by K. C. Wells
Then he reconsidered. The sex was fantastic, not that he’d ever have said so.
“Dad wants to know what’s keeping the coffee,” Ben said from the doorway, grinning.
Caroline put her hands on her hips. “You can tell your father if he’s in that much of a hurry for his coffee, he has my permission to come make it himself.”
She met Tommy’s gaze and shook her head. He bit back a smile. Ben disappeared. Caroline turned to Tommy.
“I meant it, Tommy. Any time you want to talk, you know where I am.” And with that, she carried the tray containing the mugs, coffeepot, cream, and sugar out of the kitchen.
Tommy reached into the cabinet and brought out the bag of popcorn, his smile emerging. Caroline was something special, even if she did make him blush fire engine red.
MIKE STOOD in the doorway of his bathroom, watching Tommy under the shower. Except Tommy wasn’t washing himself. He was standing there, head bowed, one hand on the tiles, the water hitting his head and shoulders. Mike had known minutes after Tommy had walked into Woofs that something was going on with him. They’d gone for breakfast, and Tommy had still been far too quiet for Mike’s liking. Mike had waited to see if Tommy would share whatever was bugging him, but it had soon become clear that he wasn’t ready to talk about it.
Well, no time like the present.
Mike walked slowly over to the shower and slid back the door. Tommy straightened and turned to face him. “Hey.”
Mike stepped into the steamy enclosed space. “I figured you might like someone to wash your back.” He poured himself a handful of body wash and commenced soaping up Tommy’s broad shoulders. Tommy relaxed into his touch and dipped his chin, sighing as Mike massaged the firm flesh. He could feel knots of tension in the muscles and started to knead them with his thumbs, keeping the pressure firm.
“Damn, that feels good.”
Tommy braced himself against the tiles, and Mike went to town, working over that wide expanse of flesh. Mike pushed his thumbs into the hollows above Tommy’s ass, and Tommy groaned.
“Oh God, there.”
“You are all kinds of tensed up,” Mike said after a few minutes of rubbing. He eased up on the pressure and concentrated on making Tommy feel good. “You wanna tell me what’s on your mind that’s made you so tense?”
There was that sigh again. “Had… had some things on my mind, is all.” Tommy turned slowly to face Mike, but when those green eyes didn’t meet Mike’s, he knew there was more to come. “I’m sorry.” The words came out as a whisper.
Mike lifted Tommy’s chin, his hand curved around that pink cheek. “What are you sorry for?”
That flush deepened. “I didn’t want to….” He fell silent, his gaze lowering once more.
Ahhh. Mike brought their lips together in a soft kiss, keeping it chaste. When they parted, he smiled. “Tommy, I don’t mind, really. No one said we have to have sex every time you come over.”
“You don’t mind?” Tommy looked him in the eye. “I know there’ve been a few times when all I wanted to do was just fall asleep with you, but I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Yeah, about that.” Just then the water ran cooler, and Mike shivered. “Let’s get out of here and into bed. We’ll be warmer in there, and we can talk, okay?”
Tommy nodded, and they quickly rinsed off.
When they were dry and once again under the sheets, Mike lay on his side, facing his young lover. “Okay, this is important.” Tommy nodded, his gaze focused on Mike’s face. “Tonight I sort of got the message that you didn’t wanna fuck. Now, I’m no mind reader. It would’ve been a damn sight easier if you’d actually come right out and said, ‘Mike, can we not have sex tonight?’” When Tommy opened his eyes wide, Mike smiled. “I know why you didn’t, though. You do not like talking about such things, do you?”
Tommy bit his lip. “It’s the way I was brought up, y’know? Sex is… dirty.”
Mike stopped dead at that. “That what your parents brought you up to believe?”
He nodded. “An’ that it was sorta… private. You just don’t talk about it.”
Mike regarded him in silence for a moment. “Baby, sex isn’t dirty.” He hesitated. “Well, it can be, but not in the way you’re thinking. Sex is beautiful. It can be many things: loving, hotter ’n’ hell, passionate…. And as for not talking about it, I’m the one you’re having sex with! You’re supposed to tell me stuff!” He cupped Tommy’s cheek. “Look, when you’re in a relationship….”
