BOOKVERSARY ~ King Kong vs. The Skinny Pirate

Posted on February 18, 2023February 18, 2023 by Addison Albright 6 Comments

Today is the sixth bookversary of the publication of my FREE short story, King Kong vs. The Skinny Pirate at JMS Books! Earlier carnations of the story have actually been around a bit longer than that, with the very first edition published April 13, 2009 in the Like Magnets We Attract anthology (the title of which is a clue to the pervading trope of the story).

Blurb

Blaine is a well-dressed, high priced attorney, and George is a hairy mountain of an auto mechanic. This odd couple meets up one evening on a slow night at a bar. The pickings are slim. Slim enough for these opposites to eyeball each other and ask themselves just how bad they want to get laid.

Pleasantly surprised by the evening’s outcome, Blaine is faced with a dilemma. Should he throw caution to the wind and pursue George, or steer clear of that unexpected distraction to his carefully structured life?

Excerpt

Blaine sat on an empty barstool between a likely prospect and King-fucking-Kong. He lifted his chin, summoning the bartender as he ran freshly manicured hands over the textured cashmere of his Kiton pinstripe suit, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles.

“A Skinny Pirate, please.”

The bartender quirked an eyebrow but otherwise kept his face expressionless. “Coming right up.”

Blaine’s peripheral vision picked up movement to his left. King Kong was looking him over. He turned his head to the right, ignoring the hairy behemoth, to check out his hopeful hookup for the evening.

Maybe a couple inches taller than himself, the man was casually dressed in freshly pressed khakis and a clean navy polo shirt. His dark wavy hair was neatly trimmed, and his hands, while not professionally manicured, were well maintained.

The man concentrated on a Screwdriver, studiously ignoring him, though.

The bartender placed the drink in front of Blaine, and he slapped some bills on the bar.

“Why’s that called a ‘Skinny Pirate’? Looks like rum and Coke to me.”

Blaine sighed and turned to the muscle-bound hulk. “Because it’s made with Captain Morgan rum and Diet Coke.”

He picked up his drink and spun on the stool to cast his gaze over the room. No prospects. No singles, anyway. The patrons all appeared to be in couples.

King Kong turned on his seat and brought a domestic longneck to his lips. The man was big and hairy—except for his bald head—but basically clean, albeit slightly rumpled, in jeans and a snug T-shirt. Minute traces of grease stained his cuticles, and his beard could use a trim. A gold hoop glinted on his right ear lobe.

“Not much hope out there. I’ve already scoped the place.”

Blaine glanced at the guy on his other side. Maybe there was still a chance.

“Preppy there’s got someone who’s going to be joining him.” King Kong shrugged. “I already tried.”

Blaine heaved another sigh and took a more thoughtful look at King Kong. How bad did he really want to get laid tonight?

King Kong grinned. “Feelin’ desperate, are ya?”

Maybe not that bad. Fucker.

King Kong actually waggled his eyebrows. “I showered and everything.”

Blaine crossed his arms, and his jaw tightened. The man was laughing at him. Sure, he was picky, but he had a right to be, goddammit. He sucked in a deep breath and slowly blew it out, then took a sip of his Skinny Pirate. “What’s your name? Or should I just call you ‘King Kong’?”

The man’s laughter reached his eyes. “That depends. You wanna be my Ann Darrow?”