EXCERPT

     Truth or Bare
     By Sally Apple

     Halloween

     Melvin Spear didn’t need to press his ear against the door of his girlfriend’s apartment to hear the heavy rock music from inside. The door vibrated in rhythm with the pounding bass.
     Good! It meant Mimi hadn’t gone out to a Halloween party somewhere.
     He rapped his knuckles on the door. While he waited, he straightened his tie -- sky blue printed with little bats -- and slicked back the stubborn cowlick sprouting from the crown of his head. A quick glance at his watch confirmed the time -- 9 PM. Most likely, she didn’t feel like going out and celebrating any more than he did. She was probably moping around her apartment, waiting for him to come groveling for forgiveness after their quarrel. Swallowing his pride would be worthwhile, he figured, if making up with her led to a nice romp in the sack.
     Smiling at the thought, he knocked again, more confidently. He had a strong feeling his spontaneous decision to drop by her place wouldn’t be for naught. He’d tried to accede to her wishes and stay away for awhile -- she’d said she needed more space -- but at 23 years of age, he couldn’t be expected to go forever without a little nookie.
     When Mimi failed to answer the door, Mel realized she wouldn’t hear a bomb go off with her stereo turned up so high. Juggling the bag of licorice-flavored jelly beans -- her favorite -- he fished in his pocket for the key she’d given him several weeks before.
     He chuckled softly as he fit the key into the lock. This would be better, anyhow. He could sneak in and grab her from behind in a bear hug. She would know it was him when he breathed in her ear and nuzzled her neck.
     "Oh, Mel!" she would cry. "You scared the shit out of me!" And they would laugh together like before. Then he’d steer her toward the bedroom.
     He let himself inside her apartment and closed the door behind him, not bothering with stealth. The music bounced off the walls, obliterating all background noise. He wondered how the neighbors could stand it.
     The living room, dimly lit with candles clustered on a side table off to the right, set a somber mood for Halloween. As his vision adjusted, a movement caught his eye. On the sofa across the room sat three figures. Against the forest green fabric, they hadn’t been visible at first in their dark clothing. He stared at them in disbelief for a moment before he made any sense of what was going on.
     What clothing?
     Still oblivious to Mel’s presence, the nude figures posed in a sensual tableau befitting a porn video. On the left was a man covered in dark red body paint, holding a three-pronged pitchfork. He wore a pair of stubby horns on his head -- and that’s all he wore. From his unclothed loins jutted an engorged penis, leaving no doubt as to the gender of this Satan.
     On the right crouched another man. His black-painted skin contrasted with the white-painted bone-shapes of a skeleton. Under the short black cape and hood, he was naked. His cock, fully aroused, cut the air like a sword of flesh.
     "Truth or dare?" Skeleton pinned his eyes on Mimi.
     Between the two men, she sat with her legs curled under her. She, too, wore black body paint. On her head perched two cat-like ears. She’d drawn whiskers on her cheeks and smeared vivid green eye shadow under her arched brows. She toyed with a long plush tail curling around from behind her, apparently dangling from a belt cinched around her waist. Nothing about her scanty costume disguised her exposed breasts or the patch of curly hair in the V of her legs.
     Mimi purred and brushed the tip of her tail across her nipples as she considered her choice. "Dare!"
     "On your knees, then, wench! I dare you!" Skeleton commanded.
     Languorously, she shifted to her hands and knees on the cushions. Arching her back like a playful kitten, she gazed over her shoulder at Skeleton.
     Mel felt as though the oxygen had been sucked from the room. He couldn’t move.
     Skeleton knelt behind the seductive Cat, holding his huge cock in one hand. With the other, he squeezed lubricant from a tube and spread it along the full length of his erection. The dim light glistened on his swollen organ as he probed between Mimi’s legs. She grinned wickedly and wriggled her ass against him.
     Satan rose to his knees in front of Mimi. He grabbed her by the hair just behind the fake ears and yanked her head around to face him. "Eat me! Dare ya!"
     Obediently, she parted her lips for him. Her tongue flicked the head of his cock like a feline lapping milk.
     From behind, Skeleton leaned into her, and she yelped. He gripped her hips and pulled her toward himself. Yanked off balance, she fell back into his lap, howling like an alley cat as he impaled her.
