Wayward Son by Shae Connor Page A

and cut low in the front, the dress ended several inches above the knee except for a cascade of spangles that brushed his calves, which were encased in a pair of tall, shiny high-heeled red boots. Even without the waxing, wig, and makeup that would complete the look, Cory-slash-Coco lit up the room.
    “I think it’s exactly enough.” Mikey rose to his feet and took a step closer. “You look amazing.”
    Cory’s blush made him that much more sexy. “Thanks, honey.” Mikey held out a hand, and Cory took it, allowing himself to be pulled into an embrace.
    “You always look amazing,” Mikey admitted in a low voice.
    “Don’t you say the nicest things,” Cory replied in the second before their lips met.
    Mikey’s body buzzed as they kissed. He’d dated a few women before he came out, so Coco’s fake breasts felt strange but not unfamiliar. He preferred Cory’s broad, strong chest—or Jimmy’s smaller but more muscular one—but the softness wasn’t off-putting. He still knew whose tongue was exploring his mouth.
    “Ungh.” Cory let out a strange sound and pulled out of the kiss. “Dammit. I need to shimmy out of the Spanx if we’re gonna make out. This stuff is the evil love child of a chastity belt and a cock cage.”
    Mikey laughed and moved away, though his own body protested. “It’s all right. I want to get this drawing finished up so I don’t have to worry about it this weekend.” He gave Cory’s outfit one last appreciative look. “But after your show, maybe I’ll help you get out of all that.”
    “Shit.” Cory gave his hips a mighty wiggle and then turned to head back toward his bedroom. “Hold that thought,” he threw back over his shoulder. “I gotta get out of ’em now before I cause permanent damage.”
    Still grinning, Mikey slid back into his seat at the dining room table. His smile slipped as he looked over his drawing. Something still wasn’t quite right about it, but he couldn’t figure out the problem. The perspective was good, the lines were strong and clear, and the shadowing added depth.
    But the whole thing just looked flat. Lifeless. Two-dimensional.
    Mikey sighed and picked up a shading pencil to get back to work.

Chapter 7

     
    “O KAY . D RESS , boots, evil, evil Spanx, wig, coat, makeup bag…. Fuck! Earrings!”
    Cory disappeared into his bedroom for the third time, and Mikey shook his head, smiling. Cory had asked Mikey to come over and help him get his stuff to Bernhardt’s for the show, and from the moment Mikey arrived, Cory’s nervous excitement had been rolling off him in waves. Mikey couldn’t help absorbing some of it. He just hoped the excitement won out in the end. With everything else going on, they definitely needed a break, no one more so than Mikey. The show would give him a chance to just sit back and enjoy watching Cory play.
    And since Jimmy would be with them afterward, they could help Cory peel out of Coco and give him another reason to remember the night.
    “Jesus.” Cory hustled back into the living room and slipped the earrings into his bag. “At the rate I’m going, I’m gonna be too tired to go by the time I’m ready to leave. I’m just glad they got us a dressing room space set up. If I’d had to put all this shit on here, I’d be a complete mess by the time I got over there.”
    On impulse Mikey stood and caught Cory by the arm, bringing his frenetic movements to a halt. “Relax,” he murmured, running his free hand up Cory’s side. “It’ll be great. You’ll be great.”
    Cory drifted toward him as if he couldn’t help himself, and Mikey drew him in for a soft kiss. Mikey couldn’t figure out for a moment why this felt different from the others they’d shared, but then he realized Cory was letting him take the lead. Something sweet twisted in his chest, and he deepened the kiss, sliding his hands up Cory’s arms to cup his face.
    When he finally drew away, Cory smiled. “Thanks, babe,” he said. “I needed