Man of the Year (14 page)

“Congratulations, baby,” I say to him, giving him a little kiss.

“I can’t fuckin’ believe it!” he beams.

“A toast to the Man of the Year!” Amber smiles, raising her glass.

Everyone toasts him and he looks so proud and happy. I don’t want to do anything to take that away from him.

Just make it through tonight and it’s smooth sailing from here, Lola. No more threesomes, no more bondage and no more Tara skank-ho Morgan.

“I’m so glad you’re here with me,” James whispers in my ear, running his fingers down the nape of my neck. “Winning this is cool, but having you here makes it awesome! Just to get up there and know that all this is happening with somebody who loves me … it’s the best!”

I smile for real this time, touched by his words. This is a big deal for James. After getting the boot from his parents, I know that he’s constantly seeking approval, always wishing somebody would be proud of him. Tonight, it’s my job to be proud of him, because I want him to be proud of himself. Even though this isn’t exactly the goal I hoped he’d accomplish, this is something very significant for him and I need to acknowledge that.

“I love you, Lola,” he smiles with sweet vulnerability. “I love you so much and it’s a fuckin’ honor to be with you and have you by my side. I’m so thankful for you, baby.”

I brush my fingertips over his cheek and press my lips to his. “I love you too, James,” I whisper as I part from the kiss, “and I’m proud of you, babe.”

His smile is astronomical and it feels good to know that I’ve played a part in making him so happy. I can do this. I can take a little stomach-churning awkwardness to see him smile like that.

He weaves his fingers through mine under the table and we conclude our conversation in time to see Amber win for Woman of the Year. She thanks James, says how everyone will miss him, but wishes him luck and congratulates him on finding someone he loves with all his heart.

He loves me. Everything’s ok because he loves me. Everybody here knows it. Stop freaking out. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.

Collared wins for Scene of the Year, but this time the director, Jason Diamond, does all the talking for the group on stage. James and Amber smile in the background and there’s another brief moment where they’re backstage for the press conference before they return.

The final award is Movie of the Year. I’m feeling a little woozy, but I don’t know if it’s from the stress or the champagne. I’ve had a lot and I can feel myself getting progressively cloudier. I’m not used to it, because I hardly ever drink at all and, when I do, it’s usually one glass of wine.

“The winner is … Collared!”

Last one. Last time
.

James looks over at me with a question in his eyes. He doesn’t want to leave me, but he really wants to go up to that podium with Amber.

“Go get your award,” I smile at him.

He kisses me, stands up, puts his arm around Amber and walks up to the stage.

“Lola, are you ok?” Alejandro says quietly as he leans over Chad.

“Yeah,” I nod. “I’m fine. Too much champagne, I think.”

“Hang in there baby girl,” he smiles and touches my hand.

James and Amber hug and grin from ear to ear. She speaks and he stands next to her and throws his arm around her shoulders.

“And let’s hear it for the motherfucking Man of the Year!” she says. The crowd erupts.

They love him here. They’re proud of him and supportive of him here. They make him feel like a king, like a champion, like a superhero. Was I wrong to take this away from him? Am I selfish for wanting him to give this up now that he’s with me?

I need another glass of champagne. Last one, I promise.

James and Amber disappear off stage and Chad tells me that they’ll be doing interviews in the back about all the awards Collared racked up tonight.

“We should head out to the after-party,” he smiles. “You have to dance with me! I wanna see you work that body, miss thang!”

“That’ll be good. I need something to help me release all this stress,” I reply, glad that James isn’t here to detect my uneasiness.

“Then we need to get your little ass on the floor,” Chad laughs.

He offers me his hand and puts his arm around me as I try to forget about everything that happened over the past couple hours.

Man of the Year. Man of the motherfuckin’ Year! It finally happened. Top of my game, the peak, the pinnacle! I’ve worked for this since I was 19 years old. I’ve put everything into my scenes, honed my technique and always made everything as hot as humanly possible, and it’s finally paid off. It’s official. I’m the top dude in porn—well, I guess I
was
the top dude in porn, since I’m not doing this anymore.