     Satan crowded into her face and plugged her open mouth with several inches of hot meat, cutting her yowl short.
     Mel, standing unnoticed in the entry, broke out of his paralysis. With shaking hands, he switched on the overhead light switch. "Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Leave her alone!" His heart pounded like a sledge hammer as he charged forward.
     In the sudden glare of white light, three heads whirled in his direction. The hard rock music on Mimi’s CD player reached the end of its course. Silence fell.
     Satan and Skeleton quickly disengaged themselves from the wide-eyed Mimi and rose to their feet. They towered well over six feet, maybe as much as seven. Mel skidded to a stop in the middle of the room, eyeing the two hulking men.
     His vocal chords, still set on high volume to compensate for the loud music, pierced the quiet room. "If you hurt her, you’ll be sorry!" He cleared his throat and, in a more moderate tone, said, "Nobody has to get hurt if you take your dicks and clear out right now."
     "Melvin!" Mimi's eyes widened in surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?"
     Standing upright, the two Messengers from Hell looked extremely tall. They also looked exceptionally muscular, like wrestlers or football players. Matter of fact, together they probably outweighed Mel four to one.
     "You were screaming," Mel straightened to his full height, the better to let her attackers know he meant business. "The police are on their way."
     "Damn it, Mel! You’re ruining my party!" Her voice took on the whiny tone of a petulant child.
     Satan and Skeleton slowly looked Mel up and down, taking his measure. Their facial makeup added an evil twist to their grins.
     "Did you really call the police?" Satan brandished his pitch fork.
     By some unspoken agreement, the Monsters of Darkness moved forward as though to circle Mel.
     He sidled around to avoid being trapped between them. "I hear sirens now!"
     "Yeah, right. How long have you been standing there watching us? You a Peeping Tom or what?"
     Skeleton pointed at Mel’s crotch. "Look at that! He’s got wood!"
     "Un-fucking-believable!" Satan cackled with laughter, causing his penis to bounce. "I thought he was jealous, but it looks more like envy!"
     "I know how to wipe the cocky look off his face." Skeleton edged forward.
     Satan nodded agreement. "Maybe he wants to take part in our game." He balanced on the balls of his feet as though preparing to sprint. "But only if he plays the part of a girl. We got enough guys already. Hey, little Melvin, you want a poke in the ass?"
     Mel’s sphincter tightened. "You lay a finger on me, I’ll have you up in front of a judge so fast you won’t have time to get dressed!"
     The men exchanged amused looks.
     Satan clenched a big fist. "We weren’t planning on laying a finger on you."
     "You s’pose he could identify us in a lineup?"
     "I don’t know." Satan frowned and moved closer. "He might."
     Mel recalled hearing that attack dogs tended to leap when their intended victim retreated or made a fast move, so he planted his feet and took a stand. He didn’t dare turn his back on them. "You guys have no quarrel with me. If Mimi wants me to, I’ll leave."
     "What’s your rush, boy? The party is just getting started."
     Suddenly, Skeleton tackled him, and Satan followed suit.
     Mel dropped the bag of jelly beans as he slammed against the floor.
     Definitely football players.
     Mel strove to pull air into his deflated lungs. They rolled him face up, their meaty hands pinning his wrists and ankles to the floor.
     Mimi ambled over to peer down at him indifferently. "Don’t hurt him."
     Satan straddled Mel below the knees, grinning maliciously. "Ain’t he cute? Must think he’s something special, strutting around like he’s got a stick up his butt."
     "What’s he supposed to be? A nerd or a geek?"
     Skeleton shrugged. "Not much of a costume, but I’ll bet we can improve on it."
     Mel struggled valiantly, but made no headway in freeing himself. "If you don’t want me to kick your asses, you’d better get the hell off me!"
     Skeleton peeled the corduroy jacket off Mel’s shoulders and pulled his hands free of the sleeves, one at a time. "Now the tie. And the shirt. Whoopsie-daisy! There we go. Don’t tell me that isn’t better."
     Cool air brushed Mel’s bare torso. "You guys are seriously pissing me off!"
     Mimi scooped the bag of jelly beans off the floor and flounced back to the sofa. She plopped down with a grumpy expression on her face. "Oh, just kick him out. He never called the police."
     "I didn’t really figure he did. But he could." Skeleton hoisted Mel into a sitting position, then used the tie with the bat decorations to bind his wrists behind his back. "He isn’t quite so formal now, but he still looks geeky."
