by Lily Harlem
Cade dropped his hand. “We’re good together. You know damn well we are.” He paused. “But tell me, Reece. What is it you’re angry about?”
“The video. It’s not exactly…normal to do that, is it?”
“What? Fuck? Yeah, that’s normal.” He laughed.
“No, you know what I mean—record someone without them knowing.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you.” Cade shrugged in a way that made Reece think he wasn’t sorry in the least.
“Yes, you should have.” He tutted.
“But if I had, would you have agreed to it?”
Reece was silent.
“Probably not,” Cade said, “and that would have been a shame because we wouldn’t have that wonderful memento of our first shag.”
Reece huffed and turned to Cade. He studied the way his black eyelashes fanned over his dark eyes. There was something so sinful and delicious about his eyes and Reece wanted nothing more than to stare into them the way he had yesterday when he’d been sucking Cade’s cock.
“Reece,” Cade said quietly. “You do like the video, don’t you?”
Reece swallowed, his palate suddenly dry as he looked at Cade’s mouth. It was such a kissable mouth, fleshy and soft and beneath was a chin he knew scratched against his when they tangled tongues. “Yes, I like the video,” he managed.
Cade reached out and cupped Reece’s cheek in his palm. “So do I, but not as much as I like you.” He leaned forward.
Reece could feel Cade’s breaths on his face. “I like you, but I’m still mad at being filmed without knowing.”
“How about I promise to tell you next time? I’ll have someone shout action, shall I?”
Reece could feel himself melting. He couldn’t be angry with Cade. He was too damn gorgeous and he wanted more fun with him as soon as possible.
Cade kissed him and slid his tongue between Reece’s teeth.
Reece opened up and groaned, his cock surged and his heart romped up a notch. He was glad he hadn’t started painting yet. He’d be worried about getting magnolia on those posh trousers of Cade’s.
“Fuck, I want you again—now,” Cade said, pulling back. He was a little breathless. “I didn’t sleep last night for thinking about you—of bending you over and fucking you and you shoving me to my knees and making me suck your cock. I want that, all of it.”
“I know the feeling,” Reece said. He pressed his index finger over Cade’s cheek, at the point he knew dimpled when he smiled.
“It’s good to hear you say that. I was so worried you’d never speak to me again.”
“It was a shock but…”
“But it’s a good little film and you look fucking amazing.” There was urgency in Cade’s voice. He seemed desperate for Reece to agree with him.
“You’re not so bad looking in it yourself.” Reece grinned.
Cade smiled and Reece’s fingertip pressed into the dimple.
“So we’re okay?” Cade asked.
“Yeah, we’re okay.” Reece paused. “But what was that proposition you wanted to ask me about? About me becoming a rich man?”
“Ah, yeah, that.” Cade pressed his lips together and nodded. “I think, and I hope with all my heart, that you’ll like it.” He threaded his fingers with Reece’s and tugged. “Come on, this way.”
“But…what?”
“This way. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Who?”
“You’ll see.” Cade led Reece from the room and down the stairs. They came to a halt outside the study.
“I think Mr. Henley-Smythe is in there,” Reece said. “I heard him talking earlier.”
“Yeah, I know he’s in there.” Cade squeezed Reece’s hand. “Listen. Just go with this. It might be a shock but it will make you rich and it will get you out of this small town. The world will be your oyster.”
“Cade, I don’t understand.” Reece shook his head.
“You will.” He knocked once on the door then opened it.
Reece looked into the wood-paneled study. A large man with gray hair and a gray mustache sat behind a large desk. He was holding a fountain pen and a mug of steaming liquid sat at his side. “Ah, Cade, good, you found him.”
“Yeah,” Cade said, pulling Reece into the room with him. “Meet Reece.”
“Hello, young man.” Mr. Henley-Smythe stood and walked around the desk. He smiled warmly and held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Yes, you too.” Reece shook his hand.
“How is the decorating coming on?”
“Nearly done, Mr. Henley-Smythe.”
