Under the Covers

by K. C. Wells

  Chris put his arms around Jase and held him as he kissed him leisurely on the lips. “Getting reacquainted sounds like a great idea.”

  Jase looped his arms around Chris’s neck. “I’m so happy you’re here,” he said softly.

  “Me too.” Chris kissed the tip of his nose. “Now feed me. I’ve just flown thousands of miles to see you.”

  “Wow. Your arms must be tired,” Jase quipped, grabbing his hand and pulling him through the apartment to the front door. “We’d better get some food inside you. Because you’re gonna need all your energy tonight.”

  As they exited the apartment, Chris gave himself a mental shake. His fears had proved groundless. Less than five minutes of being with Jase, and it didn’t feel like they’d spent all those weeks apart. They’d slipped back into boyfriend mode just like that.

  Thank God. Maybe they were going to survive this separation after all.

  JASE was in a hazy, blissful, postorgasmic state, and he didn’t want it to end. He lay with his head on Chris’s chest, idly stroking his belly, drawing circles with his fingertips. The slight contraction of Chris’s abdominal muscles gave Jase the idea that he was ticklish, but Chris didn’t stop him.

  Maybe he’s in the same couldn’t-give-a-fuck state.

  “Do you have to go home on Sunday?”

  Chris’s chuckle reverberated against Jase’s ear. “Don’t you have work on Monday?”

  “Ye-es, but—”

  “But nothing. You have work, so how could I stay?”

  “My scene isn’t until the afternoon. You could change your flight and go home Monday afternoon, couldn’t you?”

  Another chuckle erupted. “And what would we be doing with all this extra time?”

  Jase sighed happily. “Dancing.”

  Chris tightened his arms around him and kissed the top of his head. “We’ve just been dancing for two hours. Keep up that pace all weekend, and I won’t make it till Monday.”

  “It won’t be all sex,” Jase protested. “Tomorrow I’m going to take you sightseeing. You want to see the Chinese Theatre, don’t you? And the Walk of Fame?” When Chris didn’t respond, Jase craned his neck to look at him. “Don’t you?”

  Chris let out a heavy sigh. “If I’m honest? Not really. I didn’t come here to be a tourist. I came to spend time with you. And I had some rather different activities in mind.” Jase smirked, and Chris whacked him on the arm. “Not those sort of activities. I want to take a picnic and go sit in the rose garden near the LA museum of natural history.”

  Jase blinked. “Really?”

  Chris nodded. “I saw it online. It looks beautiful. And there’s a pavilion at the center where we can sit in the shade while we eat.” He cupped Jase’s chin. “But if you really want me to stay until Monday, I’ll change my flight. I’d just have to make some calls first to cancel a shoot.”

  Warmth flooded through him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do that.”

  Chris chuckled. “And what if I told you it was Gabe’s shoot?”

  Jase snorted. “Oh, in that case? Change your flight.” Then he shrieked as Chris dove beneath the sheets and began tickling him. “Stop! Stop that!” He was helpless with laughter as Chris went for the soles of his feet. “How did you know—”

  The torture came to an abrupt halt, and Chris’s head emerged from beneath the sheet, poised above Jase’s dick, which was already filling again. “Okay. Is it time for sleep, or…?”

  Jase grinned. “Or.” He slipped his arms under Chris’s pits and hauled him up until Chris lay on top of him. Jase wrapped his legs around Chris’s waist and held him tight. “You’re all mine, Chris Tyler.” He locked his arms around Chris’s neck.

  “All yours,” Chris echoed, before taking Jase’s mouth in a heated kiss.

  When they paused, Jase murmured against Chris’s lips, “Make love to me.”

  Chris smiled. “With pleasure.”

  Monday

  “NOT regretting changing your flight?”

  Chris snorted. “Did it feel like I was regretting this morning?” They’d awoken early, the sunlight gradually filling the room as they made love, slow and deep. And absolutely perfect.

  Jase laughed. “Okay. Stupid question. So is it full speed ahead for the exhibition next year, now Shane has said yes?”

