“True.” Jack chuckled. “So I guess what I’m asking is, do you want to?”
Mike drew in a couple of deep, even breaths. “Would you be really hurt if I said no?”
Jack stared at him. Just… stared. Then his face creased in a slow, radiant smile. “Well, whaddaya know?” he exclaimed softly. “Mike Scott is in love.”
The world seemed to spin just that little bit slower. “What?”
Jack tilted his head to one side. “Tommy’s not just some guy, is he? You’re in love with him. Or falling in love with him. Whatever.” His lips parted, his breathing hitched. “Oh my God. Talk about blind.” He grinned. “You really can’t see it, can you? Oh, this is just… delicious.” He leaned forward and kissed Mike on the lips. “I am so happy for you, Mike, really. I wish you every happiness.”
Jack’s words were more than a blessing. They were his way of letting Mike go, and Mike knew it. What was more astonishing was that Mike was ready for it. He’d expected a wrench that left him heart sore and hurting, but what he got instead was a slow release of… peace.
Mike curved his hand around Jack’s face and kissed him on the mouth, a gentle brushing of lips. He smiled at him. “Thank you,” he said softly.Message received and understood.
Jack’s eyes sparkled. “Sleep well, babe.” He threw back the blankets and got up from the mattress to stand next to it, gazing down at Mike, still wearing that same smile and shaking his head. “Who’d have thought it, huh? Mike Scott in love.” He left the room, chuckling to himself.
Mike turned off the light and pulled the blanket up over his shoulders. He lay there, the words still ringing in his head.In love with Tommy?His first thought was that Jack was seeing something that simply wasn’t there. Except the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. He pictured Tommy’s face, that sweet smile, the way Tommy looked up at him when they were in bed together, that light in his eyes, the way Tommy made him feel….
Well, fuck. Maybe Jack wasn’t so wrong after all.
Breakfast was over, the dishes cleared away, and everywhere was clean, ready for work to begin. The five actors sat around the breakfast bar with Pete and Tony, talking through the script, while the production crew got set up in the living room.
“We’re going to film the five scenes in chronological order,” Pete told them. “So that means Scott and Kyler first, the night of Kyler’s eighteenth birthday. Then it’s Jesse’s scene with Armando, after he’s seen Kyler and Scott asleep naked on the couch. The scene ends with Armando’s wife coming home early to find him in bed with Jesse. Scene three is Armando’s friend Nico coming round, and Jesse spying on him and Armando fucking in the basement. The next scene will be Jesse getting into bed with Kyler, and then it’s the scene with Scott and Nico.”
There were nods from everyone. Kyler was a little sullen and kept sneaking glances at Mike but said nothing. Jesse was calmand collected, although this would only be his second scene. And Nico was, well… Nico. Mike had to smile. The large man had an even larger personality, effervescent and full of enthusiasm.
Jack looked relaxed and content. He winked at Mike. “How ironic that you and I don’t get to do a scene, given our history.”
“I’d have thought you’d gotten your fill last night,” Kyler blurted out. He glared at Mike. “You sendmepacking, but then you fuckhim. I saw him sneaking into your room.”
Jesse jerked his head up. “What wereyoudoing in Scott’s room in the first place?” He seemed upset by the revelation.
Mike sighed and shook his head. “And this isexactlywhat I was talking about last night.” He stared at Kyler. “For your information—not that it’s any of your business—I didn’t fuck anyone last night. Correct?” He looked to Jack for confirmation, who nodded, his face tight. Jack hated confrontation. Mike gazed at Kyler. “Except now we have the situation where you and I are about to do a scene together. Bravo, Kyler. I’d say not only is the chemistry virtually nonexistent, it’s going to be extremely difficult to make a convincing show that I’ve always wanted you. So you need to take on board what I said last night andgrow the fuck up.” He got up from the table and glanced at Pete. “I’ll be upstairs getting ready. Call me when you’re ready to shoot.” He gave Kyler one last look and then exited the kitchen.
Jack caught up with him outside the bathroom. “Hey, don’t let him get you down.” He leaned close to whisper. “And if you have any difficulties, I’m sure you have some happy place you can go, right?” He chuckled, and the vibration tickled Mike’s ear. Jack kissed his cheek and then stepped back.
Mike smiled. Jack really did know him. “Thanks for that.” He returned Jack’s kiss and then smacked him on the ass. “And now fuck off and let me go do my thing.” He grinned. “And tell my scene partner to use the other bathroom, okay? He’sdone enough damage this morning. Don’t let him add to it by disturbing my routine.”
Jack smiled and disappeared down the hallway. Mike entered the bathroom and leaned against the door.
He really wasn’t sure he could do this for much longer.
Mike pulled off the condom and shuddered, spraying Kyler’s belly with come. He gripped the back of the couch and held on until his cock had stopped pulsing and the last drop had been squeezed from his slit. Breathing heavily, he leaned over Kyler and kissed him, stroking his hair and chest. Kyler moved as Pete had directed, until he was lying on top of Mike, eyes closed, apparently sated. Tony pulled back on the camera, capturing the view of the pair of them, lying peacefully in each other’s arms. He cut to Jesse, standing in the doorway, staring at them and then walking away.
“Perfect.” Pete applauded loudly, and Mike raised his head to see his director beaming. “Nice work, guys. And Kyler? Congratulations on your first scene.”
Kyler grinned. “Thanks, Pete.” He propped himself up on his arms and gazed at Mike, his cheeks flushing. “Thanks, Scott.”
Mike ruffled his hair. “You did good, okay? Just keep in mind my advice.”
“I will. I promise.” Kyler climbed off him, grabbed his towel from a nearby chair, and proceeded to wipe himself down.
“Okay, a ten-minute break for the crew, and then we’ll do scene two an hour from now in the main bedroom. Jesse, Armando, be ready,” Peter called out before going to talk with Tony, the two men peering at the screen on Tony’s camera.
Mike got off the couch and wiped off his and Kyler’s come with a towel.
“Nice to see you in action again,” Jack said with a smile, stepping out of the way as the production crew picked up and moved cameras and studio lights, a buzz of activity around them. “I was trying to remember the last time we filmed together.”
Mike scratched his beard. “Was it early last year? February, maybe?” He beamed. “We were filming for ManFactory, and that new director, oh, what’s her name?”
