Fifteen Shades of Gay (For Pay) Read Online Free

brass and ornate as something from a fairy tale.
    “I’m amazed they aren’t dripping wax on the dance floor,” Andrew whispered to Cormac.
    “They aren’t real,” the other man said in his ear. “The flames are real, but the candles aren’t. The White House uses the same faux tapers. All the effect with none of the mess. And no need to replace the candles every three hours.”
    Away from the dancing, plush loveseats and S-shaped two-seater chairs were arranged around a large round table. In the latter, one man sat on the front while another took the back. Facing one another, the men were ideally situated for conversation.
    “I’ve seen those. They’re called…” Andrew struggled for the correct term, which he’d read in stage directions. “Tay… um, tay….”
    “ Tete-a-tete .” Cormac looked impressed. “It’s French.”
    “No shit. I might not be a senator, but I’m not a complete idiot.” The words were out before Andrew could second-guess them.
    Cormac chuckled. “Of course not. I apologize. My job obligates me to keep company with idiots, and not one in ten would know what to call that chair.” He indicated the bar, a lovely affair decorated by deep pink tropical flowers and an ice-sculpture swan. “Want another gin and tonic?”
    “Sure. Thank you.”
    As Cormac headed for the bar, Andrew glanced around the ballroom. At the far end, a quartet sat on a raised bandstand, playing something that sounded like Mozart, or Vivaldi. Andrew could never keep those two straight. Except for one member of the quartet, a delicate blonde, every single person in the ballroom was male. Most were over forty and at least half wore tuxedos. The other half was attired in plain suit/tie combos like Cormac. Andrew was suddenly acutely conscious of his outdated ensemble. But nothing could be done about it now. Best to brazen it out.
    The men were ballroom dancing—waltzing, to be specific. It looked corny and weird to Andrew, still trying to jettison his earlier assumptions about flashing lights and a driving dance beat. He felt uncomfortable watching all those men, many white-haired, fatherly, and in varying degrees of physical condition, dancing together like normal lovers. It was worse than unsettling. It made him angry, anxious, frightened. He forced himself to look at his shoes.
    “Are you all right?” Cormac asked, suddenly beside him. Andrew nearly jumped out of his skin.
    “Fine.” Accepting his drink, Andrew downed half of it in a gulp. “Aren’t you having one?”
    “Later.” Cormac smiled. “Don’t you like this place?”
    “I like it.” They made stilted conversation while Andrew finished his gin and tonic. It was twice as potent as the Sea Witch’s version. Grateful for the warmth spreading though him, Andrew felt a rising bravado. Tonight he was Happy-Go-Lucky Gay Escort. That five hundred dollar cash bonus would be his. He was staying by Marie’s side and keeping his shitty little apartment, so help him God. If sacrifices were required, so be it.
    “Ready to dance?” Andrew gave Cormac his most charming smile.
    The quartet shifted to another waltz as Andrew allowed Cormac to guide him onto the floor. He thought he was doing well, replicating those classic dance moves he’d learned for a role that never materialized, until Cormac laughed.
    “What?”
    “You keep pushing me backwards. If you want to lead, just say so.”
    “Oh. Sorry. Never learned to do the steps in reverse.”
    “You mean you never dance with other men?” Cormac’s eyes narrowed.
    “’Course I do. But I always drive.” To Andrew’s relief, the other man didn’t object. They shifted hand positions and before long Andrew was maneuvering Cormac around the dance floor like they’d been partnered for years.
    “You’re good,” Andrew said.
    “Plenty of practice.”
    “I guess so, being a senator. Lots of fancy parties and—” Andrew stopped himself, mentally cursing the potency of that second gin and