  Chris nodded before pouring himself another cup of coffee. “I haven’t started work on the photos yet. I’m still contacting models to see who’d be interested.” He had to admit, the diner provided a great breakfast, one that would set him up for his long trip home.

  “Well, you already have the pictures of me. Did they turn out all right?”

  Chris had been blown away by how they’d turned out. He’d expected to find two or three that would be good enough to exhibit—there were at least seven that took his breath away. “You look amazing in them,” he said honestly.

  Jase’s face flushed. “Thank you. I can’t wait to see them in a gallery or wherever you exhibit them. And are you still planning to put them in a book?”

  Chris regarded him closely. “We can talk about this anytime. Why are we talking about it now?” Not that he minded, but time was ticking away.

  “Because if I’m thinking about photos and exhibitions and models, I’m not thinking about the fact that any second now, you’re going to leave.” Jase swallowed.

  Chris reached across the table and took Jase’s hand in his. “And in a very short space of time, one of two things will happen. Either your shoot will finish and you’ll come home, or I’ll be on another flight out here to visit you.” Chris leaned in closer. “I promise, okay?”

  Jase nodded. “And in the meantime, I’ll have some beautiful photos to remind me of you.” When Chris gave him a puzzled glance, Jase grinned. “Don’t tell me you really think we left those polaroids in the hotel.”

  Chris had to laugh. “I hate to think what you do with them.”

  Jase waggled his eyebrows. “Let’s just say they get a lot of use.” He glanced at his phone on the table. “We’d better get back to the apartment and grab your bag. The Uber will be there soon.”

  Chris counted out a few bills and left them on the table. “Come on.”

  They walked slowly down Hawthorne Boulevard, their hands linked. “I’m glad it’s working out for you,” Chris said at last. “And who knows where it might lead once the movie comes out?”

  Jase sighed. “I am loving this, don’t get me wrong, but one day I want to be on the stage. If I can use this as a means to an end, then that’s great. But I can’t see myself doing this forever.”

  “You can achieve whatever you set your sights on,” Chris assured him. “And I’ll be right there at your side.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to be in a tux for your first premiere.”

  Jase laughed. “I don’t think this movie will get the red-carpet treatment, so hold off on the tux for a while. But yeah, one day, it’ll be you and me strolling hand in hand, the cameras flashing, the mics being thrust in our faces….”

  Chris stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and kissed him. “That’s what I love about you. You dream big.”

  “And while we’re apart, I’ll dream of you.” Jase’s eyes sparkled. “I love you.”

  “Love you too.” One more kiss, and it was time to get moving.

  He had a plane to catch and a guy to leave behind.

  For now.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  July 21, 2018

  FROM: JaseMitchell@gmail.com

  To: Chris@CTPhotography.com

  Hey. I am so, so sorry about this weekend. Like I said on the phone, they changed the shooting schedule on us last minute. Apparently a whole heap of scenes had to be retaken—the leading man dropped out and they had to replace him. And that meant reshooting every scene he was in. Talk about a continuity nightmare!

  Hopefully I’ll be able to get a refund on my ticket. We’ll do this another weekend, okay?

  On a brighter note—I got another audition! I
t’s a great part, and if I get it, it’ll mean starting filming in September.

  Talk soon?

  Love ya.

  Jase

  July 22, 2018

  FROM: Chris@CTPhotography.com

  To: JaseMitchell@gmail.com

  Don’t sweat it. There’ll be other weekends, right? Sorry this one turned out to be so much hard work for you.

  BTW is it terrible of me to say I hope you don’t get the part? LOL

  Just want you home.

  Love you.

  Chris

  August 4, 2018

  VOICEMAIL

  Chris, you won’t believe it! I got the part. Sorry I couldn’t get hold of you. Call me when you get this, okay? And pencil me in for next weekend. Yep, you heard that right—I’m coming to see you. We got a break in the schedule and I am on the first plane outta here. I can’t wait. Love you, babe.

