"Ahhnn... ngghh..."
Joey bit his wrists to muffle his sighs. His knees were numb, aching, and his arms were tired from supporting his body in the upright position. Domenico continued to pound his behind. The rhythm was rough, as his right hand gripped the nape of Joey's back neck. The young man was always overwhelmed by him.
"Enggh..." The bed sheets squeezed, Joey closed his eyes tightly as he climaxed. His molars chattered as the skin on the most intimate part of their bodies came together.
Hissing as he increases the rhythm of the movements. Domenico's eyes closed, enjoying the young man's tightness. Submerging almost his entire penis.
"Wait a little longer..." Domenico's heavy voice whispered. The hand that had been gripping Joey's nape moved to hold his hips. Domenico pulled Joey's body along with his strong stroking of hers.
A moan that was more dominant than a sigh sounded from Joey's lips, some of his saliva dripping on the sheets. Using his hand he wiped his mouth as well as the remaining tears that came out a while ago when Domenico entered him in one stroke lacking lubrication.
Domenico growled, the man finally climaxing. Joey almost collapsed on his stomach-if only Domenico hadn't caught him immediately. Breathing heavily, chest rising and falling, Joey was running out of steam.
"Why, just up to here? Didn't you want it first?" Domenico said softly in Joey's ear, while the young man's hands tried to push his chest.
Joey didn't answer, just stared into his eyes with a smile that meant he wouldn't let go. However, his assumption was wrong. Domenico pulled out his penis, leaving the ejaculated semen flowing out of Joey's hole. The young man instantly felt empty, his chest rising and falling to neutralize his breathing.
Domenico sat on the edge of the bed after putting on his pants. He took something from the coat lying on the back of the sofa, near the window whose curtains were still open. It was a menthol candy. Domenico sat on the edge of the bed, eating his candy while looking at Joey who was now sitting there grimacing occasionally.
"Want some candy?"
Joey opened his mouth as Domenico fed him the menthol-flavored sweets. There were no words. Domenico's eyes followed the young man's naked body to the bathroom. There was the sound of water from the shower. Gurgling as if inviting Domenico to join in. Unable to fulfill his call, Domenico put his shirt back on, rather than taking off his pants again - following Joey into the bathroom. He knew his time was limited.
Joey comes out shortly. Receiving the turquoise blue, patternless pajamas that Domenico had been looking for in the closet. Lying down after getting fully dressed, Domenico did the same.
There was silence between the two.
"When are you coming back from Sicily?" One question Joey asked. A question that tugged at one side of Domenico's lips.
"I haven't even left yet, but you're asking when I'm going home." Ending with a light chuckle.
Not the expected answer. Joey turned his back on Domenico. Before long, solid arms were felt around his waist. The embrace was warm. Until now, Joey could hardly believe it. This warmth came from a man who was notoriously hard and cold as a stone. Not hearsay from the mouths of people in the underworld, Joey knew Domenico inside out. Also his cruelty that Joey had witnessed with his naked eyes.
Stopping to think about Domenico, Joey forced himself to fall asleep in the arms of a criminal. Before long, everything went dark.
***
Domenico had already left. Not knowing the exact time, the man was gone. The clock on the wall showed six thirty in the morning.
The cell phone on the table beeped, several message notifications came in from Sheira his assistant, the manager and several other messages. Joey forced himself to get up to read some. Today's schedule was tight. Apart from filming, there is a live television station talk show that must be attended. Being a public figure continued to require Joey to look perfect.
***
A large crates carried by a cruise ship was unloaded in the form of a large box. Several men in black shirts passed by to lift it into two cars.
"Beretta, the demand is growing every year. More and more hunted. It's getting harder to smuggle."
A man wearing a black suit guided his men while holding a contraband firearm. Listening to a black man dressed in a dapper, silver-white suit with matching trousers speak, his voice was somewhat disguised by a strong gust of midnight sea breeze.
He said, "The government is increasing stricter surveillance at every cross-border entry point. The main problem is that it is now quite difficult to bribe the country dogs to cooperate, their loyalty to the government should be appreciated."
"It's hard to bribe, huh. Is that one of the reasons you refused the offer of business cooperation with Capone?" The black man smoked a clove cigarette, a puff of smoke rising, soon swept away by the sea breeze.
"The partnership was just an excuse for Capone to take full control of the port. They thought I was stupid, not knowing how their gang syndicate worked. Starting from cooperation, over time they will influence the people who work at the port to become loyal dogs for Capone."
Black man—L Nash admitted. "Some small groups of the Cosa Nostra have been successfully influenced."