     "I’m wearing denim jeans, for Christ’s sake!" Mel argued. "And hiking boots. You can’t get more casual than that."
     "Stark naked would be a more casual," Satan scooted forward to straddle Mel’s thighs. "Hang onto him. I’ll get his pants."
     Skeleton stretched Mel back on the floor face up, then used one hand to put weight on his forehead. What with his arms bound beneath him and Satan weighing down his legs, Mel was immobilized. Satan unhitched Mel’s belt buckle.
     "Okay, that’s it!" Mel had never felt so helpless. "I didn’t want any trouble, but you’re digging your graves now."
     "You hear that? First he says he called the police, and now he doesn’t want any trouble."
     "Oh, you got trouble, buddy-boy." Skeleton firmly tweaked Mel’s right nipple. "Right here in River City."
     Satan lowered Mel’s zipper revealing his blue boxer shorts. Mel flinched when the man’s red painted knuckles grazed the lump that was his penis.
     Skeleton had been right when he’d pointed out Mel’s hard on. But how could that happen? Mel hated how utterly stupid his cock was -- no discrimination whatsoever. At the most awkward moments, something weird would catch its interest and its head would pop up like a curious eel. He’d been embarrassed before by its antics, but nothing like tonight!
     Mimi grabbed a handful of jelly beans out of the bag and started munching. "Why can’t I have a simple little party without somebody crashing in and spoiling everything?"
     Satan dragged Mel’s jeans down to his ankles, then decided against removing the lace-up boots which impeded further progress. He stood and planted a foot on the denim bunched between the boot tops, thus holding Mel’s ankles in place. He eyed Mel’s blue boxer shorts, perhaps admiring the row of small white pelicans bordering them.
     Skeleton giggled as he sandwiched Mel’s head between his knees and allowed his cock to flop across Mel’s forehead. "Want to compare dicks?"
     Mel shuddered. "Get away from me, faggot! Give it to Mimi. She obviously enjoys a game of hide-the-salami. You can have her. I don’t care anymore."
     "Where’s your pitchfork?" Skeleton glanced around the room. "He needs ventilating!"
     "Mimi! Are you just going to sit there and let them kill me? Think about how much we mean to each other!"
     She sniffed in disdain. "We broke up two weeks ago."
     "No, we didn’t, Mimi!" Mel twisted his head to look at her. "We had a little quarrel, that’s all. It was nothing! I came over tonight to make up!"
     She sustained her petulant expression. "You were rude to me."
     "I didn’t mean to be. It’s just that I lost my job, and I haven’t been myself lately."
     She reached in the bag for more jelly beans. "You’ve been moody and tiresome! You’re no fun anymore. Ever since your mother died -- "
     "What?" Satan frowned at Mel. "You lost your job and your mother?"
     "Recently?" Skeleton exchanged glances with his friend.
     Mel scowled from one ugly face to the other. "She died the first of the month. I had to make arrangements for the funeral, so I missed a few days of work and forgot to check in, so they gave my job to someone else."
     Satan cast a dirty look in the direction of the sofa. "Then you broke up with him? You’re a cold-hearted bitch, Mimi."
     She refrained from answering -- maybe because her cheeks were bulging with candy.
     Skeleton rose to his feet. "Yeah, Mimi. If you treat him that way, you’ll probably treat me and everyone else the same way! I’ve half a mind not to fuck you anymore!"
     She swallowed what was in her mouth. "You’re not much fun yourself now! If I thought you two were gonna act like idiots tonight, I never would have invited you over."
     "Well, if you’re gonna get all pissy, I guess we can find a better party elsewhere." Satan jerked his head at Skeleton. "Let’s blow."
     "I’m right behind you." Skeleton located a pair of cut-offs on the floor under the coffee table and pulled them on. They didn’t really match the short cape, but he didn’t seem to mind.
     Satan donned a long flasher-style raincoat and headed out the door, followed by his buddy.
     "Wait!" Mimi jumped to her feet. "Don’t leave without me!" She jumped into a furry black leotard and chased after the men, belting the tail back into place as she went.
     Craning his head, Mel watched their progress toward the parking lot. The men paused to glance back at Mimi, who joined them on the run.
     "What the hell," Skeleton shrugged. "She gives good head."
     A blast of icy air swept through the open doorway, raising goose bumps on Mel’s bare skin. "Hey! What about me? Are you going to just leave me like this?"

End of Excerpt

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