Lord, but Tommy’s eyes grew large and round at that. “Relationship?” His lips formed the word like he was tasting it, savoring it.
Mike nodded. “Well, what else do you call it when you’ve been coming over to my house for the last six weeks and spending the night in my bed? Going to the aquarium, the botanical gardens, playing Scrabble….”
Tommy’s eyes sparkled at that one.
“My point is, when two adults are in a relationship, they talk about things, and that includes sex.” He trailed his hand down over Tommy’s chest and flicked his nipple with his thumb. Tommy shivered, and Mike grinned. “See, I know you like that. Not ’cause you told me, mind you, but because I watch you and I pay attention.” He did it again. “Now tell me, does that make you feel dirty?”
Tommy’s eyes were wide again. “No,” he whispered. “Feels… feels good.”
Mike leaned forward and kissed Tommy lightly on the mouth. “I’m glad. You should always feel comfortable enough to tell me when you like something that we do, when you don’t like something, to ask me to do something, even beg me if need be….” He chuckled when Tommy coughed suddenly. “So, do you think you can do that?”
Tommy nodded. “Yeah…. Well, I can try.”
He smiled, and seeing the light in his eyes sent warmth spreading through Mike.
“Good, I’m glad we got that straightened out.” Mike grinned and leaned forward. “Does this mean you’re gonna tell me what turns you on?” God, this is fun.
Tommy swallowed hard. “You mean, what I like you doing to me?”
Mike nodded, and Tommy flushed a deep red.
“Okay, maybe this might take a while ’til I feel more comfortable doin’ that.”
Mike couldn’t hold back his laugh, and the bed shook with its force. Tommy’s ears were bright red, but then he started laughing too. When they’d regained their composure, Mike rolled onto his back and held out his arm. Tommy knew what that meant. He edged closer across the mattress until he was lying next to Mike, his head on Mike’s chest.
“Okay, now can you tell me what’s been on your mind?” Mike stroked his hair absentmindedly.
Tommy’s sigh was warm against his chest. “I got a letter from Momma, but I talked about that with Caroline, Ben’s mom. She helped me calm down a little, but then she asked me somethin’ that got me thinkin’.”
“What was that?”
Tommy lay so still for a moment that Mike could almost have believed he’d fallen asleep.
“She asked me what you did, apart from workin’ at Woofs, an’ it made me realize how little I know ’bout you.”
Fuck. Mike knew the fear was irrational, but that didn’t stop his heartbeat from racing. It was only when he realized that Tommy would be able to feel it that he managed to calm himself. He inhaled slowly. “Okay,” he began, “I suppose it’s a fair point.”
Now’s the perfect opportunity to tell him about the porn. He could almost hear Kevin yelling at him, “What are you waiting for? Tell him!” But he couldn’t. Just… couldn’t. He’d been here too many times, had felt the same swell of hope that this time it would work out: this time his revelation wouldn’t get the same reaction. He thought he’d found that hope with Dirk, thought he’d finally found what he’d been searching for—only to have that hope battered to a bloody pulp three years down the line when Dirk confessed how he really felt.
Not this time. Not with Tommy. The thought of seeing all the light die in those gorgeous eyes, watching that dawning
horror….
Mike wasn’t prepared to run the risk. Not yet, anyway. It was still early in their relationship for all that. He’d told Kevin that he would reveal the truth, but now he came to think about it….
“I’m an only child. When I was eight years old, my dad divorced my mom. He lives in Texas, and we’re not close.” He kissed Tommy’s forehead. “Remember what I said about not getting to choose our blood relatives?” Tommy nodded. “Well, my dad still thinks being gay is a choice.”
“Aw, I’m sorry, Mike.” Tommy placed his hand on Mike’s chest, rubbing him there.
That felt really good. “It is what it is. Anyhoo, Mom brought me up on her own. She was a working class girl from Atlanta, and she’s worked hard all her life in department stores downtown. And she has no problem with having a gay son.”
“That’s good.” Tommy stirred, snuggling closer. Mike heard the first note of fatigue creeping into his voice. He stretched out his arm and switched off the lamp, plunging the room into semidarkness.
