Chapter 9
CHAPTER
NINE
RHYS
Sebastian and his boyfriend, Christian, are in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the apartment we’ve rented for the shoot. They’ve hung up plastic sheeting and set out painting supplies. They’ve even covered the cupboards with removable contact paper that makes the doors look like they’re half painted.
Meanwhile, I’m freaking the fuck out in the bedroom.
I’m never like this before a shoot. I’ve done so many of these with so many different people, I have my routine down to a science. Liquid diet for a couple days beforehand to make sure I’m completely cleaned out. Wax job so my skin is silky smooth. Extra-strength hairspray. Waterproof makeup. Cute lingerie. And I’m ready for the camera.
I didn’t stray from my routine this time, and yet, I feel on edge, like I’ve forgotten something big, something important. My stomach is all twisted up in knots, and my heart is racing like I’ve just finished a pole routine. I’m crawling out of my skin and I can’t sit still.
It’s because of Angel, of course. I want today to go well for him.
He’s put so much trust in me with this whole thing. So much naive and innocent trust that I now have a responsibility to protect. I introduced him to this world. It’s my duty to make sure he’s taken care of while he’s here.
I want him to feel comfortable and relaxed. I want him to enjoy himself on set and get along with Sebastian and Christian. I want him to walk away with no regrets.
But if I’m honest with myself, it’s not only that. Deep down inside, where I keep my darkest, most selfish desires, I want him to like it. I want him to like having sex with me.
Because I think I might have a teeny-tiny little crush on Angel.
Fuck.
What’s the first rule of gay club? Don’t fall in love with the straight boy. Trust me. Been there. Done that. Do not recommend.
“Uh… Rhys?”
I jump and yelp as I spin around. Angel is standing in the bedroom doorway, looking adorable as fuck. He must have gone to the barber’s because his hair and beard are trim and neat. He’s wearing a plaid lumberjack shirt on top of a thin, white dudebro tank top. The golden crucifix necklace lies on top of the tank. His jeans are paint-splattered and torn, and his boots are all scuffed up. With the hard hat Sebastian’s got for him, he’ll look every bit the home reno contractor he’s supposed to play.
My cock roars to life, straining against the lace panties I’m wearing. I shift on my feet and adjust the two sides of my robe, trying to hide my growing erection.
“Hey, Angel! You’re here!” I wince at how surprised I sound. “I mean, of course you’re here. You said you would be. I didn’t think you were lying or anything.” Oh god, stop talking, Rhys.
Angel scratches his jaw, lips curled into a sheepish smile. “Yeah, I’m here.”
His gaze travels down my body in a slow perusal, his eyes bright with what looks like appreciation. If I didn’t know better, I would think he’s checking me out, that maybe he likes what he sees.
“You look good,” he says, voice warm and soft, like the most comforting of blankets. It turns my bones into jelly and my cock into granite.
I tuck my hair behind my ear as the twisting in my stomach becomes more of a fluttering. “Thanks. You look good too.”
He takes a few steps toward me, eyes locked on mine. Suddenly, the air in the room feels a little thin. My lips part as I try to suck in extra oxygen, and his gaze drops to my mouth. His eyes darken to a rich brown that makes it even more difficult to breathe.
He smells like fresh sawdust. I want to run my nose along his neck, rub myself against his body, and lick every single inch of his skin. I want to rake my fingers through all his fur. I want his beard to leave me red all over. I want his large, strong hands to hold me to him and never let go.
“Hey! You guys ready?”
We jump away from each other at the sound of Sebastian’s cheerful voice. The tips of Angel’s ears are tinted pink, and his gaze is cast down to the floor .
Sebastian looks from Angel to me, with a question in his expression.
“Yup!” I answer for both of us. “We’ll be out in a sec.”
Sebastian gives me an encouraging smile before disappearing again.
“How are you feeling?” I ask Angel, pulling him deeper into the bedroom.
“Um, okay? I think?” He rubs his palms on his thighs before curling his hands into fists.
“It’s okay to be nervous.”
He nods, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Yeah, I am, a little.”
“Do you have any questions?”
He blinks at me and I can see the millions of questions racing around inside his head. His mouth hangs open like he can’t decide which one to ask first or how to ask them.
I know that Sebastian’s already given him a truckload of information about safe sex, consent and limits, and blah, blah, blah. The boys and I joke that the only thing Sebastian loves more than Christian is paperwork.
