Page 51 of Hey, Stepbro

"Thanks, Oprah."

"Why Oprah?"

"I don't know. You sound like some gushy talk show host."

"I'm the sweetest bitch you'll ever meet."

Waxley sighs morosely, drawing our attention back to his date. "So, do you choke your partners?"

"God no!" Emerson coughs.

"You need to fix your profile. I was under the impression you weren't such a gentleman."

"Do you want me to be rougher?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to ask you to be someone you're not."

Emerson groans. "Listen, little brat, I'll be as rough as you want me to be, but only if you're comfortable with it. I want us to have a good time, but I won't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe."

Waxley looks down at his hands. "I'm sorry. It's that I've had some bad experiences in the past, and sometimes I feel like I need to be more aggressive to get what I want."

Emerson reaches out and takes Waxley's hand. "I understand. But you don't have to be aggressive with me."

"Okay, let’s cut the shit, buddy. I've tried to be pleasant, but all this chit chat isn't doing it for me. I was under the impression you'd have fucked my lights out by now."

I steal a sip of Stella's vegan shake. "What flavor is this?"

"Strawberry," she says. "What did you think it was, vanilla?"

No pun intended.

I laugh. "No, I wasn't sure."

Emerson stands up. "I don't think we're meant to be."

"I can suck your dick in the bathroom at least," Waxley whispers. "You can grab my hair and use me."

Emerson leaves. "You're not my type."

Waxley runs to our table and buries his face in my arm. "I was rejected."

"Wow," Stella drawls. "We read that wrong."

"Yeah, I thought you and Emerson were meant to be," I tease.

"He's vers," Waxley laments. "He said he was a power top in his profile! I'm so hurt."

"Power tops can be vers," Stella says.

I glare at her. "No, they can't."

"They're called power tops for a reason," Waxley says.

"When five bottoms are lined up in the bathroom in the club," I say, "they want a top who'll be ruthless with them. Not someone who's going to ask to flip positions halfway through."

"Bottoms need it rough," Waxley says, "or at least I do, because I'm such a size queen."

I pat Waxley's shoulder. "You'll find a power top out there for you somewhere."

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