Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
KAI
We don’t make it ten steps down the hallway before Tasha’s voice cuts through everything. “Conference room. Now.”
Her tone isn’t cold, I am not sure Tasha could do cold. But it still evaporates the lingering buzz in my chest and the left over heat from the meet-and-greet.
Luca’s arm is still draped over my shoulders and he goes still beside me.
“Harry?” he asks.
Tasha doesn’t slow down. “He’s already on the line.”
I inhale as we turn to follow her. The room is cold compared to the space we just came from. And I have a feeling it is going to feel colder the second I can hear our manager’s voice.
Tasha shuts the door behind the four of us with a soft click that sounds way too loud in the small area. The conference room phone sits in the middle of the table, the red light blinking slowly. A call waiting on hold.
Michael drops into a chair with a groan. While Min-ho leans back against the wall, arms crossed, ready for whatever bullshit Harry has come up with this time.
Luca doesn’t sit and neither do I. Tasha sinks into a chair closest to the phone and presses the button.
Harry’s voice fills the room instantly. “Kai. Luca. That kiss just hit ten million views.” He sounds…excited…and the words hang there. That wasn’t my intent when I kissed Luca.
I lean my hands against the edge of the table, fingers curling into the cool surface.
“And?”
There’s a faint crackle through the speaker, then his voice again. “And it’s not enough.”
Luca shifts beside me, tension rolls off of him in waves. I glance over at him, and his jaw is locked tight.
“Define not enough.” I say carefully.
Harry doesn’t even hesitate. “I need escalation.”
The word is so clinical and detached. He clearly doesn’t view us as anything but a number for him to push higher.
“Fans are already saying it could be calculated to fight the rumors swirling after Luca was seen outside that bar,” he continues. “If we don’t push this further, the narrative stalls, and we lose all momentum.”
I grind my teeth. Luca crosses his arms and narrows his gaze at the phone. If looks could kill, Harry would be dead in his office in California through the voice connection alone.
“What exactly are you asking for?”
There’s a pause this time that feels planned.
“Something that feels less controlled,” Harry says. “More intimate. Behind-the scenes, if you will. Content that proves this isn’t just a performance.”
Michael clears his throat, and Min-ho pushes off of the wall, his mouth dropping open. The air in the room shifts completely, and although he doesn’t say the words outright, he doesn’t have to.
Luca lets out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You want a sex tape.”
Tasha flinches. Michael mutters something under his breath. And Harry exhales through the line as if he’s already annoyed with Luca.
“I want authenticity.”
Luca steps forward, leaning as close to the speaker as he can. His movements appear relaxed, but I am pretty sure he’s not fooling any of us.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “Then here’s some authenticity for you.”
He leans down even closer to the speaker, his lips almost brushing the surface with his next words.
“You can get fucked.”
The room goes dead silent. The only sound is the low hum of the air conditioning and the faint buzz of Harry on the other end of the line.
My pulse kicks up as we wait for Harry’s response. Something warm twists inside my chest. I don’t want our private life out any more than he does.
“You’re under contract.”
Michael leans forward. “I’m pretty sure the contract doesn’t say sex on tape. Like what the actual fuck is wrong with you, dude? Luca and Kai are actual people. Escalating could be Min-ho and me giving interviews or some shit. Jesus Christ.”
“Yeah, I’d do an interview. I’ve seen them together.”
Harry exhales again, slower this time.
“Fine. Keep the chemistry natural if that’s what you want. But the numbers better stay up. If they drop, we revisit this conversation.”
The line goes dead.
Tasha rubs her temples. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what he was going to want. But Michael’s right, your contract doesn’t say anything like that. It says promotional activities, and last time I checked, you’re a boy band not porn stars.”
I lift my shoulders in a half shrug. I know Tasha is in the same spot we are, and taking anything out on her would be like shooting the messenger.
“At least Harry didn’t get what he wanted.” Michael stands up, stretching. “And I can tell the reporters how sickeningly sweet you two are in private.”
