by Alexa Land
A few moments later, ‘Push It’ by Salt-N-Pepa came on, and we both exclaimed, “I love this song!”
“You’re kidding,” he said. “Why do you even know it?”
I couldn’t help but tease him a little. “I must have heard it on the oldies station.” He pretended to be mortally wounded and grabbed his heart, and I said, “Actually, I not only know this song, but I can do this.” I busted out my best hip-hop dance moves, and he surprised me by joining in.
What followed were four minutes of lip syncing, dancing, laughing, and a pretty decent imitation of the choreography from the music video. When the song ended, he pulled me onto the couch, and I landed on top of him. I rested my head on his chest as we caught our breath, and he said, “I’m surprised you could do that, since the song is older than you are.”
“This was one of my teacher’s favorite songs when I took a hip-hop dance class, and she played the music video over and over. For the record, I can also waltz, tango, fake my way through some basic ballet moves, and tap dance. They’re all part of the ‘special skills’ I list on my resume. The last one has never come up, but if Hollywood suddenly develops an interest in old-school musicals, I’m ready.”
“I’ve always been amazed by just how much you’ve put into your career.”
I grinned and said, “And when I finally landed a part, all I had to be was pale and depressed.”
“Did you enjoy the stuff you learned, or was it just about wanting to make yourself more employable?”
“Some of it was fun, like that hip-hop dance class. It helped that the instructor didn’t take herself too seriously. The same can’t be said for the ballet teacher.”
Lorenzo ran his hands down my back as he said, “I love discovering your many hidden talents.”
“Which means all those endless classes had a purpose after all.” He kissed my forehead, and I asked, “Do you need to check on your giant sauce cauldron?”
“Yeah, and I should get the rest of the meal going, too. Want to help me?”
I got up and held my hand out to him, and as I pulled him to his feet I said, “You know I’m not much of a cook, but I take instruction well. Just tell me what to do.”
I was put in charge of the salad, while he attended to the sauce and boiled some pasta. It was such a simple thing, just cooking together, but it made me feel good.
When the meal was ready, we sat side-by-side at the kitchen island, and I picked up my fork. “Wait,” he said. “You’re missing the best part.” He grated a flurry of imported parmesan cheese over my dish, then watched as I took a big bite of spaghetti and asked, “Do you like it?”
When I told him, “It’s perfect,” a big smile spread across his face.
The food really was delicious, and I ate my fair share. Then we cleaned up together and moved into the den, where we found a movie to watch. Lorenzo got comfortable on the gray sofa, and I sat on the shaggy white area rug and rested my head on his thigh. It felt so nice when he idly played with my hair. I closed my eyes and forgot all about the movie as his fingers traced my temple and wound into my curls.
After a while, he caressed my cheek and asked, “Are you getting tired?”
I looked up at him and nodded, but then I said, “I don’t want you to stop what you’re doing, though.”
There was so much tenderness in his expression. He turned off the TV and guided me upstairs, picking up his backpack along the way. We stripped down to our briefs, then took turns in the bathroom. By the time I returned to the bedroom, the lights were low, the cat was curled up on the duvet, and Lorenzo was tucked under the covers. He held up a corner of the blanket, and I slid in beside him.
The feeling of his skin against mine drew a sigh of pleasure from me. He went back to playing with my hair, just like he’d been doing downstairs, and I closed my eyes and murmured, “Just to clarify, when I asked you to stay a while, I actually meant the entire time I’m here in Mendocino.”
He kissed my forehead and whispered, “Good, because that’s exactly what I’m planning to do.”
Chapter 10
The next morning when we went downstairs, Phoenix greeted us with freshly brewed coffee, banana nut muffins, and my phone, which he’d found in the trailer’s sofa. “The news of Trent Chambers’ New Year’s Eve drug binge and the accident finally broke,” he said. “It’s all over the internet.” He put his laptop in front of us when Lorenzo and I sat down at the kitchen island, so we could read the story on the screen.
I murmured, “I’m surprised his people kept a lid on it that long.”
“Me too.” Phoenix took a sip of coffee, then said, “I reached out to one of my contacts at the studio. They’re going to release a statement about replacing Trent on this picture sometime in the next few hours. That means your name’s going to be all over the news, and we should be ready to start fielding requests for interviews.”
“Do you really think anyone will be interested in what I have to say?”
Phoenix said, “Absolutely. The first things they’ll probably ask is when you found out you’d gotten the part and what you knew about Trent’s accident. You should reach out to Sylvia so you can discuss possible answers.”
“Will I be expected to lie?”
“No, but it’s a good idea to keep your answers vague. You don’t want to make it sound like the studio was intentionally covering up the fact that their star committed a series of felonies.”
Lorenzo had turned the laptop slightly so he could read the news story, and he looked up from the screen and asked, “Is Chambers facing criminal charges? This article didn’t say.”
Phoenix shrugged. “That information hasn’t been released yet, but Will should probably have an answer ready in case a reporter asks him if he thinks Trent should go to jail.”