“I finished high school and went off to college, where I majored in business. I graduated after four years from Georgia Tech. All through college I worked in bars. Back then I was earning $300 a night as a barback. I worked my way up to bartender at the Armory in midtown Atlanta, working nights, including weeknights. It wasn’t long before I realized I was making more money working in gay bars than I would be in a job related to my degree. So I stuck with that.”
“It really pays that much?” Tommy said with a yawn.
Mike chuckled. “I was working full time at Backstreet bar.” He sighed. “Happy days. That was a great club.” That was about as far as he could go with his history.
Tommy rolled away from him and onto his other side, grabbing Mike’s arm and pulling it over his waist. “No wonder you’re so good at your job,” he said drowsily. Not surprising, since it was past three in the morning.
“Go to sleep, Tommy.” Mike curved his body around Tommy’s, relishing the feel of muscle and firm flesh. Tommy was slightly longer in the body than Mike and wider. “We can talk more tomorrow.” Mike had something wrapped up and ready to leave with him, to be opened the following weekend. That was gonna be all kinds of fun. Mike had been planning this for a week.
“’Kay.”
Tommy was already making those cute little noises that told Mike he was half asleep. Mike splayed his hand across Tommy’s chest, feeling the reassuring beat of his heart beneath Mike’s fingertips. He nuzzled Tommy’s hair, breathing him in, letting the scent of freshly washed hair and clean skin fill his senses.
Mike’s last thought before sleep took him was that this felt perfect.
Too perfect to run the risk of losing it. If the day ever came when he thought Tommy could deal, then he’d consider it. Not yet.
Chapter Twenty
MIKE WALKED out onto the concourse of Palm Springs’s tiny airport and spotted Don immediately. He’d been the driver the last time Mike had come out there to shoot for TopMen. Don waved at him and grabbed his bag.
“How was the trip?”
They walked toward the parking lot. Mike really liked the airport. It was small but cool due to the concourse being completely open air. Not having a roof was a nice touch. There were only a couple of little restaurants and shops, and they were enclosed and air conditioned, but otherwise passengers were basically outside.
Mike shrugged. “As good as any trip can be when you have connecting flights.” At least Phoenix hadn’t been too crowded, and he’d only had a ninety-minute layover. “Everyone arrived yet?” He yawned and covered his mouth. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep too good last night.” Thankfully the filming wasn’t due to start until Saturday morning.
“You’re the last,” Don informed him. They arrived at the car, and Don dropped the bag into the trunk. “You wanna ride up front with me again?”
Mike smiled. “That’d be cool.”
As they drove out of the airport’s environs and through Palm Springs, Mike reflected on the choice of location. TopMen was a relatively new company, just emerging on the porn landscape. The decision to locate in Palm Springs looked ostensibly like a good one on paper. The town was very gay, but it was a sleepy little place and a touch remote. The residents seemed to have no problem with the appearance of a porn company filming in their drowsy borough, but it was just becoming clear that there’d been a huge problem in the community with drugs. So much so that the authorities were particularly sensitive to the issue.
Mike wasn’t concerned. There’d been no evidence of drug use the last time he’d come out there to film, so it wasn’t as if they’d have the local police breathing down their necks.
About half an hour later they pulled into the driveway of a large ranch-style house set back from the main road. A couple of cars were parked outside. Mike grabbed his bag, his laptop bag already slung over his shoulder, and strode along the cute little path that led to the front door, Don behind him. It opened before he could knock, and Pete, the director, stood in the open doorway, smiling.
“Hey, you made it! These guys have already got the party started.” He stepped to one side to let the two men enter.
The instant Mike crossed the kitchen threshold, he was tackle-hugged by a huge bear of a man, dressed in only a pair of jeans. “Scott! It’s been ages. How are you? Who you doing these days?”
Mike snorted. He wrestled himself free and dropped his bag to the floor. “Good to see you too, Nico. You’ve gotten bigger since the last time I saw you.”
Nico grinned and flexed for him. “Thanks for noticing. I’ve been working on my upper body for the last few months.”
