“Chris loves you too, but he needs to hear how you feel from you, not from me.” And with that parting comment, she left with a jaunty wave, slamming the door behind her as if to remind him she meant business. Katie loved her dramatic exits.
He stared at the closed door, mouth agape. Chris loved him? He wanted to chase after Katie to ask her how she knew, but the squealing of her tires out of his driveway told him he’d missed his chance.
It didn’t really matter how she knew. If Katie said it, it was true. She wasn’t in the habit of making up shit.
If Chris really did love him, maybe there was still a chance. If he could just get the other man to listen to him, he’d convince him that they belonged together. It would work. It had to.
Katie was right. He’d been an asshole. He’d let his excitement at his big break get the better of him and there was no excuse for not calling Chris back the second he had a chance. When Chris really needed him, he’d let him down.
Sitting at his feet, Pirate snuffled indignantly, his one good eye staring at him with laser-like accusation. “I let you down, too, didn’t I, buddy?” He scratched the dog behind his ear. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”
Pirate turned his head to lick at Dante’s stroking hand, the look in his eye now adoring.
He only hoped Chris would be as forgiving.
Six hours later, Dante paced back and forth in front of Katie’s pool house trying to work up the courage to knock on the door. Chris’ SUV was parked in the back of the small dwelling, so he knew the other man was there. Plus, Katie’s housekeeper had told him Chris was home when she’d buzzed him through the front gate.
What if Chris wouldn’t accept his apology? What if he didn’t believe him when he promised to never do it again? Chris had said that his promises were meaningless. How was he going to convince him that he meant it this time?
Dante rehearsed the dialogue in his head. He would not fail this time. He would win Chris back.
Running a hand down his neatly pressed Armani shirt, the one Chris always said made his chest look toned, Dante breathed into his hand checking if his breath smelled okay. Satisfied the mints he’d eaten on the way over here had worked; Dante raised his hand to knock on the door...then hesitated.
And what if this didn’t work? What if he lost Chris for good? They’d been friends for so long and now that he knew that Chris loved him, how could he stand not having him in his life?
He let his mind wander, picturing how things would be if Chris rejected him again. The other man would stay here in Katie’s guest house doing voice over work and Dante might never see Chris again. Their career paths would deviate. They’d quietly drift away from each other.
While Dante pondered his future unhappiness and Chris’ career, he didn’t realize that Chris had opened the door until he heard his voice.
“Katie’s going to kill you if you wear a hole in her lawn.” The expression he wore was neutral at best. Dante didn’t blame Chris for being wary.
Chris waited for Dante to say something, but Dante couldn’t think of anything. He just wanted to look at him, memorize his face, so he’d have that at least if Chris ordered him to leave.
But that didn’t happen. Chris gestured for Dante to come inside. “How about you come inside? I’d prefer if Katie’s housekeeper didn’t hear our conversation. She’s the neighborhood gossip.”
Dante stepped inside and looked around the pool house. He noticed a pull-out sofa in the back of the room, clothes scattered all over it. Some of Chris’ personal items were littered about the room, mostly on the tiny dinette slash kitchen area, which sort of freaked Dante out. Chris was normally the neatest person he’d ever met, and never left things lying around haphazardly. Perhaps their ‘break-up’ had affected him, too?
“You done inspecting the place? This isn’t an episode of House Hunters.” Chris swore, “Shit. Let me fix the sofa.”
As Chris raced over to make the bed back into a sofa, his OCD tendencies out in full force, Dante pulled out his phone to check his email and text messages, then shoved his phone into his pocket, satisfied his instructions to his manager had been completed.
Once Chris finished straightening the sofa cushions, Dante sat down, silently hoping Chris would sit next to him. He’d missed the closeness they’d shared over the last couple of weeks, being in each other’s presence: the hand holding while walking Pirate, the debates over breakfast about who was the better American writer, John Steinbeck or Mark Twain, never mind the toe-curling sex...
“You can wipe that thought right out of your head, Dante,” Chris said.
Wait. What? Had he said that aloud? Or had Chris turned into a mind reader?