Luca lets out a short laugh, but there’s no real humor in it. His hand finds mine, fingers lacing tight. I squeeze back once, grounding us both.
Tasha stands, gathering her things. “I’ll try to run interference as much as I can. Just… keep doing what you’re doing on stage. The majority of the fans liked the change last night. Maybe that’ll be enough for now.”
She leaves the room, the door clicking shut behind her.
The four of us stay for a moment longer.
Michael claps Luca on the shoulder as he passes. “You two are disgusting. But also kind of goals. Don’t fuck it up.”
Min-ho gives us a small nod, before following Michael out.
Then it’s just Luca and me. He turns to me, thumb brushing over my knuckles.
“You okay?”
I nod. “Yeah. Just tired of Harry treating us like his personal content farm.”
Luca’s mouth twists. “Same.”
He steps closer, resting his forehead against mine for a second. The contact is simple, but it settles something in my chest.
“We don’t owe him our private life,” he says quietly. “We can give the fans the show. But we give each other the rest.”
I close my eyes and breathe him in.
“Deal.”
He pulls back just enough to look at me, the corner of his mouth lifting into that familiar flirty smirk.
“Then let’s get the fuck out of here,” he murmurs. “I want to lock us in that master bedroom for the rest of the day and not come out until we’ve both forgotten Harry even exists.”
“We do have over a day before our next concert.”
“Do you think it will be enough time?”
“For?”
He grabs my ass and pulls me flush against him. “To ruin this ass.”
I lick my lips, my cock growing hard. Luca’s eyes drop to my mouth, then lower, dark and hungry. His grip tightens on my ass, fingers digging in just enough to make me feel it.
“Keep looking at me like that,” he says, voice low, “and we won’t even make it back to the hotel.”
I swallow, heat rushing through me. “Then stop talking about ruining my ass and do something about it.”
He laughs and leans in to bite my bottom lip. “Careful, Kai. You keep pushing and I’ll bend you over the nearest flat surface right here.”
My cock twitches at the threat. I can feel him getting hard against my hip, thick and insistent.
“Promises,” I mutter, but my voice comes out breathy.
Luca’s hand slides up my back, under my shirt, palm hot against my skin. “You’re already hard for me again, aren’t you? Such a greedy boyfriend.”
“Shut up,” I say, but I’m smiling as I say it.
He kisses me, until I moan and press against him, then he steps back with a wicked grin and grabs my hand.
“Come on. Van’s waiting.”
We walk out of the conference room together, fingers still laced.
The hallway feels too bright, too public, but the heat between us doesn’t fade.
Every step makes me more aware of the ache in my body, the way my jeans feel too tight, and Luca’s thumb as it keeps stroking the back of my hand like he can’t stop touching me.
In the van on the way back to the hotel, we sit in the back row. Luca’s hand stays on my thigh the whole ride, fingers tracing lazy patterns that make my skin prickle. We don’t talk much. We don’t need to.
The second the master room door shuts behind us, Luca spins me around and presses me against it.
His mouth is on mine instantly. His hands slide under my shirt, shoving it up as he grinds against me.
“Finally,” he growls against my lips. “Been thinking about this since the meet-and-greet break.”
I moan into the kiss, hands fisting in his hair, pulling him closer. My cock is already straining against my zipper again.
Luca breaks the kiss just long enough to tug my shirt over my head and drop it on the floor.
“Bed,” he says. “Now.”
I don’t argue.
We stumble toward the bed, shedding clothes along the way. By the time we reach the bed, we’re both naked, hands everywhere, mouths crashing together.
Luca pushes me down onto the mattress and crawls over me, eyes dark with lust.
“I’m going to take my time with you this time,” he murmurs, lips brushing my ear and making me shiver. “You’re going to beg to feel every inch of me inside of you.”
I arch up against him, the drag of our cocks brushing together making me ache for it.
“Then stop talking,” I breathe, “and do it.”