Both Angel and I tested negative for STIs. I’m always on PrEP, but The Camboy Network covered Angel’s prescription for him. Angel had to fill out a form about what sex acts he was okay with and what was off the table—not that we’re doing anything especially kinky today.
We’ve even gone over today’s shooting schedule, scene by scene, and rehearsed some of the lines Sebastian wrote for us.
The past couple weeks have been pretty intense, to be honest. More than any other video Sebastian’s directed, and those have always been intense. But Angel is new to this, and Sebastian, being who he is, went the extra ten miles .
Which is why I’m pretty sure that Angel’s questions have more to do with nervousness than how today will go down. I don’t blame him—I’m nervous as hell too.
“You’ll be with me, right?” he finally asks, and fuck if it doesn’t make my heart swell in my chest.
“Yup. Every step of the way.” I take one of his hands and unfurl his fingers to sandwich them between my palms. “I’ve got you.”
He smiles, small and sweet, and I want to believe it’s just for me.
Still holding his hand, I lead him out to the living room where Sebastian has the first scene set up. It’ll be the pre-video interview where Sebastian asks us a bunch of questions so we can “connect” with our audience.
Angel takes a seat on the couch and I curl up next to him, turned toward him with my legs tucked under me. Sebastian sits opposite us and Christian hits the record button on the camera.
“Angelo, Rhys, thank you both for being here with us today.” Sebastian uses the stage name we came up with for Angel. I had a bunch of out-there ideas, but Angel felt more comfortable using something closer to what he’s used to.
Angel’s ears flush as he smiles shyly and mumbles a hello.
I lean in, lifting my elbow onto the back of the couch and resting my hand lightly on his shoulder. Angel glances at it, then lifts his gaze to mine. We’re inches apart and I’m caught in those soft, warm browns that make me feel all ooey gooey on the inside.
This keeps happening to me. Angel gets close, he stares into my eyes, and it’s like I’m hypnotized, ensnared, trapped. I can’t look away, I can barely breathe. I just want to bask in his attention, soak it all in until I burst.
Sebastian clears his throat. “So, uh, Angelo, this is the first time you’re doing a video with The Camboy Network.”
Angel turns toward Sebastian, but he keeps his eyes locked on mine until the last moment. “Yeah, it is.”
“Fun fact, you’re not actually gay, right?” Sebastian keeps his tone light and he smiles encouragingly. The question shouldn’t take Angel by surprise. Sebastian sent them to both of us a few days ago.
Angel shakes his head. “No, I’m straight.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
Angel scratches his jaw and shoots Sebastian a rueful look. It looks real, like almost too real. Like, if I didn’t know Angel was the least disingenuous person on the planet, I would think he’s acting.
“No, not at the moment.”
“And this will be your first time with a guy?”
Angel sneaks another glance at me and my breath catches. “Yeah.”
Sebastian lets the moment linger before continuing. “Rhys, how do you feel about being Angelo’s first man?”
My heart thuds against the inside of my ribs. So hard and loud that I’m sure the microphone can pick it up. I feel… hungry for him, possessive, greedy. I want to be Angel’s first. I want to be his only. I want to snatch him up and hoard him all to myself, so no one else can have him. I want him to be mine.
“I’m going to show him the time of his life,” I say, still watching Angel as he watches me. I’m going for a fun and flirty tone, but my voice is a bit too husky for that. Angel’s eyes go a little unfocused.
“Well, Angelo, you are in good hands!” Sebastian exclaims with too much enthusiasm, but neither of us react.
We’re too wrapped up in each other, in this magnetism that keeps drawing us closer together. I lean in. My chest is pressed against Angel’s arm. His lips part and his breath hitches silently. When he exhales, warm air blows across my chin.
I tilt my head and lean in a little more. My nose brushes against his. His beard tickles my skin. My lips slot into place against his.
No one moves. No one makes a sound. All around me is stillness and silence. But inside, fireworks are exploding, sirens are sounding, and my brain is screaming in excited and confused shock.
Angel lets out a whimper that shatters the quiet. I kiss him. Like my fucking life depends on it. I nip and lick. I’m gentle, but persistent, working my way into his mouth.
Angel kisses me back. Not quite as eagerly. But when I lick along the seams of his lips, he opens for me and his tongue reaches out tentatively. When it meets mine, he shudders from head to toe.