“Oh, please, call me Tom. Everyone else does.”
“Er, okay, Tom. I should be finished by the end of the day.”
“Ah, and then what? Another job lined up?”
“Some work at an old people’s home next week, I think. They haven’t confirmed, I’m supposed to be redoing their lounge.”
Tom nodded. “I see.” He glanced at Cade. “Have you explained anything yet?”
“No, not yet.”
“Well in that case, Reece, you should sit down.” He indicated one of the brown leather chairs in front of the desk.”
“But…?” Reece looked down at his overalls.
“Have you started painting yet today?”
“No, not yet.”
“So it should be fine. Please take a seat. We have much to discuss.”
Reece sat.
Cade took the other chair and crossed his legs.
Reece’s mind was spinning. What could they possibly want to discuss with him? And what was Cade on about becoming a rich man?
Tom steepled his fingers beneath his chin and studied Reece. “I’m in the movie industry.”
“Yes, Cade told me that.”
“Good. Good.” He nodded then tilted his head. “You’re a nice looking fellow. You know that?”
“Well…?”
“Do you work out?”
“A bit.” Reece glanced at Cade, who was studying him. “Could do more, I suppose.”
“Mmm, I think that’s the same for all of us.” He laughed and rubbed his portly belly.
Reece laughed too, just to be polite.
“And you’re gay, is that right?”
The question shocked Reece. He knew he didn’t look like a typical gay, if there was a typical way for gays to look, that is. Cade must have told him. “Er, yeah. I am.” He shrugged. “Always have been, always will be.”
“Good, excellent. Perfect, in fact.”
Reece raised his eyebrows, surprised. That wasn’t the reaction he was used to.
“Did Cade tell you what type of movies I make?” Tom asked.
“No, he didn’t.” A sudden burst of thoughts tripped through Reece’s brain. Suddenly he knew exactly what type of movies Tom Henley-Smythe made and it wasn’t the latest romantic comedy or action adventure.
He sat up straighter and looked at Cade.
Cade held his gaze. It was as though he knew what was rattling around Reece’s head and falling into place.
“I make porn movies,” Tom said. “Well, I prefer to call them adult entertainment, but that can confuse people.”
“Oh, I see,” Reece said, looking at Tom again.
“Gay porn mainly,” Tom went on. “There’s a big market for it. Lots of demand, you know what I mean?”
“Well, no, not really, but I’ll trust you on that one.”
“Reece isn’t into watching porn,” Cade said.
Tom frowned and tipped his head. “Really?”
“Well it’s not that I’ve got anything against it. Just don’t have the time, I suppose, and well…my internet connection at home is a bit dodgy.”
“Ah, that’s unfortunate.” Tom tutted. “There’s some great stuff out there, mostly made by me.” He jabbed his thumb at his chest and laughed.
“I’d agree there,” Cade said with a smile.
Reece looked between the two of them. What the hell
was going on? His life was getting more and more surreal by the minute.
“The thing is,” Tom said, suddenly looking serious. “My two big actors have let me down, bloody divas, and decided they’re not working any more this year, which leaves me high and dry.”
“That’s unfortunate but I don’t see how—”
“High and dry without an actor—well, two, to be exact—to be the stars.” He pointed at Cade. “But luckily Cade has come to the rescue and agreed to be in the movie, which is set to start filming today.”
“You have?” Reece turned to Cade.
“Yep.” Cade fingered the shirt. “Getting paid to wear nice clothes and fuck is my idea of a good day.”
“Trouble is…” Tom hesitated. “Cade has given me a condition.”
“Oh, what’s that?” Reece asked.
“He said he’d only do it if he gets to choose his male lead.”
Reece was struggling to keep up. Tom was filming a porn movie, today? Cade was in it and Cade was picking the male lead? Why the hell was he here?
“And,” Tom said, “he now tells me he’ll only work if you take the job opposite him.” He raised his palms. “He only wants to fuck you, Reece. Only wants you.”
Reece let his jaw hang open. Star in a porno? Him? With Cade?