It showed. Nico’s abs were well defined, his pecs a firm handful. He posed, tightening his biceps.
Mike smiled and patted them appreciatively. “Yeah, very nice.” He glanced around the roomy kitchen with its green cabinets. The breakfast bar was loaded with bags of food and bottles. Mike winked at Peter. “I see we’re learning from past mistakes?”
Pete let out a groan. “God, don’t remind me. At least Ryan’s not here to eat us out of house and home this time.” He indicated the two young men seated at the bar. “This is Jesse Bell and Kyler Foster, two of our newest recruits. You’ll be doing a scene with Kyler. Guys, this is Scott Masters.”
Jesse gave a polite nod and a smile in Mike’s direction, but Kyler stared at him with wide eyes. “Oh my God,” he said softly. He whipped his head to one side to look at Pete. “You didn’t tell me I’d be filming with Scott Masters.” He regarded Mike once more, cheeks flushed and licking his lips.
“Well, now you know,” Pete said dryly. “I thought I’d surprise you.” He winked at Mike as he took in Kyler’s large eyes and rapt attention. “Obviously I thought correctly.” Pete shook his head. “C’mon, Scott, I’ll show you to your room.”
Mike nodded to the two young men and followed Pete from the kitchen, with a last pat to Nico’s broad back. As they went along the hallway, Pete let out a low chuckle.
“Young Kyler there has a real case of hero worship going on, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Mike laughed quietly. “Yeah, I might’ve caught that.” He placed his bag and laptop on the floor and looked around. The accommodation was basic. There was a mattress on the floor, a lamp beside it, and a clothes rail with hangers. One plastic chair stood by the window. “We gonna be shooting in different rooms?”
Pete nodded. “This room, the basement, the living room, and one of the rooms set up like a bedroom.” He pointed to a sheaf of papers on the mattress. “That’s your script. You can go through it tonight, ready for an early start tomorrow. We’re gonna have us a full day of filming, so try not to go to bed at four in the morning, huh?” He grinned. “I’ve heard stories of what you and Armando get up to on shoots, so I have been forewarned.”
“Armando?” Mike became still. “He’s filming here?” There was a sudden fluttery feeling in his belly.
“Yeah, you two are playing the dads who are best f
riends. You’re not filming a scene together, though.” Peter gave him a speculative glance. “You okay with that?”
“Sure.” Mike gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’ve not seen him for a while, that’s all.”
Pete nodded. “Well, you’ll be able to catch up tonight. Nico’s cooking, God help us.” He genuflected, and Mike snorted. “Dinner will be at six, so you’ve got a few hours to read through the script. If there’s anything you want to know, I’ll be in the garage with Tony, discussing final details. We can talk about lines, lighting, whatever.” Pete smiled. “Glad to have you back with us, Scott. Especially after last time.” His smile faltered.
Mike bit back his growl. “Yeah, I’m sorry Alex was such a little shit. I saw the tweets, the posts. He had no goddamn right.” Having a big name like Alex Travis publicly vilify a fledgling company and its director couldn’t have been good for business.
Pete shrugged. “Yeah, yeah. The damage is done. Let’s hope we can salvage something with this shoot, right?” He patted Mike on the back. “But hey, we got Scott Masters!” His eyes sparkled. “And there’s one young man in this house who can’t wait to get fucked by you. Your stellar reputation goes before you.” Pete grinned and exited the bedroom.
Mike smiled to himself. Stellar reputation. That’s what you get after twenty years in the industry. His smile faded. Jeez, twenty years. All of a sudden Mike felt old.
Then it hit him. Jack was here. Not only that, Jack was filming with them. He figured Pete had to know Jack’s status, and things must have been okay for him to have the go-ahead for the shoot. Some studios could be funny about using positive performers.
And then all such reflections were driven from his mind by one single thought.
We’re gonna have to talk, him and me. What the fuck do I say to him?
Mike didn’t have a fucking clue.
He gazed at his laptop bag, and suddenly there at the forefront of his mind was the reason for its presence, that conversation with Tommy from the previous Sunday. He clung to it as a welcome diversion. He couldn’t think about Jack, not yet.