I frowned and said, “They wouldn’t actually ask me that, would they? Whatever happens to Trent Chambers doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“They might ask anyway, in the hopes of getting a juicy sound bite.” I must have looked worried, because Phoenix reached across the kitchen island and patted the back of my hand as he said, “Don’t worry. I’ll be fielding your calls, and it’s a closed set, so it’s not like any reporters are going to be able to ambush you with questions. Also, you really shouldn’t worry about this now. You have an important day of filming ahead of you, so just try to concentrate on that.”
“What time is it? I told Harper I’d meet him half an hour before our call time so we can run our lines.”
Phoenix glanced at his watch. “In that case, we should leave in about fifteen minutes. I’ll go round up your cat and get ready. Any special requests for today?”
“No, but do you have any tips for someone who’s about to spend all day shooting his first love scene? Like, is there anything special I should be doing to prepare? I obviously already took a shower so I don’t repulse my scene partner, but is there anything I’m overlooking?”
“You might want to wear something like a track suit, so you can change into and out of it quickly. I’ll bring a robe and a pair of flip flops, which you’ll want when you’re waiting on set or walking to your trailer. Other than that, just be prepared for a makeup artist to get up close and personal with your body makeup this morning, and try to relax. It’s going to be great, despite having to spend the day with Harper Royce.” Phoenix stopped just short of shuddering when he said that name. He started to leave the kitchen, but then he turned back to me and said, “I’d suggest eating a muffin before we take off. They’re my special low-fat, high protein recipe, and you may need the energy.”
Once he was gone, I handed Lorenzo a muffin and got one for myself as I said, “Normally, I’d ask you to come to the set and watch me work, but today is going to be so awkward.”
“I’d still like to come with you. I’ll just hang out in your trailer while you’re filming.”
“You can if you want to, but you’ll be there for hours.”
He shrugged and sai
d, “If I bring a book along, I’ll be fine.”
“Wouldn’t you be more comfortable here?”
“I want to be there just in case you need me. You’ll be under a lot of pressure today, and maybe I can help.”
I put my arms around him and whispered, “Thank you.”
Lorenzo and Phoenix accompanied me to get my makeup done when we arrived on set. Five crew members were hanging out in the makeup trailer, because as everyone knew, that was always gossip central on any movie set. The topic that morning was Trent Chambers. There’d already been a lot of speculation about why he’d been replaced at the last minute, and the details of the accident were sketchy, so everyone was trying to fill in the blanks.
Instead of participating in the gossip, Riley just concentrated on turning me into Alex. When he finished, I asked, “Do you want me to change, so you can do my body makeup?”
“Actually, that’s someone else’s job. She should be here soon,” he said.
While the hair stylist went to work transforming my curls from a shapeless mess to an artfully tousled arrangement, I asked, “Has anyone seen Harper Royce this morning? We were supposed to run lines before we’re expected on set.”
“He’s always late,” one of the crew members told me.
I glanced at Phoenix, who muttered, “He’s a hot mess. The only time he had his shit together was when I worked for him.” He put his phone away and shifted my cat, who’d made herself comfortable on his lap, before asking, “Would you like me to run your lines with you?”
“No thanks. I just wanted the opportunity to practice with Harper.”
A few minutes later, the lead makeup artist arrived with two other people. She inspected Riley’s work and instructed him to make slight adjustments to the shadows around my eyes, since the filming was going to take place in low light and my normal makeup wouldn’t read well. Then she turned to the crew and said, “Everybody out, aside from essential personnel. Give Mr. Kandinsky some privacy, so he can change.”
One of the people who’d accompanied her was from wardrobe. She handed over a worn-looking white T-shirt and plaid flannel pajama pants. Then she gave me a little beige garment and asked, “Do you need help putting this on?”
When I realized what I was holding, my face heated up and I mumbled, “No thanks. I’ll figure it out.”
The other person was there to apply my body makeup, and while she set up her supplies, the lead artist turned to Lorenzo and asked, “Who are you?”
He held up the visitor pass around his neck and said, “I’m Will’s boyfriend. I can clear out if you need me to.”
Even though I was sure he called himself that just for her benefit, it made me smile. “I’d like him to stay,” I said.
Phoenix told me, “Your robe and flip flops are right behind you. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Then he and Riley headed for the door, along with the person from wardrobe and the rest of the crew.
There was a folding screen set up at one end of the trailer, and I stepped behind it and took off my track suit, then put on the beige garment and my robe. When I stepped out from behind the screen, Lorenzo came over to me and whispered, “Are you sure you want me to stay? It’s really no problem to wait in your trailer.”
“Don’t go. This’ll be better if I have a friend with me.”
The woman in charge of doing my body makeup was all business. She asked me to stand in front of a bank of lights and remove my robe, and as soon as I did that, Lorenzo fought back a laugh and asked, “What are you wearing?”
He was referring to the little beige pouch that covered my cock and balls. It was tied with a bow, which made it look even more ridiculous. “It’s called a modesty pouch, but most people refer to them as cock socks. Harper Royce will be wearing one too, so we aren’t completely naked during our sex scene.”
