Free Surprise by Tinder James

one, too.” Derek’ s proximity again enveloped me. “You’re not the only straight boy we’ve gotten around here.”
    I followed him into the studio. The heat was a welcomed change, but the techno music was gone, and the details of the room were stark: a chair propped in the far corner, studio lights ablaze before it, microphones and cameras and wires coiling every which way, and a three-man crew adjusting and peering into or at equipment. One woman sat on a nearby couch reading a magazine.
    â€œEveryone, this is Todd.” All turned to see. “He’s straight, so be nice.” There was some grumbling, and one of the crew crossed the room and spoke with Derek. The woman on the couch set down her magazine and patted the seat next to her.
    â€œIt’ll be a few minutes. Come on. I don’t bite.” She smiled and her teeth were bucked. “Unless you want me to.”
    My heart pounded so concussively that I feared I might pass out. I sat down.
    â€œI’m Maria.” She offered her hand. It was silken, like the rest of her skin. She wore a low-cut top that offered two scoops of heft that were as smooth as the trace of exposed belly. She dropped my hand and looked at my lap. “Grower, not a show-er, huh?”
    â€œUh, yeah. Sorry.”
    â€œDon’t be. Relax. Sit back. Close your eyes. Take a nice deep breath.” Her voice had the soothing command of a school nurse, in spite of the lisp. I stared at her dilapidated smile and my mind colluded with images of my wife: her in bed, caring for the girls, sitting by my side on the couch. Yet here I was, naked, next to a woman who gets men erect for a living. What the fuck was I doing?
    Maria took hold of me then, and I jerked in response. She spoke softly. “It’s all right. There’s nothing to this. It’s just a job. That’s it.”
    I nodded, but did not mean it. My wife’s face was still visible. She’d been the only one who’d touched me in over a decade. The only one I ever wanted to. And now? This was just a job? Just a way to make money? Nothing more. Right? I sighed and tried to relax. “Another month. Then…”
    Maria touched me again and I did not recoil. I let her smoothness envelope me. I grew to half-mast and then fully erect. Techno music entered the background and Maria slipped into the rhythm. I let my body go, gave over to the moment and accepted this as necessary.
    â€œNow you,” Maria whispered. She switched her hand with mine. “Keep it up.” She clenched my hand and stroked. By virtue I did the same. “That’s it.” I took hold like a child coming off training wheels. “Five minutes of that on camera and you’re done.”
    Derek walked over. “Looks like you’re good to go.” I nodded. “Right this way, then.” Derek directed me to the chair. The heat was concentrated and beads of sweat broke out on my shoulders. “Let’s get you situated.” Derek positioned me, moving my arms just so, adjusting my legs wide and having me rest my chin on my shoulder. “That’s as high as the camera will go. You’d be surprised at how much viewers enjoy seeing just that much of your face. It makes you real.”
    The music cranked, underscoring Derek’s words. This was real . I was really doing this. I was about to support my family in this manner. A flood of emotion surged.
    â€œJust close your eyes and picture whatever gets you hot.” Derek’s voice was a notch above a whisper. He smiled one last time before I closed him out.
    I’d like to say that I envisioned my wife, that I thought of our sexual exploits, that I even thought about previous girlfriends. But I didn’t. I gripped my cock and stroked and searched for an image. My mind drifted and my hard-on slackened. I squeezed and gritted my teeth, desperate to maintain an erection.
    The heat boiled and I felt like