Fuck. I want to climb on top of him right now and explore every inch of his mouth with my tongue, video be damned. But I pull away instead. I’m supposed to be the professional here. I can’t let myself get carried away.
“Whew! At least we won’t need to worry about your chemistry,” Sebastian teases.
We move to the kitchen where the first part of the scene plays out. Sebastian walks us through the blocking and we recite our lines a few times before the camera starts rolling.
Angel pretends he’s packing up his tools when I come in wearing my lacy panties and matching lace teddy. My short, silk robe is open and hanging off one shoulder.
“Where are you going? The kitchen’s not finished yet,” I say, acting confused.
“You haven’t paid my last two invoices.” Angel sounds a little stilted, but that’s okay. We’re not going for Oscar-worthy performances here. “I’m not doing any more work until you pay me.”
“But… but…” I clutch the two sides of my robe together, lifting up my bare shoulder as I feign distress. “I don’t have any money!”
Angel shrugs. “Then I’ll have to leave your kitchen unfinished.”
I let my jaw hang open for a moment before turning on the seduction. “I don’t have any money. But there are other ways I could pay you.”
I step toward Angel and reach out to draw a single finger down his front. The tip of my finger runs over the swell of his belly and down to his belt, then farther still to the impressive bulge in his jeans.
“I… I…” His voice is breathy and his hands are curled into fists by his sides. “I’m not gay.”
Angel’s protest is weak, and he looks so flustered that I’m having a hard time remembering that this is all an act. The real Angel isn’t actually turned on by the prospect of sexual favors as payment. The real Angel isn’t actually trembling because he wants my mouth on his cock. This is all fake. Make-believe. Pretend.
“You don’t have to be gay,” I say, hooking my finger into a belt loop and tugging him closer. “Just close your eyes. You won’t notice a difference at all.”
Then I drop to my knees, and even though I told Angel to close his eyes, his gaze follows me down. I bite my lip, peer up at him through my lashes, and quickly undo the button on his jeans.
He shudders as I pull the zipper down and reveal the tighty-whities underneath. My cock throbs in my panties as I stare at the soft, white cotton straining over Angel’s monster dick. So fucking innocent. So fucking pure.
I know Sebastian asked him to wear plain white briefs. Angel probably doesn’t wear underwear like this in real life. But the line between the character in this scene and the actual man from my old neighborhood is getting dangerously blurred.
I hook my fingers under the elastic waistband of Angel’s tighty-whities and pull them down. The sight that greets me makes my mouth water.
Angel’s dick is hard, with thick, juicy veins. A drop of pre-cum runs down his length. He isn’t very long, but he’s oh-so girthy. He’s going to stretch me beyond belief and my hole clenches in anticipation.
I grip him at the base and Angel lets out a soft whine. When I glance up, his eyes are squeezed shut, his teeth are clamped around his bottom lip, and his chest is rising and falling with each frantic breath. He looks like he’s right on the edge, like he’s about to blow if I so much as give him a lick.
I break character and squeeze his thigh. “Hey, Angel?”
His eyes fly open, darting around the room before landing on me.
“Do you want to wear a cock ring?” I ask. There’s always several in the boxes of supplies Sebastian brings on set.
Angel blinks at me like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
“It’ll help you last longer. You know, take the edge off.”
Behind the camera, Christian hands something to Sebastian who holds it out to me. It’s an adjustable cock ring made up of a length of elastic folded over on itself. A bead threaded through the ends controls how loose or tight it is around the cock.
Angel glances from me to the ring and back. He nods jerkily and I take the ring from Sebastian. Since Angel’s already so hard, the adjustable ring makes it easier and safer for me to put it on him. I slip it over the tip of Angel’s cock and slide it down to the base. Then I tuck it behind his balls and carefully adjust the bead so it’s snug.
“How does that feel?” I ask, running my hand up and down his thigh to soothe him.
Angel nods. “Good,” he croaks. “Better.”
“Pull his underwear back up and do that part again.” Sebastian instructs as he picks up one of the handheld cameras and gets himself into position.
I put Angel’s dick away, and when Sebastian gives me the go-ahead, I draw his underwear down. The sight is just as good the second time around. Maybe better, now that there’s a black ring around the base of his cock.
I can’t help myself this time. I move in before thinking and lick him from base to tip.