It’s sort of bittersweet, in a way. It’s rad to be honored like this, it sucks to know that I’ll never be able to hit this high again, but it’s worth it because I have Lola.

A bunch of people backstage asked me about her during the press conference after I won Man of the Year. I shouted her out in my speech, so I kind of expected it, but I was a little surprised by some of the questions.

“Did it come down to her versus porn?” “Did she disagree with you staying in the business?” “Why couldn’t you have a girlfriend and continue to work?”

They want to blame her for why I left, that much is clear. I think it’s because it’s an easy explanation. "Why would a dude who’s at the top of his game suddenly split on the biz? Must be because of his chick." These people live and breathe this business and I think it’s probably hard for them to understand that there are things more important than a career. Besides, I've got a great revenue sharing situation worked out with Shawnna and the award tonight is sure to boost sales of my toys, so we’ll have even more cash to live on. I’m actually looking forward to chilling out with her when we get back home.

I’m walking to the elevators to go up to the big after-party and I keep getting stopped every few feet by people congratulating me. Girls are giving me kisses, guys are high-fiving me and I feel like the fuckin’ prom king right now.

“Congratulations, baby!” Lexi Jaxxon, the girl in my Best Double Penetration scene, smiles when I walk into the party.

“Thanks, Lexi!” I beam. I’m beyond psyched tonight and I can’t contain it.

“I always knew you’d get it someday. You’re the best. You been the best for a long time and you shouldda won every year,” she praises.

“Aw, thanks, babe, that’s really nice of you,” I reply, giving her a hug. “You did all the real work in our scene, though. You fuckin' earned that award.”

It’s true. DPs aren’t easy and a lot of girls won’t do them at all because they say it’s way uncomfortable. Me and Troy Spencer, my co-star on that scene, drilled Lexi for hours and she never complained.

“I’m gonna miss this, baby!” she laughs, grabbing my dick.

I crack up and give her a shrug. “Hey, I gotta do what I gotta do,” I say.

“Well, I wish the best to you and your pretty little girlfriend,” she says, batting her eyes at me. “I saw her come up here with Chad. Pretty sure they’re on the dance floor.”

“Nice, thanks,” I nod.

She gives me a kiss and then I head into the club to go find my girl. I can’t wait to see her. I’m not going to lie, this whole thing has gotten me a little horny and I want to get her back to the room soon, but I know she’ll want to dance and hang out for a while first.

I spot her on the floor with Chad. He’s behind her and his hands are on her hips. She’s grinding her ass into his crotch and he’s breathing into her neck. She and Chad have this kind of playful flirtation thing that always cracks me up. They’re not attracted to each other per se, but they both know they’re hot, so they like to play around like this, kind of put on a show. I know Lola doesn’t feel comfortable being sexy with many people—really only me—but she’s cool with it when it comes to Chad because she knows he’s not trying to get in her pants.

I make my way through the crowd and get in front of her, reaching out to grab her waist. Her eyes are closed and she seems to be totally into the music, but she opens them and gives me a smile.

“Come here,” she says, tugging on my vest to pull me closer to her.

Chad gives me a grin and Lola tilts her head back against him and pushes her hips towards me. She’s sandwiched between both of us and, from the look on her face, I think she’s kind of digging it.
Interesting
.

“Best dance floor threesome,” she jokes, giving me a big smile.

I laugh loudly and shake my head.
How much champagne did you have at that table, young lady?

“I’m hot,” she says, fanning herself.

“Let’s get drinks,” Chad replies in her ear but loud enough for me to hear it too.

She nods and the three of us head off the dance floor. Chad leads the way and we go to a table where Alejandro is chatting with Jadin Stone, a girl I’ve worked with several times.

“Hey, congratulations on your win!” Jadin smiles when she sees me.

She gets up, throws her arms around me and kisses me. It’s nothing major, but I see Lola flinch out of the corner of my eye.
Interesting again.
She didn’t seem as annoyed by this earlier, but it seems to bug her now.

“Thanks, Jadin,” I say, hugging her tight around her waist. “It’s totally surreal. I still can’t believe it.”

