Page 59 of The Casting Couch

He then launched into a monologue about tantric breathwork and “the spiritual connectivity of mutual ejaculation.”

“I believe in closing the loop,” he said solemnly.

“I believe I’m good, thanks,” I said, and Rawgan nodded like I’d just handed him a vision.

Guy three?Had one eye and a support ferret.I didn’t even ask.

Guy four showed up in a mesh onesie, dropped to one knee, and whispered, “May I call you my canvas?”

“No.”

“Copy that.”

One guy brought a slideshow.Another one brought propsLike.One guy recited poetry.Like really bad poetry.I was somehow both horrified and wildly entertained, like I was judging America’s Next Top Ejaculator and nobody told me the prize was trauma.

I was losing it.Fully on the verge of breaking down when Laura returned with a clipboard and whispered, “By the way… Nico’s here.Just got him out of wardrobe.”

I felt something weird flutter in my chest.Relief?Excitement?Dread?

All three.Cool.

But before I could say anything, Laura pointed to the last guy in line.A wide-eyed twink with a fully made-up face, latex gloves, and a backpack that looked suspiciously medical.

“This one,” she said, “says he has a ‘surprise skill.’I’m not sure if I’m legally allowed to ask what that is.”

“Do I want to know?”I asked.

The guy pulled out a squirt bottle and said, “Hydration is key to performance.May I demonstrate?”

“Absolutely not.

ChapterFourteen

Nico

When I walked into the studio, it was like crashing into a deleted scene from Project Runway: Porn Edition.

Lights everywhere.Folding chairs scattered like someone gave up halfway through setting up.Clipboards.Bottled water.And jugs of lube.

And at the center of it all was Bradley, sitting stiffly in a chair looking like he wanted to be anyplace else but here.Laura was beside him, gesturing dramatically at a clipboard and looking five seconds from a full meltdown.

“I’m telling you,” she said, exasperated, “you have to pick more guys.We’re running out of viable options and the Japanese clients were very specific.Twenty men.Not nineteen, not ‘whatever we can scrounge up,’ but twenty.”

Bradley sighed.He looked up, and his eyes landed on me.

His entire face changed.Not a full smile.Not a smirk.Just this quiet little flush that bloomed across his cheeks like someone turned the warmth up in the room.

“Add Nico’s name to the list,” he blurted.“He’s in.”

I blinked.“Excuse me?”

Laura looked at me.Then at Bradley.Then back at me with that dangerous sparkle in her eye, like she’d just found out two coworkers were secretly fucking.“Well now,” she said.“Look who finally showed up.”

“I was in wardrobe,” I said, stepping further into the room.“They were arguing about whether I needed ankle socks.I told them if someone’s looking at my feet in a bukkake scene, we’ve already lost.”

Laura didn’t even blink.“You’re late.”

“And now I’m here,” I replied, spreading my arms dramatically.“Let the fluids fly.”

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