EXCERPT FROM "Deliver Me"

"You know, I always wondered why you picked on me. Then I remembered the first week when you tried to get into my pants. God knows I tried to forget it. What, you couldn't take the rejection? Next time you try to get your little pencil dick in someone's ass, try a shower first, huh? Maybe a breath mint, too? I almost passed out from the fumes. Have a nice life." I walked out, not looking back, though I heard some snickers behind me. Try to live that one down, you little peckerwood.

Bessie and I made it to Julius' house fifteen minutes later. When he opened the door, I could tell he had been worried.

"Hey, honey. Are you alright? What took so long?" He took the pizzas from me and I followed him inside. I picked up Mr. Wrinkles to get some love, since I sorely needed it.

"It's been a rough week, but tonight was epic. Your order is free, and I got fired." I put the little pug down, sat at the kitchen island, and sighed.

Julius put the pizzas down. "What the fuck?" He was livid.

"Yup. Remember how I told you I only had one more time before they'd let me go? Well Manny deliberately held your order until he knew it would be late. I knew it, he knew it, and I called him on it. I told him to just fire me. And then he did, calling me a faggot ass."

"Say what? That dude is way outta line. I oughta --" Julius stopped ranting when he saw how dejected I had become.

"It'll be alright, boo." He came around to my side of the island and pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry he was such a prick."

I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his chest, basking in his heat and soaking up his strength. "It's okay. I knew it was coming, and maybe I'm more than a little relieved that it's over. I may have insulted his manhood and made disparaging remarks about his personal hygiene on my way out. I think he was still pissed that I wouldn't sleep with him. I'm not sorry."

Pulling back a little, Julius put one hand gently on my face and asked, "What are you gonna do now for another job?"

"I dunno, but I think I might be able to get more hours tutoring at the middle school. I'll check into it next week. On the upside, we'll have a little more time together to get up close and personal. Would you like that?"

"Oh hell, yeah!" Julius gave me a big smile and a kiss. "Let's eat first, though. You need to decompress, right? And maybe relax a little bit in front of the TV? I have a home theatre set up behind the living room. We can have a few beers, eat pizza, watch a movie or two."

"I'd love that, truly. Thank you."

"Anything for you, Daniel."

"You just want in my pants, don't you?"

"Absolutely not. Well, maybe a little.”