After a beat, he started howling with laughter, which made me laugh, too. It took a while for him to get it under control, and then he wiped the tears from his eyes and said, “I’m sorry, but that’s hilarious. I especially love the fact that it’s tied with a bow. You know what’s good about it, though? It really drives the point home that there’s nothing sexual about any of this.”
“Exactly.”
While the woman went to work covering a small scar on my hip with concealer, Lorenzo leaned against a makeup table and asked, “Is it common for actors to wear those during love scenes?”
“Absolutely, and women have their own versions.”
“How would that work?”
“Imagine a skin-colored thong with the sides cut off, taped in place. They’ll also often wear patches that cover their nipples.”
He shook his head and murmured, “I had no idea.”
“People think moviemaking is glamorous, but there’s so much stuff like this going on behind the scenes. It’s a testament to how good the crew is. The cameras all have to be angled a certain way to sell the illusion that the actors are totally naked.”
“This has been a very eye-opening morning.”
“For me too,” I said. “I knew about these things, but it’s my first time actually wearing one.”
“I’m sorry I laughed.”
“Don’t be. It helps to see the humor in it, as opposed to just feeling ridiculous.”
After the makeup artist finished blending away all my imperfections, she added a light dusting of powder and said, “That’s it for now. We’ll obviously be retouching frequently, but this concealer is fairly smudge-proof. Please give it about five minutes to set, and then you can go ahead and get dressed.”
Both makeup artists took off, which left Lorenzo and me alone in the trailer. “See? It’s good you stayed, so you can keep me company,” I told him.
I started to put my hands on my hips, then thought better of it. Instead, I leaned forward and rested my palms on the wall, and he said, “You look like you’re waiting for the police to show up and frisk you.”
“I don’t want to ruin the makeup. Tell me when it’s been five minutes, okay?”
“Sure.” He glanced at the time on his phone, and then he came up right behind me and said, “I really wish I could touch you right now.”
I grinned and asked, “Is it the cock sock? It is, isn’t it? I’m too sexy to resist with that thing on.”
“I can’t see it from this angle. All I see is your perfect skin and that gorgeous ass.”
“My skin’s far from perfect. Did you see how many spots she touched up?”
“She totally overdid it. One of the things she blended away were three cute, tiny freckles on your collarbone. I love those.”
I said, “Technically, they’re moles.”
“Whatever. I still think they’re adorable.”
I arched back, so my ass lightly grazed the bulge in his jeans, and said, “Since you were paying close attention to where the makeup went, you probably know where to touch me without messing it up.”
He ran his fingertips down my spine, then traced the curve of my ass. When he slipped his hand between my legs and lightly massaged the spot between my balls and asshole, my cock swelled, and Lorenzo leaned in and whispered, “Do I have time to give you a blow job?”
I turned to face him and grinned as my erection pushed against that ridiculous pouch. “Someone could walk in on us at any moment.”
A wicked smile curved his full lips, and he said, “Then we should probably hurry.” I laughed and grabbed his hand, and we raced across the trailer and ducked behind the privacy screen.
He dropped to his knees and pulled the string to untie the bow, and then he looked up at me and said, “I was wrong when I thought the pouch was silly. That felt like unwrapping the best present ever.”
A moan slipped from me as his warm, wet mouth surrounded my cock. I braced my hands on his shoulders as a shudder of pleasure ran through my body, and I rocked my hips a little, fucking his mouth as he sucked me. Knowing someone could walk in and catch us at any moment just ramped up the excitement.
Minutes later, I stifled a yell and came down his throat. Then I crouched down and put my head on his shoulder as I caught my breath, and he kissed the top of my head and said, “That was fun.”
I flashed him a big smile. “I can’t wait until I get to return the favor.”
Just then, the door opened, and two hair stylists deep in conversation stepped into the trailer. Lorenzo and I both fumbled for the pouch as we stifled a laugh. I tied it in place and quickly pulled on the shirt and pajama pants.
Both ladies stared at us when we stepped out from behind the screen, and as I put on my flip flops I blurted, “He was just helping me with my wardrobe.”
One of them said, “Uh huh,” as we rushed out the door.
Once we were outside, Lorenzo said, “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”
“I hope it was worth the wait.”
“Definitely.” He ran his fingertips down my arm and said, “I’m still learning what you like, and I hope you’ll teach me how to make you feel good. Before today, it seemed unbalanced, as though you were only comfortable pleasuring me instead of being pleasured. I don’t want to make assumptions about why that is. I just want to let you know it’s really important to me that you’re enjoying what we’re doing.”
“Oh, I’m definitely enjoying it. As far as the part about giving pleasure, you can probably guess why that is. When I was a prostitute, it was never about me. I’m working on unlearning a lot of things.” I lowered my gaze to the dry grass and said, “I’m also working on being able to tell you what I need. For one thing, I’m really only comfortable as a bottom. Sometimes I was asked to top when I was with clients, and I hated it.” I glanced at him and asked, “Is that going to be a problem?”
He put his hands on my shoulders and said, “It’s absolutely no problem at all, and I’m glad you told me.”
I exhaled slowly and admitted, “I was afraid to say anything, because I’m really worried about messing this up.”