  August 4, 2018

  VOICEMAIL

  (chuckles) This is getting ridiculous. Talk about ships that pass in the night. Sorry I wasn’t able to pick up when you called. Had my stupid phone on silent.

  And I’m sorry, but next weekend isn’t possible. I’m away doing a photo shoot up in Maine. I’ll be gone from early Friday morning, and I’ll be back late Sunday.

  Again, I’m so sorry. You wait and see. One of these days our schedules will match up!

  Love you too.

  August 17, 2018

  CHRIS was putting away his camera when the knock at the door came. “It’s open!” he hollered. It had to be the last-minute delivery he’d been expecting. He glanced at the clock. It’s later than I thought.

  “How do you know you’re not inviting a burglar into your studio?”

  Chris whirled around at the sound of that precious voice. Jase stood by the desk, leaning lazily against the wall, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, a backpack on the floor beside him.

  “Oh my God.” He crossed the room in a heartbeat, grabbed Jase, and claimed his sweet mouth in a fervent kiss. “Why didn’t you… tell me… you were coming?” he managed to blurt out between kisses.

  “Give me a chance to breathe… and I’ll tell you,” Jase said, half laughing. He cupped Chris’s face with both hands, staring into his eyes. “And I wanted to surprise you.”

  “Mission accomplished.” Chris couldn’t stop touching him, as if Jase would vanish the moment he let go of him. “How did you know I’d be here? I was away last weekend, after all. It’s a hell of a distance to come to be disappointed.” But God, he was glad to see Jase. June seemed a long, long time ago.

  At last they stopped kissing and caressing. “How long are you here for?”

  Jase sighed. “That’s the not-so-good part. I’m on the set Monday morning. But when they changed my schedule so I wasn’t filming this afternoon, I grabbed the first flight out of LAX. I had to see you.”

  For a moment, Chris’s heart stuttered. “Everything’s all right, isn’t it?”

  Jase stilled, moving closer to wrap his arms around Chris’s waist. “Everything’s fine. Honest. So what if I only get a full day with you? So what if I’m jet-lagged on set and I can’t remember my goddamn lines? It’ll be worth it to have had this time with you.”

  “Then let’s get you back to my place, so we can make the most of what time we have.” He paused. “You are staying with me, right?”

  Jase snickered. “Well, it’s not like I can stay at mine, seeing as I sublet it. So it’s your bed or I sleep at the airport.”

  “I think I can find room for you in my bed.” Chris’s heart was soaring. He’s here. He’s really here.

  As he led Jase out of the studio, he caught Jase’s whisper. “We’re gonna be dancing, aren’t we?”

  September 27, 2018

  CHRIS: Hey. Is your phone broken? LOL I haven’t heard from you in a while. How’s it going on the new movie?

  Jase: It’s INSANE. 20-hr days. Script rewrites. Director and producer who don’t seem to agree on ANYTHING. Talk soon, okay?

  Chris: Sure. You know where I am.

  October 12, 2018

  FROM: Chris@CTPhotography.com

  To: JaseMitchell@gmail.com

  So, are the rumors true? This movie is becoming one huge clusterfuck? And what’s this I hear about the director leaving?

  I’m sorry it’s been a while since we talked. We seem to keep missing each other. Still thinking about you.

  October 12, 2018

  FROM: JaseMitchell@gmail.com

  To: Chris@CTPhotography.com

  02:00 a.m.)

  Sorry. Can’t talk about this now. Still on set. Later?

  J

  November 21, 2018

  WHEN the phone rang, Chris had a feeling deep in his gut that he knew what the outcome was going to be. Jase was flying into JFK for Thanksgiving, and they were going to spend the holiday together. When Jase had called at the start of the month to say he was coming, Chris had breathed a sigh of relief. FaceTime calls had become few and far between, and their relationship seemed to be held together by text messages. Three months since he’d held Jase in his arms, and it was beginning to feel like he never would again. All that had kept him going was the thought of Jase home for Thanksgiving.