“No, I’m not psychic,” Chris replied. “But after living with you, I’ve learned to interpret most of your facial expressions. And that one was sexual, so don’t try and deny it.”
Throwing up his hands in a placating manner, Dante sighed, “So, I’m an open book to you now, huh, Chris? I didn’t know I’d become so predictable.”
“Oh, don’t worry, you’re not.” Chris paced around the room, all nervous energy and long limbs.
When Chris didn’t seem likely to elaborate, Dante ignored the comment and said, “Would you sit down please? You’re making me dizzy. I need to talk to you.”
Chris looked reluctant but took a seat on the coffee table in front of Dante instead. “Say what you came here to say.”
Taking a deep breath, Dante began. “Look, I know I’ve been a complete jerk about everything-”
“You don’t say,” Chris interrupted, the sarcasm rolling off his tongue, making Dante bristle.
“Chris, please,” Dante pleaded. “I’m trying to apologize. So, can you tone down the hate boner you have for me and listen for just one minute?”
“You’ve got two minutes. Personally, I can’t wait to hear this,” Chris replied magnanimously and waved his arm for Dante to continue.
Sometimes Dante wondered why he loved Chris. The man had a smart mouth and called Dante out on all his bullshit. But then that’s probably half the reason Dante loved the other man so much. Besides being smart, and great in the sack, Chris gave as good as he got, never backing down from Dante’s snarky attitude. Chris kept Dante on his toes. Apparently smart-mouthed bastards with long legs and perky asses were Dante’s downfall into love, commitment and putting another person’s needs above his own. Who would have ever guessed years ago when they met at the Space Pirates audition that Chris Parker would be the man to make Dante want to settle down?
Now he only had to convince Chris that’s what he wanted, too.
“You were right.” Dante said. Chris opened his mouth, no doubt to say something sarcastic, but Dante cut him off. “Shut it, you gave me two minutes.” Chris bit his lip, looking like he was dying to make a comment, but nodded in concession
“As I was saying, you were right. I do stupid shit and think an apology is going to take care of it. I put my career ahead of us. Above our friendship, which makes me a dickhead.”
“No arguing there,” Chris retorted.
Dante leaned in close to Chris, so their faces were only inches apart, and whispered, “I’m trying extremely hard here to grovel and apologize for my idiotic behavior. But every time you make a snide comment, it just makes me want to kiss the smirk off your face. So...stop it.”
He raised his right hand and stroked Chris’ lips, causing the other man to take a sharp intake of breath. “Unless you’d like to be naked and under me in about five seconds, you’ll be quiet and let me finish apologizing.”
“And what makes you think I’d let you kiss me, Dante? That’s rather presumptuous of you.” He pulled away from Dante’s touch and looked at his watch. “You’ve got a minute left on your apology.”
“Okay then, I better get to groveling.” Dante smiled, but Chris didn’t smile back, and that was when Dante knew he needed to get serious, so he changed tactics. “I know I hurt you, but I want to prove to you I
can do better. Be better. For you, Chris. If you give me another chance, I promise I’ll do things differently this time.”
Chris sighed, then gave a resigned shrug. “Words, all words, Dante. We’ve been here before. You fuck up, I get mad, you apologize...it’s the same old, same old. Nothing’s changed. I put my career and reputation on the line for you because we were friends. Yes, you gave me a place to live and I felt I owed you, but if I’m honest that wasn’t the real reason I agreed to your stupid plan.”
Powerful relief filled Dante. Now, they were getting somewhere.
“And why did you agree to my stupid plan?”
Biting his lip, a sure-tell of Chris’ nervousness, he glanced away, but muttered under his breath, “I think you know why.” Chris turned, his hands clenched at his sides, but Dante halted his escape with a firm hand on his arm.
His eyes searched Chris’ face, trying to reach into his thoughts. “Tell me,” Dante said softly. “Please, Chris.”
Chris jerked his arm away from Dante’s grip and his lower lip trembled as he returned his glare. “Gotta have it all, don’t you?”