“Well, believe it, babe!” she grins. “You deserved that shit. That scene with Amber in Collared was the hottest fuckin’ thing I’ve ever seen. You fucked the shit out of her and she said it was the best sex she’s ever had, so you had to know that shit was gonna clean up tonight.”

I laugh and nod.
Ok, it’s true, the scene was really hot and I did make Amber come about thirty times that day.

“I’ve never seen doggy-style that looked so sexy,” she continues. “And when you guys went into reverse cowgirl on the floor … damn!” She fans herself with her hands.

I laugh a little louder. “So the big award was justified?” I joke.

“Hell yeah!” she chuckles.

She kisses me goodbye and I go to sit down with my girl and my friends. Lola has taken a seat between Chad and Alejandro, so I can’t sit next to her, which is kind of a bummer since I have this aching sort of craving for her right now.

“Man of the hour,” she says, holding up some girly pink cocktail. “Cocksman of the year.”

I laugh hard and toast her but I notice that she seems distracted as she takes a sip.

She looks around the room and sees the go-go dancers, who are just wearing booty shorts and pasties. She doesn’t seem to have a strong opinion of that and her attention shifts to a couple making out against the wall. I wish I was making out with her against that wall, but she’d never go for that in such a public place.

“So, what’s up with the suite parties?” she asks me. “They said they’re way fun.” She points to Chad and Alejandro, who nod.

“They’re smaller, private and a little more wild, but they’re cool. You wanna go to one?” I smile.

“Uh-huh,” she nods. “Less people, right?”

“Yeah, less people,” I say.

“Let’s do that,” she replies.

Me and the gang stand up and we decide to hit up the smaller parties in the themed hotel suites. These parties aren’t as populated as this main one, but they’re cool because they’re hosted by the sponsors, so everyone treats you like a VIP. Tonight I really am a VIP, so I bet they’ll act like I’m Leonardo fuckin’ DiCaprio up there.

We get to the first one, sponsored by a lingerie company and there are girls in lacey, see-through bras and panties serving drinks. They greet our group really enthusiastically and usher us in.
VIP all the way
.

I’m in front, but I take a quick peek back at Lola as they lead us to some couches in a small circle that must be the ultra-VIP section. Her head is turning every which way as she looks around. All these rooms have stripper poles and there are two girls dancing on one right now. Lola’s never been to a strip club, so she seems a little surprised at the way the fully naked girls are grinding and bending. One of them spreads her legs really wide as she hangs on with her arms and twirls around and Lola blinks a few times like she can’t believe it. These stripper chicks are strong. They work that fuckin’ pole and they’re like sexy, naked gymnasts. Maybe she appreciates the athleticism.

We get to the couches and a girl comes around and brings us drinks, all the sponsored cocktails of the evening. They’re named funny stuff to fit with the sexy theme. I ask her for a water for Lola, because I’m a little worried that she’ll get dehydrated if she dances and the only liquid in her body is champagne.

I get to sit next to her this time and I put my arm around her so I can kiss into her hair. She smells really nice and I like this view because I can see a little more of her cleavage from here.

Emily Drake, one of the girls from my Best Threesome scene, sees us and she comes right over. She plops down next to me and she starts rubbing my back and putting her hand on my thigh as we all talk. I notice Lola turning a little so she’s facing more towards Chad as I talk to Emily.
Hmm. Maybe she’s just not sure what to say to Emily.

Pretty soon, Lola decides that she wants to try another party and I wonder why she seems so antsy.

I don’t really want to take her to the next party because it’s hosted by a bondage company and I know that kind of shit usually freaks her out. After our little adventure with the blindfolds, I’m hoping she doesn’t find it as scary.

I’m not sure what to make of her body language when she sees that these waitresses are girls with spiked collars and nipple clamps. All of them are tattooed up and they all have jet-black hair and black panties. They’re acting like classic subs and addressing everyone as Master or Mistress. It’s all part of the vibe—that Dom/sub sex club feel.

I see several girls I’ve worked with around the place and I kind of want to make the rounds and say hello to everybody, but I’m not sure if Lola’s up for it. She seems a little timid right now. Not necessarily cold, just quieter than usual. I’m thinking it’s because she’s getting a little tired, which is understandable considering how full our day has been.