  What caused the sense of foreboding that filled him was the flavor of the previous week’s texts. Not that Jase had come flat out and said anything was wrong, but Chris was becoming adept at reading the signs.

  He picked up the phone. Sure enough, it was Jase.

  “Hey.” The temptation to ask if Jase’s flight was on time was enormous, but Chris said nothing. He had a feeling he was about to find out.

  “Hey.” The tone of that one word sent Chris’s heart plummeting. Jase sounded so lifeless. “Listen, I hate to do this, but… I’m not coming. I’ve canceled the flight.”

  Chris’s throat tightened and his chest constricted.

  “Chris? You still there?”

  He cleared his throat. “Still here. I take it things aren’t going so well over there.”

  Jase snorted. “That would be the understatement of the year. You remember I texted you about that fiasco with the scriptwriter? Well, the shit has well and truly hit the fan this week, and it’s chaos here. Everyone is pissed. We all wanna go home and see our families, but we’re so close to finishing this.” He huffed. “I think we all just want to get this one in the can and for it to be over.” Jase chuckled. “Listen to me. This is only my second movie, and I already sound like I’m done with it.”

  For one moment Chris was tired of being calm and rational and the goddamn voice of reason. “It’s a holiday, for God’s sake. They can’t own you 24/7.”

  Crickets.

  He sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I was really looking forward to seeing you, that’s all. I know you can’t jeopardize your career, but….” He fell silent. Giving voice to his frustrations wasn’t helping the situation. Jase was having a shit time too.

  Finally Jase spoke. “I wanted to see you too,” he said, so quietly that Chris barely caught it. “But it’s Christmas soon. They’re not gonna shoot over the holidays, right? And there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you.”

  Chris chuckled. “I think I can make it till then.” Hearing the longing in Jase’s voice reminded him he wasn’t the only one suffering. “I’ll think of you tomorrow, when I’m eating my turkey and all the trimmings.” Except he’d bought all that food to feed two people, not one. His parents had understood that he wanted to spend Thanksgiving with Jase but said they couldn’t wait to meet him at some point.

  It’s not as if I can change my plans now and go see them. Thanksgiving was less than twenty-four hours away.

  “Rub it in, why don’t ya?” Jase sighed. “Right now Christmas seems a helluva long way away.”

  “You’ll see, it’ll fly by,” Chris told him, more confidently than he felt. By the time they’d said their goodbyes and disconnected the call, he’d gotten over the disappointment, although he knew from experience that t
hose feelings would return.

  I’m sort of getting used to this.

  Except he didn’t want to get used to it.

  December 10, 2018

  JASE stared at the phone. I don’t wanna do this. Not again. He’d gone over the dates three or four times, checking out flights, and whichever way he looked at it, he could not get it to work.

  Which left only one course of action.

  With a heavy heart, he clicked on Chris’s number. It rang five times before Chris answered, sounding a little out of breath. “Sorry. I was skyping with a client and I had to finish the call.” A pause, and then his voice grew warmer. “Hey.”

  “Hi there.” Jase swallowed past the lump in his throat. “You okay?”

  Chris fell silent for a moment. “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

  Damn it. Jase sucked in a deep breath. “I’ve been looking at the schedule you sent me.”

  “Let me guess.” Chris’s voice became a monotone. “Our schedules totally conflict, and we can’t get together for the holidays.”

  “Not exactly.” Christ, this was hard. “They’re not totally conflicting, but… the time we’d have together would be so brief, it would hardly be worth it.”

  The silence that fell had Jase’s stomach churning. “We haven’t seen each other since August, Jase. And yet here’s you saying the time we’d get together wouldn’t be worth it? Great. That tells me a lot.” A pause. “And what if I decide to come anyway?”

  Aw crap. “It doesn’t matter which of us does the traveling, the end result is the same. We’d get maybe a day before one of us would have to go back home. Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want hours with you. I want days, but that’s me, I guess. I’m just greedy. I hate the idea of flying across the country to snatch hours with you.” When all he got was silence, Jase’s heart hammered. “Chris?”