The Hardest Thing

monitor, and watched Channing on the bed.
    - Hey channing looking good dude
    - Yo chan sup horny here
    - Me 2 man anyone need a massage
    More and more windows popped up, the dialogue
flowing as fast as credits at the end of a movie. None of it made any sense to me. And then:
    - Good evening, Channing. I wonder if you’re available at the moment?
    “That last one,” I said. “Say hi to him.” It was properly spelled and punctuated, and I didn’t quite see Marshall using words like “dude” and “sup.”
    The username? “SilverMan.” “That means he’s the right age,” whispered Martin, pointing to his hair.
    - Hi SilverMan. Sure, I’m free. What you up to?
    - Just relaxing in my hotel room.
    - Nice. Late night? J
    - No—early morning, in fact. Flight to catch.
    “That’s him. It’s got to be him.”
    “It could be anyone,” said Jack. “You can’t just assume…”
    “Got any better ideas?” I realized that I was snarling, but I was desperate for this to work. “Channing, ask him for a photo.”
    “No!” Jack almost jumped out of his seat; Channing, thank god, kept his cool and didn’t even look at us, just lay there on the bed rubbing his tight, smooth abdomen. “You’ll scare him off. Guys like him never show their photos. It’s a one-way deal.”
    “Okay. Just chat to him.”
    - Going somewhere nice?
    - Just a business trip. Long haul. Could do with a massage
to set me up before I go.
    - Sure—travel or accom?
    I looked to Martin for translation.
    “He’s trying to find out if SilverMan will come here, or wants him to go there.”
    “Jesus,” I said, “he can’t come here!”
    “Don’t worry. Our boy knows what he’s doing.”
    Channing rearranged himself on the bed, allowing his robe to fall open a little more.
    - Would you mind coming here?
    - No problem. You in Manhattan?
    - Yes.
    - Cool.
    “Why doesn’t he ask him for the address?”
    “All in good time. You can’t rush him. SilverMan has to trust him first.”
    “And how’s he going to get him to do that?”
    “Watch and learn, Dan. Watch and learn.” Martin nodded toward the bed, where Channing was fiddling with the waistband of his briefs.
    - You seem to be in very good shape, Channing.
    - I do my best.
    - What would you be wearing when you do the massage?
    - Usually just my shorts.
    He pulled the elastic down a little.
    - I see.
    If ever letters on a screen communicated disappointment, they did.
    - But I can work naked if you prefer J
    - That would be very nice.
    - Yeah for me too. Prefer being naked.
    - Oh, really?
    - J
    Channing removed his arms from the sleeves of his robe, exposing his torso. I don’t know about “SilverMan,” but the three guys in the room with Channing were getting very hard. If this little sting didn’t work, maybe we’d just lock the door and take turns fucking Channing in the mouth and ass.
    - Very nice.
    - Thanks.
    - What kind of massage do you specialize in?
    Specialize, indeed. If I had Channing on the end of a webcam I’d have other things on my mind than massage techniques, but I guess guys like Marshall—sorry, SilverMan—need to keep up the pretense.
    - Swedish, reiki, shiatsu, tantric
    - Ah, tantric?
    - You like?
    - Yes very much.
    I thought “shiatsu” was a fancy breed of dog, and as for tantric… I looked over at Jack, who made a jerk-off
gesture with his hand. Ah, that. Not what I call it, but I get the picture.
    - Great. Want me to come over?
    - Just one thing—would you mind turning over for me?
    - No problem. Want to see what yr getting?
    - Yes please.
    “Got you.”
    Channing was a natural performer. He got up on his knees—there was a definite bulge in his shorts now, and he made sure the camera got a good look—then turned around, looking over his shoulder to check that he was properly framed. It was as tight and round as any of us could desire. In this position, obviously, he couldn’t type. SilverMan could, however.
    - Very nice. You obviously take good care of yourself. So many young men of your age let themselves go. It’s important to keep healthy and fit. Not just in the body but in the mind as well. I’m a great believer in a healthy mind in a healthy body. Oh, my god.
    In between each of these statements Channing gave encouragement by rubbing his asscheeks, pulling the sides of his briefs up to expose his buttocks, and rolling the waistband down. The final Oh, my god came when he pulled them down altogether. I’ve seen some fine asses