First of all, I want to thank all of you for the reviews. I was overwhelmed by your response. Thank you. My family situation is the kind that cannot improve but only get worse before the end. It has to be seen how long it will last...:( So I really appreciated the time you took to write a review...reading them took my mind away from what is happening and it was good to relax and smile a bit.
I think I replied to all the signed reviews (even if Fanfiction net is making it very difficult); my apologies if I forgot someone. A big "Thank You" to May, IsobelAnis, Leigh, Leah, Tinkerbellblu83 and Poppydoo for their reviews.
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II
Anthony DiNozzo, Tony for everyone but his father, who insisted in calling him Junior, despite- or perhaps because of—the youth's dislike for it, carefully studied the man standing in front of him. Taking his measure and doing it right was the key to avoiding problems and adding another satisfied customer to Cassie's and his own list.
His boss had been right. This guy was tall and strapping, still young and handsome in a rugged, weathered sort of way.
Broad shouldered, he was fit but in a lean kind of way, without any of the bulging mass of muscles a lot of Marines – 'cause he was a Marine, there was little doubt about it– sported. Those guys made Tony think of rhinos, full of strength but slow; this one instead was more like a panther: sleek, agile, powerful and dangerous.
Tony felt a thrill ran along his spine, and licked his lips. This was the kind of 'john' that made up for all the fat, balding guys he had to serve in his line of work.
The young man could see the guy was puzzled by his look and he was ready to bet the man was wondering 'why a kid like him had ended in a place like this'.
Tony had been asked more than once, but he had never answered or, if he had uttered some kind of reply, he had told a lie. However, should he ever decide to tell the truth, he would say he had arrived in Oceanside the previous year, on vacation. He had been enjoying himself on the beaches until, one day, he had discovered some burglars had entered his motel room while he was out and stolen everything but the clothes he was wearing and the money and documents in his pocket.
Tony had then phoned his father to ask him to send him the money to buy a plane ticket to return to Columbus. His old man, who had never approved of Tony's decision to major in Phys Ed instead of law or economics, had said no.
Anthony DiNozzo Sr. had told Tony that since the summer had just started and there were certainly plenty of temporary jobs available in California, he could work to raise the money he needed to go back to Ohio State University. After many protests and pleas, his father had relented a bit. Senior had promised to step in and help if Tony couldn't raise enough money to buy a plane ticket by the end of the summer, but he had been irremovable about the fact the boy would have to work to support himself during the following two months.
Upset and in sore need of cash because the motel owner wanted to be paid and he also needed food and new clothes, Tony had gone looking for a job. He had entered Cassie' club when he had heard she was looking for a waiter. At the end of an hour long conversation, he had been hired—but not to serve at the tables.
Cassie had wanted him to perform as a dancer on one of the various small stages scattered along her club. Tony knew he looked damn good and had never been shy to bare his body so he found the idea much more appealing than taking drink orders and wiping down tables.
The very next evening, after a crash course on what was expected from him, he had made his debut on the stage. He had been an immediate, smashing success. Women and men had flocked around his stage to see him dance, caressing him with eyes and sometime with their hands, covering him with compliments, suggestive comments, innuendos and making him all the kind of proposals, each one more indecent than the next.
In the beginning Tony had been taken aback by it. He had been flattered so many people – beautiful, stunning women and handsome, hot guys – had been so interested in him, but he hadn't know what Cassie thought of it. By the end of his second night of work, he had realized that his boss was more than okay with him accepting proposals, because, well, that was part of his job too—if he agreed with it, of course.
Tony hadn't been pushed to sell himself. Cassie had asked him more than once if he was really sure and he had been. Or, at least, he had been sure he wanted to give it a try. So the club owner had gave him several tips about safety and told him to get ready, because he would have a long night.
That had been the start of his 'career' at the Sensual Delights—and he had never regretted his choice.
Tony liked his job. Getting paid – and very well – to have sex was like a dream for the hormone-driven nineteen-year-old. Also, it had turned out he was considered damn good at what he did. And what male didn't enjoy hearing he was a god between the sheets?