His caustic tone made Dante flush in shame. As usual, Chris was the one in this relationship doing all the giving. They were following old patterns, Chris was right, but this time he wouldn’t be the one laying his heart bare alone.
“Okay, fine. I lo-”
Dante interrupted him. “No, not yet.” Chris’ eyes went wide, and he looked at Dante as if he were crazy. Which he probably was, but Dante had to be the one giving his all to Chris. The other man deserved it for all the grief he’d put him through. “I want to be the one to say it first.”
He reached out and caught Chris’ hand to his. “Besides my parents and siblings, I’ve never said this to anyone else before. But, believe me when I tell you I love you, Christopher Parker.”
“Okay,” Chris said, slowly. “I love you and you love me, but that isn’t always enough. How do I know you won’t just do the same thing the next time you’re too involved in your work to even acknowledge something simple like a phone call?”
The words came rushing out of Dante’s mouth, too important to hold in any longer. “Because I quit the movie!”
“You what?” Chris yelled, surprise evident in his voice.
“I quit Logan’s Run. I told them to give the part to someone else.”
Chris leapt up from the table. “What the fuck, Dante? Why did you do that? I would never ask you to do something like that!”
“I know you wouldn’t, but I had to do it.”
“Why? Do you know what this could do to your career? You’re not big enough to turn down roles.”
“I don’t care what it does to my career. You -- us -- that’s what’s important. Besides, I knew if I swore never to do it again, you’d still have doubts. This was the only way I could think of to prove to you that I’m sincere.”
“You’re crazy, you know that? Your agent must have had a stroke. You could be blackballed for dropping out this close to production.”
Dante shook his head. “The director, Justin, understood that I had family commitments I need to attend to first.” He grimaced. “Plus, Ryan Gosling pulled out of that other movie he was scheduled to do. So, he’s going to play Logan now. The studio probably did a dance when they dropped me and signed him.”
Chris stroked his arm in support. “Sorry, I know that had to sting. But you’ll land another part soon. You’re too talented not to.”
He looked at Chris, struck by exactly how much he loved this man. He’d hurt Chris so many times since this little scheme had started, but through it all Chris believed in him.
“God, I love you.” Taking Chris’ hand in his, Dante implored. “Can we make out now?”
“You are unbelievable.” Chris laughed, a little shakily “What makes you think I’ve forgiven you?”
Dante’s grin was so big it made his cheeks ache. “One, you can’t hold a grudge for very long, it’s not in your nature. It’s one of the reasons why I adore you, because I foresee a lot of me fucking up in this relationship and you forgiving me. Plus, if you were still pissed at me, you would have slammed the door in my face. And three-”
“Asshole know-it-all.” Chris muttered, then buried his hands in Dante’s hair, crushing their lips together to stop any further talking.
With his heart pounding and lips still tingling, Dante broke their kiss. “So, not mad anymore?”
Chris laughed. An honest to goodness belly-shaking rumble. “No, I’m not mad anymore.” He glared at Dante, then continued, “Annoyed, and boy are we going to discuss that answering your boyfriend’s phone calls is an important part of a good relationship-”
“I didn’t know, Chris.” Dante interrupted, grabbing both of Chris’ hands and squeezing them. “Really, if my phone hadn’t died, I would have called. If I hadn’t been so wrapped up in trying to impress Justin, I would have borrowed Rupert’s phone. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and Pirate. You have no idea how guilty I feel.”
“I know you are. Dante Moretti, you are many things. Smart, self-centered-”
Dante cleared his throat loudly in protest but stopped when he saw Chris’ don’t-fuck-with-me expression.
“Okay, okay. I’ll give you that one.” Dante grumbled, hating the fact that Chris had him pegged perfectly.
“But you’ve always been a good friend to me.” Chris reached out and placed a hand on Dante’s chest. “You do have a heart, Dante, and despite your many shortcomings, or maybe because of them,” he paused, “I love you.”
He objected, “I have no idea why you would. You’re way too good for me, Chris.”
Chris cupped Dante’s cheeks in his hands and gazed at him with adoring eyes and a shit-eating smirk. “I know.”
