A Hidden Gem Short
by Lissa Kasey
It was a horror—walls of whips, spikes, and chains. Aki couldn’t tear his eyes away from a long stick looking thing with spikes on the end like he recalled seeing on the backs of men’s boots in old western films. He gripped the edges of the baby blue cashmere sweater he wore—a gift from Paris who didn’t seem bothered at all about the shop contents.
“Maybe I should just go back to Devilishly Sexy,” Aki mumbled. Manny stood behind him like the silent guard wall he was. Aki shouldn’t have waited until last minute to buy his best friend’s present. Paris was already moving through the shop walking past displays of dildos so large Aki wasn’t sure any human could use them without pain. “I could just buy him more underwear.”
Unfortunately that’s how they ended up here. Solstice was tonight and Aki hadn’t yet found a gift for Candy despite days of shopping. He’d searched a dozen stores for something that was jumped out at him and said “perfect.” Only that hadn’t happened. He could have fallen back on buying his best friend underwear, but Aki had stared at so many unsure as to whether or Candy had them already. Manny suggested calling Paris, who volunteered to meet Aki here at a shop called Hard Candy. Which Aki had thought peculiar until he stepped inside.
There was a display of crosses in the corner with padding, and a couple of swing things. Aki had never been so grateful for not having to bend over for clients. He knew the Gem had a few rooms set up for harder play, but had never been in them. Candy frequented them often. But he didn’t see how buying his friend a sex toy to use on clients said “thanks for being my best friend.”
Paris clapped his hands on Aki’s shoulders making him jump and yell. He pulled away, heart hammering in his chest. Paris’ smile was a little maniacal. “Nothing here can hurt you, Aki.”
Aki knew that, but it didn’t stop his heart from pounding. Stupid memories. Not that he could recall ever having any of this stuff used on him. Paris sure never had. Not even in the beginning when they were training. “I just want to get him something he’ll like and use.”
“For work and pleasure?” Paris offered.
“Well, yeah.” Most people didn’t buy their friends underwear or sex toys, but most people weren’t contracted companions. Aki knew Jade had a whole collection of toys that she used with her johns. Candy had a few favorites, mostly dildos or butt plugs, but he did like leather a lot, though he rarely wore it as more than accessory. Maybe Aki should have gotten him a belt or something.
Paris went to a wall of long leather stick looking things. He picked up one and snapped it with practiced ease which sent the leather end down in a wicked whip motion. Candy often carried a stick like that around with him at the Gem when he was trying to interest new clients or expecting a hard core one to come in. “Grip isn’t comfortable. Leather feels good though.” Paris ran his fingers over the end of the stick before putting it back. “I believe Candy broke his last crop with a particularly disobedient client.”
Crop. That’s what that was. Paris picked up another, this one with a rubber grip.
“You want me to buy him something to beat other people with?” Aki inquired.
“Candy loves giving and receiving from this little item. People pay ridiculous sums of money for the right to beat him.”
Aki’s jaw dropped. Sure he saw Candy with bruises on occasion, but assumed they were from a tough john that had gotten out of hand when Aki wasn’t around to see it. “You mean he likes that? When people hurt him.”
“Candy likes pretty much everything in this shop. Why don’t you look around and I’ll be over near the counter when you’re done.” Paris wandered away before Aki could protest.
“He lets people hurt him?” Aki asked Manny.
“People pay lots. Candy likes it.”
Aki stared at the crops. Could he really get his friend something like that? Would Candy think Aki wanted to be beaten that way? “Should have gone with underwear.” He turned away from the wall of crops to scan the room. There had to be something else. Silk ties in the corner. Rope and some other fun bondage stuff, but that was more Aki’s style. He had to admit that Candy was pretty hard core.
He spotted a display in the corner and headed that way. That could work. He hoped. He grabbed a few items and headed to the checkout, then decided to go back and grabbed the crop with the rubber grip. Hopefully Candy would have something in the bunch he liked. Paris nodded his approval as Aki checked out and they headed for the door.
Manny took Aki back to the Gem after wishing Paris a good evening. The Gem was closed for Solstice. Every year it closed for one night to let the companions and staff celebrate together. The dining areas and halls were decorated to the nines and everyone wore their finest clothing. A giant pine tree had been set up near the stairs and was covered in shiny balls and lots of phallic shaped ornaments. The companions always added to the gaudiness of it each year by finding or making more sexy related things to hang on the tree. This year Aki and Candy had made glitter condom candles. The candles were cast from condoms and covered in glitter. The flame was almost clear when lit so as the candle burned down the tip appeared to be leaking. They had many a guest compliment their design and ask for candles to take home. Neither Aki nor Candy had the time or interest to make more so Bart had put some of the kitchen staff on the duty and was selling them by the bucket load.