“Say yes,” Cade said, reaching for Reece’s hand. “Go on. You know you want to. We’ll have an amazing time together.”
“I don’t really understand,” Reece said. The idea of being fucked with hundreds of film crew around wasn’t exactly a turn on.
“I should probably add,” Tom said, “that I have a very unique way of filming my movies. I like my actors relaxed and comfortable, and I also like the orgasms real. Women can fake it, blokes can’t. I want to see that spunk on camera.”
“Spunk on camera?” Reece repeated.
“I insist on only one cameraman in the room. The sound techs and lighting do their job first then get shooed out. So you won’t feel like you’re being ogled by a whole gang of people.”
“Okay,” Reece said. Okay! Why the fuck was he saying okay? That sounded like he was agreeing to this crazy idea.
“And you will be wonderfully looked after during the filming of the movie,” Tom added.
“How long will it take?” Reece asked.
“About a week,” Cade said. “I reckon you could afford to take a break.”
“Do you work for yourself?” Tom asked.
“Yeah, it’s my own business. Won’t make me rich but it keeps me warm and fed.”
Tom leaned forward. “I can pay you handsomely for your services—either in royalties from the finished movie or a one off payment.”
“Well, I don’t know.” Reece turned to Cade. “What are you doing?”
“One off,” Cade said with a shrug. “Know where I’m at then.”
“And how much is the one off?” Reece asked.
“Ten thousand pounds plus all expenses.”
Reece jumped up. “What the fuck? Is this a joke?”
“No,” Cade said with a smile. “No joke.”
Tom stood and walked around the desk. “It’s big business, sex, and it pays well, Reece. Ten thousand is a lot for a first timer but I’m in rather a pickle so I’m happy to pay well to dig my way out of it.” He gestured down the length of Reece’s body. “And you fit the part perfectly.”
Chapter Eight
“I’ll do it.” The words fell from Reece’s mouth and as they did, his heart stuttered. Ten thousand fucking pounds. He’d be able to pay off his credit cards, sort out the van and take a holiday all from one week’s work. Shit a brick, that was awesome.
“You will?” Cade said, raising his eyebrows.
“Fuck yeah. Ten thousand quid to fuck you for a week. How can I say no? How can that be real?” Reece shoved his fingers through his hair.
Tom laughed. “It’s real all right.”
Cade stood and held out his hand to Reece. He tugged him up then pulled him into a hug. “You won’t regret it,” he whispered. “I promise.”
Reece wrapped his arms around Cade’s waist. “I hope not. I’m fucking terrified about being filmed shagging, but I’ll give it a go.”
“You’ll be the next big stars,” Tom said. “You and Cade clearly have chemistry, so just relax and have fun and you’ll hit the high life.” He groaned. “It’s when the two leads hate each other I really run into problems.”
“You won’t have that problem with us,” Cade said, skimming his lips over Reece’s.
“Good. Here are your scripts,” Tom said, pushing two pads of paper toward them on the desk. “Nothing complicated and I don’t mind a bit of ad lib. Just get your cocks out and shag like you mean it.”
Is there any other way to shag?
Reece untangled himself from Cade and took the script. He hadn’t held one since he’d been Joseph in the school Nativity play.
“Slippery Slots,” Cade said, reading the title of the film.
A voice in the back of Reece’s mind asked him again what the hell he was doing—Slippery Slots—but then he thought of his credit card bill and told that stupid voice to shut the hell up. He could do this. It was sex with Cade and he liked that. More than liked, he craved it.
“Okay…” he said. “Now what?” He looked at Tom.
“You go and learn your lines, loosen up, dress up and then we get to it. The set, sound and lighting crew are just finishing off the room.”
“The room?” Reece asked.
Tom placed his hands on his hips and a firmer look came over his face. “It starts now son—the filming. I’ve invested lots in this movie. It’s part of a Cities of the World series I’ve been winning industry awards for. There is much to be done.”
