"No funny business. Let’s go get out of this nasty alley and go get something to eat. There’s a pizzeria around the corner, couple of places right down the road. I don’t mind whatever you want—as much as you will. And what you want in return now, big guy? Around the world, up and down, a pogo or what?" Ed smiled as he spoke.
"I just want to buy you a good meal and maybe we can talk. You’re too young to be out here doing this—it’s not safe."
Carter did not know exactly what to think about this guy. He obviously had money—he was dressed to the tens, he was clean, well-presented and educated. What was he doing in this dive area?
Ed took a seat at a sidewalk café and told Carter to have a seat too. A server came up and glared at Carter, then looked toward Ed.
"Sir, how may I be of assistance to you and your guest?" The words came with a sneer.
"Give us a menu and we’ll look it over. When we’re ready we’ll order. Until then, bring me a glass of soda and whatever young Carter here would like."
"I would love a soda." Carter smiled and used his best voice. Even though he had just been looked down upon, he was going to show better respect to the server than the server had shown him.
"Well, you know how to take care of your own, don’t you, young man? So tell me about yourself and how you became here." Ed laughed as the server left.
Carter shrugged his shoulders.
"Ran away from one of those corporate type ranches. All they were worried about was getting you to a certain age and having you bred. They wanted a child every year, maybe three or four, and all of the nectar they can pump out of you. It was sickening. I couldn’t stay there no more, so I ran away about a year ago. It’s horrible there—disgusting even. Giving blowjobs here is a lot better than having your vent blown out by four or even five kids."
"I agree. Nobody should have to do anything that they don’t want to do. If you want kids, fine—have kids when you want. If you don’t want kids, then don’t have them. It should be your decision, not any corporation’s decision, and definitely not some ranch’s." Ed shook his head. "There are a few independent guys doing ranches for Genman and they treat them fine—treat them just like they’re members of their family. They don’t force them. They let them decide. Yes, they do have them help out on the ranch with building and maintenance, and they go halfs on the nectar, but it’s never forced."
"I’d like to see a place like that. I don’t believe they exist—not in this world." Carter huffed.
"I have some property out of town and there’s a nice-size ranch next door. The man that owns the place, Zach, has been doing it for 10 years already. He seems honest and the Genman that live there obviously like it there—they stay. The place is nice, but hey, it’s still a ranch."
"Won’t catch me on a ranch. Not at all, not about to. I’ll stay in the back alleys giving blowjobs for everyone, long as I get enough money to pay for a roof over my head and put some food in my belly. Who cares what I’ve got to do? So I get my knees dirty, maybe even splatter some on my face if that’s what he’s into."
"Carter, if you had a chance to live in a proper home—one that you didn’t have to worry about not being around tomorrow, one where you get a proper education so that you could excel in life—would you try that?"
"Yeah, what I gotta do? Give up my vent? Because I’ve seen that happen already. JoJo got talked into giving his vent away for two spots. He didn’t use nothing—he mounted my friend, held him there until he got his business done, loaded him up and walked away. Nine months later JoJo didn’t make it through the delivery. He died in that alley right where we were at, so did the baby."
"No, you don’t have to do anything. There are no conditions other than learn, grow, mature, wait until you go through your transition, and then what you want to be is up to yourself."
The server brought the meal and put it on the table and walked away. He wasn’t really nice and he wasn’t going to get a tip today—Ed knew that for damn sure.
The two young men spoke and talked as they dined. Carter ate his burger and fries along with most of Ed’s meal also.
"Okay, time’s up, young man. What’s your decision? Do you sleep on the streets or do you sleep in a nice warm bed after you’ve had a good hot shower, scrubbed down from head to toe? We can watch a little viewer vision and relax, but there will not be any sex. You’re too young—I don’t care what the law says, your body is too young. You want to stay with me? It’s just me and my house servant who’s been with the family for years, Charlton."
Ed’s voice grew gentle.
"I’ll help scrub your back, I’ll help scrub your hair and make sure you’re comfortable. Yes, you’ll sleep in my bed with me at night, but you’re off-limits and I’m off-limits to you. You’ve got a while left before you turn into transition, and then when you’re fully grown, if you want a relationship we can. But if you decide you don’t want to, I will respect your decision and you can either continue to live with me or you can go find someone else who will respect you."
"Are you for real? You want to take me to your home, you want to bathe me, clean me and sleep with me in the bed but no sex? What are you, some kind of charity guy? Or do I have to worry that you’re going to strangle me in the middle of the night and eat my body?" Carter looked at Ed with suspicion.
"Eat you? There’s not enough meat on your bones—I would starve to death. There’s nothing there, you’re too skinny. I’d have to fatten you up first before I can eat you." Ed started laughing, in fact he was almost falling out of his chair at Carter’s description.
Carter started laughing at himself. He was skinny, he did smell, he needed a bath, and here was this gorgeous guy offering it all to him for absolutely nothing in return.