Tonight the tree was lit and come a leaking as Aki ran up the stairs to change. He had a little white dress that he wanted to wear. Candy was no where to be see but there was a gift on Aki’s bed. Aki hurried into his dress which was mostly see-thru with strategically placed feathers. He always helped Bart hand out gifts and had been dubbed the Solstice Angel by most of the staff. So tonight he was going to be one.
He brushed his hair up into a sweeping up-do with a gold crown halo that had mini wings on the back of it. Candy came in just as he was finishing his makeup. “Damn, you look so purely innocent I just want to correct you to my demonic little ways.”
Aki grinned. Demonic ways for sure. “I couldn’t find shoes to match. I’ll have to wear the white lace ones.” Aki headed for the closet but Candy grabbed his arm.
“Open your present.”
“We’re supposed to wait and do it with everyone else,” Aki protested.
“Open it,” Candy demanded, shoving Aki toward his gift.
“You’re so pushy,” Aki grumbled as he went to the bed and opened it. There was a box beneath the shiny paper and in the box a pair of five inch heels in white and gold with feathers wrapping around the edges. There were pearls and tiny diamond-like crystals embedded in a quilt pattern. “They’re beautiful.”
“Had a client bring them all the way from City A for me. Saw them online and knew I had to get them for you.”
Aki’s stomach sank. Why couldn’t he find something this good for his friend? He sighed and grabbed the bag of the unwrapped gifts and shoved it at Candy. “I’m sorry it’s not the great. I couldn’t really find something I thought you had to have. I just…”
Candy wrapped him in a hard hug, squeezing him enough to hurt. “Having you is gift enough for me. I never had a best friend before you.”
“Never?”
“Nope. People who pretended, but never the real thing.”
“I’m sorry.” It sounded sad, but it wasn’t like Aki really knew what that meant either. Had he ever had a best friend before? Not like Candy. Not someone he could talk to and trust with anything.
“Now gimme my present.”
Aki handed it over.
Candy pulled out the crop first. He grinned, flexed it in his hands and even ran it over his face. “Nice quality. This is more Paris’ work than yours though.”
Aki’s cheeks heated. Yeah, Candy knew him well. “I called Paris for help with ideas. He said you could use a new one.”
“I can and thank you.” Candy set the crop aside. The next item was a pair of candy apple red leather short shorts. If being short enough to be obscene wasn’t enough there were candy-shaped cut outs in the leather of the ass and really close to the crotch. Some round candy, some wrapped, and maybe a square or two. There was also a big heart on the left butt cheek. “These are awesome.”
He held them up to his waist. They’d be snug, but it was leather and that’s how it was supposed to be, right? Aki didn’t wear leather other than shoes. He hoped he didn’t get the sizing wrong. “There’s more,” Aki pointed at the bag.
A matching pair of thigh-high boots were in a box at the bottom of the bag. Not heels like Aki wore, but actual boots with a heavy heel and thick metal chains round down the sides and around the back. “They didn’t have a top I liked, but the manager said they had other colors, just not in stock. I ordered a neon pink and a color called succulent purple for you too. They should be in next week.”
Candy stood silently looking over the outfit for a minute and Aki worried he’d really done something wrong. Then a smile broke over Candy’s face. Not his player one that he used on the floor, but the smile Aki saw when the two were together alone. “And you said you didn’t find anything that would fit me.” Candy shook his head. He grabbed Aki in another bone crushing hug. How did a guy so skinny hug like a giant? “You rock, Solstice Angel.”
“You really like them?”
“Oh yes. In fact I’m wearing this tonight instead of what I originally planned. I have the perfect top for it. We’ll be a pair, you and I. The devil and the angel.” Candy pulled away and began stripping out of his clothes to change. Aki watched and was pleased when the shorts did fit. Candy slapped his own ass and said, “Can bounce a quarter off that ass right?”
The heart hole in the back showed not undies but a perfect cheek. Candy was wearing a thong. He tugged on the boots and grinned at Aki. “Happy Solstice, Aki.” Candy wrapped his arms around Aki again, pressing their cheeks together. “Thank you for being my best friend.”
Aki smiled and returned the hug. That was exactly what he’d been hoping for.
Copyright © 2014 Lissa Kasey