Tony was popular, sought after and had the time of his life. It hadn't taken him long to raise the money for the plane ticket but he had never used it. Instead he had had his things shipped from Columbus and settled in Oceanside, in a nice, three-room apartment Cassie had put at his disposal. He still intended to complete college, but not right now. Now he was too busy making money—something his father would certainly approve of, although Tony was ready to bet he would have a stroke if he knew how his son was making it.
Tony returned to the present and to the man who was staring wild-eyed at him. It was a weird kind of look. There was no lust in his blue eyes and handsome features, just confusion.
"I'm Tony," he said, wanting to break the ice.
"Go away," growled the man and Tony arched a surprised eyebrow.
"I was told you wanted a guy," he retorted, stepping closer to his client and reaching out a hand to caress his cheek. The man didn't back away, but his eyes widened, as if he was surprised by Tony's actions—or maybe by the lack of his own?
Was the older man a novice at this? Probably. But a novice at hiring a whore or a novice with guys? He would need to discover which—and it would be easier to deal with him. Tony had told Cassie so after he had heard her concerns when she had come to fetch him.
"I don't like him," Cassie muttered pacing into his small kitchen/living room as Tony prepped himself in the bathroom.
"That's the third time you said it," he answered, as he went to his bedroom to dress, "Yet you cannot explain why. You said he doesn't look like he is on drugs, that he's a Marine, and that he's hot. What's wrong in that?"
"That's exactly the problem," replied his boss, waving her index finger. "He's too hot to go around paying for sex. I'd say women and men are ready to pay for him…and he had this strange reaction when he heard Dixie is a red head…"
"Who knows? Perhaps he likes kinky stuff, but he's scared of red head women 'cause they remind him of a very hard mistress…" Tony teased, fully knowing Cassie's dislike for certain practices.
She all but squealed, "That's it! Tony, you aren't going there! I'll tell Rick that you aren't feeling well and-"
"Don't be silly, Cas! You know as well as me that business has been a bit slow after the police's inspection last month. We can't afford to turn down a potential new regular. Also, you said Rick is paying for him, and he's a good judge of people. The guy's not a pervert, trust me. He's probably just difficult, but don't worry, I'll be able to handle him all right. And in any case Eddie the bouncer will be in the corridor, ready to come to the rescue, so I'll be okay…"
With a sigh, Cassie patted Tony's shoulder and capitulated. "Go," she said, "But be careful… Very careful…I don't like the look in his eyes…"
Tony looked at the guy's eyes, but found nothing worrisome in them. He didn't seem to be drunk or on drugs, just very tense…worried…confused. As if he was wondering what he was doing in the room. Was he another 'victim' of Rick's desire to be good to Marines? It wouldn't be the first time an unsuspecting guy had stopped at the hotel looking for a bed and found himself dealing with a very special kind of room service. Tony decided to push a bit more and then back away if the man wasn't receptive.
"I can make you feel so good, Marine," he said, circling the man and brushing his shoulders and back with his hand.
The man tensed even more. "Why do you call me 'Marine'?" he asked in a low, menacing tone.
Tony laughed, "Look at you! Only military guys stand the way you do, as if you're awaiting orders…and then there is that weird haircut…" He slowly raised his hand and put it over the short cropped hair atop of his client's head, stroking it gently. He had very soft hair, dark brown but he could see some grey strands here and there.
"Go away," the guy repeated, sounding weary and weak.
Tony pursed his lips.
Difficult. The man was a difficult one. Sullen and moody but yet needy. The young whore could sense it...almost smell it. He was the kind of guy who hated himself for his neediness, for his perceived weakness.
He was a challenge—and Tony loved challenges. So he shook his head and answered, "You don't want me to go away, Marine. You want me to stay and make you feel so good and that's why I'm here… Why don't you relax? I promise you it'll be worth it…" He caressed the man's tense shoulders and back, trying to relax him, but the Marine moved away and walked toward the window, opening it and breathing the sea-scented air in deeply.
"Go away," he repeated for a third time, "I'll give you the money… nobody needs to know that you-"
Tony's eyes flashed with anger as he hissed, carefully articulating each word, "I may be a whore, but I'm not a beggar! I don't need your charity- I earn my money."
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So, now we have met Tony too...…Let me know what you think of him and if you think he will be able to make Gibbs change his mind…remember reviews make me smile and update faster!