Family Ties

And you’d be surprised how many gay men she knows. They come to her gallery too. She’s the one who bought those pictures of you, by the way. I can always sell more prints from that session, but let me know if you ever want to model again. Okay?”

“Okay,” I said with a laugh. “Although I don’t know how I really feel

about gay guys looking at me like that.”

“Makes sense,” I said. “But it probably took you a while to get used to it, right?”

“Pretty common story, unfortunately,” I said. “I’m not ashamed to be a guy, but sometimes other guys give the rest of us a bad reputation.

“That’s why it took me so long to admit it. You’re not like other guys.”

“Fair enough. So… back to Max. She wants to take you under her wing?”

“Yeah. It’d help her too, though. For sure. That’s kind of what she does.

She finds young artists and promotes them. She takes her cut of the money, but I think she actually wants to help.”

“That’s pretty noble.”

“Well, she enjoys a lot of… um… fringe benefits,” she said with a laugh.

“I mean, I was ready to sleep with her if I thought it’d help my career. I think I wanna sleep with her even more now I know it isn’t expected.”

“Imagine that,” I said, semi-sarcastic, “free will is an aphrodisiac!”

“Thanks for clearing that up,” I said dryly. “So… Max? She’s the good news. What’s the exciting news?”

“True. So… what’s yours? One of them, at least. I suspect you have several.”

“You have no idea,” she said heavily.

“I just said I do. Now, what’s the first secret you’re ready to share?”

“It isn’t actually a secret.

And I figure since you’re a swinger, you won’t think it’s perverted or degenerate or anything.”

“Probably not,” I agreed.

“So, back in the clubs…,” she began. Then she drew a deep breath.

“Okay, here goes. A lot of clubs have this… side… to them. The stuff that happens in the back rooms.”

“Right,” I said neutrally. I’d never really thought about strip clubs in terms of how many of the women were forced to have sex, but Sara had opened my eyes.

“Like… Domination and Submission?”

“I should’ve known you’d know about that scene,” she said with a laugh.

is, mostly thanks to an ex-girlfriend, but I’ve never been to a club or party or anything like that.”

“Well, you learn about that stuff pretty quick in a strip club. I was never a submissive type—”

“Right. I was always the dom. But that doesn’t really get me off. Not like some women I’ve met.