. "Almost eighteen."

"Almost…" Max nodded. "How almost? When is your birthday?"

" Two days," Jason said. "Two fucking days. That's why his dad is in such a hurry to get him to the island. Once they have him, it won't matter if he turns eighteen, they won't let him go. It's a fucking prison camp."

"You seem certain of this." Max frowned. "How do you know so much about it?"

Jason faltered. "I… I was sent there when I was fourteen."

"What?" Paul blinked; Jason had never told him that.

"It's hell for gay kids," Jason said, a catch in his voice. "They practically torture them. Some of us heard rumors that a couple of kids killed themselves, but it was covered up. I believed it because I thought about it a few times myself."

"How did you get off the island?"

"I played along, became what they wanted me to be. Convinced them I was straight. I knew I had to make them believe it… or I would end up killing myself, too."

Paul felt sick as he stared wide-eyed at Jason. Was he telling the truth? Or lying to gain the sympathy of these men? The pain in his eyes seemed frighteningly genuine.

Max sighed and looked at Paul. "It's true that your birthday is only two days away?"

"Yes," Paul whispered. "The fourth of July."

"May I see your ID?"

Paul dug out his driver's license and handed it over. Max studied the card and then returned it to Paul, satisfied that he wasn't lying.

Breathing deeply, Max let out a slow exhale. "So, this what we're going to do…"

When Gabe returned—he returned alone. Cole wasn't surprised. The dad, however, was not pleased.

"Where is my son?"

"The man sponsoring the cruise, Max Raines, has spoken to your son," Gabe replied with a stiff tone. "And has decided that, since your son's eighteenth birthday is in two days, he can remain on the ship."

"Two days?" Cole stared at his husband.

"Yeah," Gabe scoffed, coldly eyeing the dad. "Something this asshole failed to explain."

"It doesn't matter," the dad snapped. "As of right now, he is still a minor—and still in my charge. And I demand you remove him from that ship."

"The young man will be confined to his quarters until his birthday," Gabe said. "And then, he will be free to join in the festivities as a legal adult. " His eyes narrowed. "Who you have no control over any longer."

"I'll call the cops," the dad seethed. "I'll bring you up on charges for allowing my underage son to join this…" He waved his hand disgustedly. "… this abominable cruise."

Cole held out his hand, preventing Gabe from retaliating. "Do as you wish, sir," Cole said. "But keep in mind that your attempt to force your son into a program he doesn't wish to attend—just two days before his eighteenth birthday—may be frowned upon by a jury that will likely include gay jurors. Also know, that Max Raines retains the services of high-power attorneys who will gladly face you head-on in a court of law. So, you better hope you have some damn good attorneys of your own."

Trembling with rage, the dad nonetheless backed down. "This isn't over," he muttered as he turned away from the two men.

"For your sake," Gabe retorted, "it better be."

The man and his goon companion walked away without reply.

Cole smiled at Gabe. "Appears we have two extra passengers."

"Appears so."

Ricky and his boys encountered Tomas on their way to check out their cabins. Ricky slung his arm around the younger man's shoulders. "Are you bunking alone?"

"Yeah." Tomas smiled shyly. Inside the club, the boy could bring any number of the customers to their knees—not to mention the other strippers. Once he set foot outside those walls, though, he turned into a timid, shy boy who seemed awkward in a social scene.

"Well, if you get lonely…" Ricky grinned against his ear. "… you can bunk with us. We'll make room for your sweet, sexy self."

Tomas laughed softly with a nervous hitch. "I-I'm okay. But thanks."

"I bet I know what's really going on," Levi piped in, a devilish smirk on his face. "I bet he's gonna rumble with the big boys." He winked at Ricky. "If you know who I mean."

"Oohh-ho-ho!" Ricky hooted. "Is that it?"

Tomas looked at him anxiously. "What…" He frowned. "What do you mean?"

Gavin and Tommy joined in. "Oh, come on, baby," Tommy teased. "We see the way you and those boys flirt with each other at the club. They don't flirt with us that way."

"Who?"

"Who?" Ricky cackled. "He asks who , like he doesn't know."

Tomas smiled uncertainly and shook his head.

"The big bosses," Levi said. "Cole and Gabe. Like you three aren't fucking hot for each other. Uh-huh." He rolled his eyes and laughed.