“Oh, well, okay.” Reece gripped the script a little tighter. They were starting now.
“Might as well jump in at the deep end,” Tom said with a twitch of a smile. “If you know what I mean.”
Reece raised his eyebrows. Did Tom know about their pool and hot tub liaisons? Their sunlounger shagging?
“Don’t worry about the decorating, someone else will finish and clear up. I want you to go and learn your lines,” Tom said with a wave. “Drink coffee, take Viagra, shave your chest hair, whatever you want. Go, and I’ll sort out your contracts and then call for you when we’re ready to roll.”
“Righto, boss,” Cade said, heading to the door. “Come on, Reece. I know I could do with a coffee before we start.”
Reece took one last look at Tom then followed Cade out of the office and across the hallway to the kitchen. His legs were a little floaty and his stomach felt hollow. It was like he was in a daydream or something.
“Have you done this before?” Reece asked as Cade filled the kettle.
“Yeah, a couple of times. But not anything this big.” He turned and grinned. “And I don’t mean big as in your cock. I mean big in as being the star of the movie.”
“Oh, I see.” Reece sat on one of the bar stools at the island and clasped his hands together.
“Yeah, this is cool. In the past I’ve stood in for no-shows. A ménage the first time. I was mowing the lawn and Tom strolled across, told me he’d give me three grand to go inside and screw a couple of hot blokes for the afternoon.” He shook his head. “I felt how you’re probably feeling now. A bit stunned.”
“Yeah, stunned is right. I thought I was going to be painting all day.”
“How quickly life can change, eh?”
“You can say that again.” Reece paused. “So what else have you done?”
“Last month I did a week shoot in Spain.”
“Spain?”
“Yeah. You don’t think this tan is all English, do you?” He tapped his chest.
“What was Spain? Another ménage?”
“Nah.” Cade reached for two mugs then spooned instant coffee into them. “That was a short film about matadors. It was fun—lots of whips and spanking and a bit of bondage. I wasn’t the star or an
ything, but I had a few more lines in that one.”
“And you didn’t mind doing all of that on film?”
Cade laughed. “’Course I didn’t mind. I loved it. Like, really loved it. I must be a bit of an exhibitionist because I was just so damn excited to see the end result. Me being fucked, me fucking—the whole thing. It was hot.”
“And you don’t mind if your family and friends see it?”
Cade poured boiling water into the mugs and stirred. “Well, I’d rather my mother didn’t watch it at her crochet club, you know. That just doesn’t feel right. But friends, nah, they know I’m bent as a tent peg and a complete show-off. I haven’t handed out the DVD for birthdays or anything, but if they come across it, hey ho. I’m the one that’s laughing. I’m the one with a damn Porsche.”
“The Boxter’s yours?” Reece widened his eyes.
“Ha, don’t look so impressed.” Cade set his coffee down. “It’s only second-hand and more than a few years old, but that’s what I treated myself to after Spain went so well. And now…” He sat next to Reece and took a sip of his coffee. “And now I’m going to be quids in again. Just like you are.”
Reece pursed his lips and blew out a breath. Damn, all that money. It was so worth feeling a little nervous to have his bank balance hitched up to the sky.
“Are you worried about your folks seeing it?” Cade asked, his smile slipping.
Reece shrugged. “My parents live in Malaysia. Went with my father’s work years ago and then they retired there. I don’t see them for years at a time. I was a pain in the arse as a teenager. We never quite recovered our relationship.”
“Oh, a bad boy.” Cade waggled his eyebrows.
“No, a pain in the arse, like I said. And my mates? I guess I’m like you. They know I’m into blokes, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see me with one.” Reece thought about it for a moment. “I’m not real close to anybody. I’m pretty self-sufficient.”
Cade reached out and placed his hand over Reece’s. “I know we’ve only just met and this is a whirlwind of a thing we’ve got going on, but you’ve got me now.”
“It is a fucking whirlwind, you’re right. But I’m glad. Glad that I have you.”
“Gentlemen, gentleman, what are you doing?”