Capone was a syndicate full of deceit and trickery-which from the outside looked as if it promised cooperation that benefited both parties. That was only at first, later they would become authoritarian and manipulative. Domenico grumbled at that fact.
At the same time, a subordinate reported. "Everything is in order, sir."
Nodding in response, the firearm was tucked under his knee-length black coat. With a hand signal he ordered his subordinate.
L Nash threw a cigarette onto the asphalt and stepped on it. "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Cassano."
Domenico accepted his handshake. "Me too." A thin symmetrical smile froze the cold aura in him.
Several black men approached L Nash, he waved a hand without looking at Domenico. "Give my regards to Mr. Enzio!"
Domenico did not respond, just stared briefly at L Nash's departure after the two dealt. One of the escorts, along with his secretary, approached.
"Sir, your ship is ready."
Domenico left, followed by his subordinates behind to the cruise ship that would take him to Sicily.
***
Joey walked down the corridor of the studio, several staff and celebrities passed by. One of them, who was with his assistant, passed Joey near the dressing room. A young man with brown hair, wearing a leather jacket and black pants with a chain around his waist.
"Congratulations on your EMMY nomination," he began. Meanwhile, his assistant went to get something.
Joey smiled. "Thank you."
Their steps stopped at the side of the corridor. The young man smiled back wryly. Joey noticed it, the kind of dismissive smile from an actor rival.
Jacob Doyle made his debut as an actor two years ahead of Joey. As a more senior person, Jacob is clearly jealous of the popularity achieved by Joey. Joey's acting skills, which are more qualified than him, are also the reason why the young man is always sarcastic towards Joey.
Not bothering about it, Joey is indifferent to people who hate him.
"EMMY doesn't suit you," Jacob continued.
Joey looked at him, waiting for the young man to say the next sentence.
"With your acting, you deserve an Oscar." His tone was serious this time.
"An Oscar is too far for someone who only acts in television series—"
"Not for your acting on screen," Jacob cut in. "But in the real world."
Joey's face turned serious. He, who was usually indifferent to the ominous gaze of people who didn't like him, couldn't ignore it this time.
One pat landed by Jacob on Joey's left shoulder, the young man left with a personal assistant who returned with food for him.
Joey was still in his position, standing at the edge of the corridor while staring at Jacob's retreating back. As soon as he disappeared from the door, the young man still managed to turn his head and smile. A smile that someone had once shown him. Fingernails digging into his palms, Joey clenched his fingers tightly - reminded of the past.
At the same time, a woman in her late thirties appeared with a simultaneously worried, relieved expression.
"I looked everywhere for you, and here you are."
Janet was the manager of Joey's agency. She stopped her black high heels in front of the young man. One eyebrow raised, mind guessing; was the actor dealing with hatters again? Everyone has a few or many people who dislike them, no matter how good their personality is.
"Sorry, am I late?" Joey asked, trying to get rid of the annoyance Jacob had caused earlier.
Janet smiled. "Not yet. Come on, they're waiting for your performance."
Joey smiled too, albeit a little unwillingly.
***
The whole studio applauded Joey's appearance. The young man smiled at the audience, the camera that was broadcasting and panned to a presenter on The Jeremy Show.
"Joey Carter, this year's talented actor. How are you?" asked Jeremy—the man who hosts the show—pleasantly.
"Fine," Joey replied, turning to the female-dominated studio audience. They hooted with delight, and tried to keep their composure as they followed the direction.
"How do you feel about being given the opportunity to reprise the role of Kevin Richardson-the antihero protagonist in the second season of the television series A Genius Criminal?"
"First, it's an honor for me to be trusted for the second time by Charlie Douglas, the man who was instrumental behind the scenes in the success of the first season of this film."
Applause followed Joey's answer. He paused briefly and continued, "Of course I'm very happy."
"Many of your fans want you to act on the big screen, how do you respond?"
"To be honest, I don't have any preparations to that extent yet."
"Even if there's a director who's going to cast you as the lead in his big-screen movie now?" There was a disappointed tone in Jeremy's question, he was one of Joey's many fans. The difference was that Jeremy didn't say this to Joey directly.
Joey nodded. Followed by the disappointed sighs of his fans in the studio. Not to mention those who watched it on television.
Jeremy added, "If Charlie Douglas had offered you a role on the big screen, would you have accepted? It's a fact that you and Douglas are so close. At one point during an interview, Douglas said that he had taken you in as his own son."
"If Charlie offered me to act in one of his feature films, I would consider it." Joey laughed lightly at the end of the sentence. And Jeremy responded in kind.
Not a satisfying answer, but the studio audience was not disappointed.
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