"We're not…" Tomas swallowed. "I mean, yeah… we flirt… but it's just for show. The customers like to see the dancers flirt with each other, it turns them on."

Ricky snorted. "Just for show. Try selling that silly story to someone else, ‘cause we ain't buying it, baby."

Gavin leaned on Tommy's shoulder and pointed at Tomas. "Are you telling us you haven't tapped those asses? Seriously?"

"Huh?" Tomas blinked, genuinely stunned. "No… I mean, they don't really want to…"

"Like fuck , they don't!" Levi screeched as a grin split his face. "They're just gentlemen. They're not gonna push you, they'll wait for you to come to them. But I guarantee, if you made the first move, they would take you up on it so fast your head would spin."

Tomas looked doubtful… though a tad hopeful as well. "No… they wouldn't…"

"They would." Ricky squeezed his neck and laughed. "We can tell when those guys think someone is extra special. You ever see the way they look and act with Abel?"

Tomas shrugged and averted his eyes. "Yeah," he mumbled, with a notable twinge of jealousy. The kid for sure had a thing for the two big boys.

"Well…" Ricky drew out the word for emphasis. "… that's how they look at you. Everyone sees it."

"I…" Tomas shook his head. "I don't think so. They just play with me like they do with everyone. I'm not… special." His face fell a little as if he truly believed it.

Seriously? The boy couldn't see how much they adored him—and desired him? To watch Tomas at the club, it was hard to believe he might harbor insecurities by the way he danced with such confidence on stage and played up to the customers on the floor. Then again, the club was a safe space for the dancers. Everything they did for the customers was for show—no emotions involved… no risking one's heart. No chance of getting hurt.

Ricky knew little to nothing about Tomas' life outside the club—present or past. All he knew was that, when Tomas walked out of the club, he turned into someone hardly recognizable as the sexy, flirty stripper they knew at work. Maybe he was afraid to believe Cole and Gabe sincerely liked him… for fear, he would find out differently and suffer heartbreak.

"Well, I know what I believe," Ricky said. "But there's no rush. You'll see, in time, that we're right. And when you do see…" He grinned. "I suggest you grab those guys up as fast as you can, ‘cause they are prime choice."

"Ooohhh, you can say that again," Levi moaned. "I got to play with them at their bachelor party and… hooo!" He fanned his face and the other boys laughed. "You don't want to miss out on what they have to offer. Trust me."

"Whaddup! Whaddup! Whaddup!"

Tomas turned around as Ricky howled at the two young men approaching. Tomas recognized one whom he'd met a couple of times at the club. Caleb, a former dancer. He didn't know the guy with him.

"Caleb!" Ricky embraced him, then his friend. "Samuel! So awesome you could make it. Have you been to the lido deck yet?"

"No."

"Oh fuck, wait till you see it!" Ricky hooted. "We're gonna have a fuckin' hot time up there. I expect you both to join us. We're gonna get our slut on!"

Caleb snickered. "When aren't you getting your slut on?"

"Touché." Ricky laughed. "But this is gonna be mega- slut action! Have you seen the talent pouring onto this ship?"

"Yeah, well…" Caleb chuckled and scratched his temple. "We're not as free with our bodies as you are."

"Shit," Levi snorted. "I remember your stage action." He turned to Tomas abruptly. "You should get him to show you his cowboy moves. He gave an all-new meaning to giddyup."

"No, no." Caleb chuckled. "I've retired my boots and hat."

Tomas had heard stories about Caleb's stage performances.

" Has he?" Ricky looked at Samuel and arched his brow. "You telling me he doesn't still put on shows for you?"

Samuel sucked in a slow, deep breath and grinned. "Well…"

Tomas politely extracted himself from the small group and went on to his room.

Once inside, he sat on the bed and started to shake. Tomas hugged himself hard and squeezed his eyes shut. He shouldn't be here. He couldn't be here. Why had he come along on this cruise?

Because Cole and Gabe personally invited you.

He told himself that what he'd said to Ricky and the guys was true—that the flirting at the club didn't mean anything. Others at the club had remarked on Cole and Gabe's affection for him, but it was difficult to believe.

Tomas was a mess. He knew he was a mess. And whenever anyone discovered what a mess he was… they left him.

Cole and Gabe would be no different, and Tomas didn't want to know how it felt to be left behind by men like them.

Still, here he was—about to confront his greatest fear—because these two men asked him.