After three of the longest rings of Zack’s life, deep laughter danced down the line.

“Well, well,” said a familiar voice, “is this Wesley?”

“It is,” Zack replied. “I’m here to make all your dreams come true.”

“I’m sure you are, Darkling. You’re early. Were you that eager to talk to me?”

“I couldn’t wait any longer,” Zack answered in his usual sexy purr. He could make the dictionary sound appealing when he used this tone.

John’s reaction was immediate. “Good,” he breathed. “I have something special planned for tonight.”

“Oh?” Zack’s arousal level went from zero to sixty. God, John gave him a rush he hadn’t felt since he first started the job. Maybe not even then. “Tell me.”

John tutted. “You really are eager, Wesley. Not going to ask me how my day was first? I’m beginning to think you’re just using me for sex.”

Zack laughed. “All right, fine. How was your day, John?”

“Tedious. Enormously tedious.”

“Long day at the office?”

There was a pause. “Actually, no, I’m a law student.”

Zack forced himself not to react. “I thought you said you work for your father.”

“We were role-playing,” John said carefully. “You know, for our scene. The businessman and the rentboy. I was just playing my part.”

Zack had to admit, he was kind of impressed. John was clearly willing to go the extra mile for authenticity.

“That makes sense. So, law school, huh? You must have brains to go with that sexy voice of yours.” If John was still in school, that would make him around the same age as Zack. Younger clients weren’t unheard of, but college students generally didn’t have money to spend on things like sex hotlines. Zack’s clients tended to be middle-aged. John, however, could be as young as twenty-two. The knowledge made Zack squirm, not in a bad way.

“My school seems to think so,” John said.

Zack started to ask which one he went to but decided against it. Too personal. “I’m intrigued.”

“Don’t be. The life of a law student is dull. I only got through today because I had this call to look forward to.”

“I know that feeling. My shift started two hours ago, and I’ve been waiting to call you this whole time.”

“The anticipation is the worst, best part. Before we get into it, I want to hear about your day. What did you get up to before work?”

“Went for a run, played with my dog, worked on my car. The usual.”

“Ah. How is Spot?”

“He’s fine. Very well fed at the moment. I bought him some treats earlier.”

“Any particular reason?”

Zack considered telling John about the blond he’d almost gotten off with. A little jealousy sometimes did his clients some good. Zack’s gut was against the idea, however. It was better not to take risks this early on, and he didn’t know for sure how John would react. He couldn’t afford to lose a client this good.

He concocted a quick lie that was mostly true. “Just because. I spoil him rotten. He’s my baby boy.”