“Now who’s the asshole?” Dante huffed.
“Me. But you love me anyway.” Chris moved closer, crowding Dante, pushing him back against the back of the couch.
Dante truly smiled for the first time in weeks. “Yeah, I really do.”
“Which is good, because since you dropped out of the movie, and I’m in-between gigs at the moment, that means we’re both unemployed.” He glanced around. “So, it’s a good thing Katie loves us both, because we might have to move in here if we can’t find work soon.”
Dante grabbed Chris’ hips and pulled him to sit on top of his lap. Then, Dante reached around and hooked his arms around Chris’ waist, resting his hands lightly on his boyfriend’s ass. “I’m not worried,” he said.
“No?” Chris looked skeptical.
“Nope, I have faith in us.”
Chapter Sixteen
Dante knocked on the door of Room 694 and waited. When it opened, he grinned widely and yelled, “Surprise!”
A muscular arm yanked him out of the hallway and into the room. Dante heard the door slam behind him as he was pushed up against the nearest wall, a firm body pressed against him. The action caused Dante to laugh. “Missed me, huh?”
Dante felt hot breath on his lips just before his mouth was claimed passionately and deeply. There was no hesitation in the kiss. Dante’s cock stirred as Chris’ tongue touched his mouth, running between his lips, seeking entry, permission to continue. Dante taunted Chris by making him wait, refusing entrance, wanting to prolong the anticipation. Waiting a few seconds, Dante ran his own tongue over the open lips until Chris responded with barely repressed violence, crushing him against him and plundering his mouth, ending the teasing torment.
Dante moaned in despair when the kiss ended. Wanting that pressure back, Dante pulled the other man’s hair sharply to bring his face back down for another kiss, but his boyfriend turned his head, avoiding Dante’s questing lips.
Frustrated beyond belief, Dante ground out, “Come on, Christopher. It’s been a month since I last saw you. Throw a guy a bone. Literally.” Dante pressed his hips against Chris’ and clasped his arms around his lover’s trim waist, forcing Chris’ thigh to shift between his. He felt Chris�
� cock, hard and shockingly hot against his crotch.
Chris’ eyes were shades of blue and gold, ringed with lust. He stared at Dante intently. “Later. I have to go on stage in an hour. I don’t want to go downstairs looking like I’ve just been fucked through the mattress.”
“Who said I was going to fuck you through the mattress?”
“You always do.”
“True,’ Dante said, grinding his hips and thrusting his throbbing cock into Chris’ pelvis. He hoped his bumping and grinding would convince Chris without words that they had plenty of time to mess around before he had to do a Q&A with the rest of the cast at San Diego Comic Con. They were there to promote their new movie, which was premiering this weekend. While Dante had dropped out of his part in Logan’s Run, the publicity of their coming out had renewed interest in their old television show. Their fans had started a GoFundMe campaign and four months after their reunion, they’d filmed Space Pirates: Beyond the Rim. That had been over a year ago.
The writers had even found a way to ‘resurrect’ Katie’s character -- as the ship’s hologram. This time she wouldn’t be Chris’ love interest, that role had gone to Dante via a fan-based poll which had made Dante and Chris happy. Basically, Dante had gotten paid to make-out with his boyfriend on-screen.
“Dante.” Chris’ voice was velvet-edged, but laced with barely checked passion, and Dante nearly forgot all about the reason they were at the convention.
Chris tried to remove Dante’s arms from around his waist, but Dante resisted. “Ah, come on, Chris-to-pher,” drawing out his boyfriend’s name. He knew whining was unattractive, but he really wanted Chris. “It’s been a month, baby.” Dante had been in Toronto, Canada filming a recurring part in The Umbrella Academy, one of the hottest shows on Netflix.
A small smile ruffled Chris’ mouth and Dante could see he was breaking him down, so he slid his hands from Chris’ waist to inside his boyfriend’s impossibly tight jeans to tease the crease of his ass with a finger. Chris jumped, but Dante could see the desire in his eyes. Chris’ mouth might be saying no, but his ass was saying yes, yes, yes!
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