by Terry Towers
For a moment it occurred to me that he was going to be an employee. While we joked, would it be appropriate to follow this form of intimacy? Shit, why was I even obsessing right now? I wanted this, I needed this. Tomorrow would figure itself out. Gripping the bottom of his t-shirt, I tugged it up. Taking the hint he pulled his lips from mine, sat back on his heels and yanked the t-shirt over his head, tossing it to the floor.
My eyes began to scan his chest and I couldn’t have stopped the gasp that escaped my lips. Not because his chest and torso were appalling – his chest and abdominals were a work of art, no doubt years of carefully defining the muscle at the gym. But what made me gasp was the amount of scars covering his chest and torso. Long scars, short scars, circular scars, but none seemed recent. Since the lighting had been so dim in his room the previous evening I hadn’t noticed the scars, but in the light of the living room, with the afternoon sun beaming in, they were impossible to ignore.
Feeling his eyes on me, I lifted my eyes to meet his and I tried to smile, but couldn’t. What in the name of God had he been through Maybe he had been a stuntman for one of the shows or movies I’d had roles in. “Elijah, wha–”
“I’d rather not talk about it, Sid. Not now anyway. It was a different life, one I don’t enjoy reliving.” His eyes pled with me not to push it. He’d tell me the story if I asked. I knew he would, but I couldn’t do that to him.
I traced the lines of muscle in his chest. “You’re beautiful, Elijah. Beautiful.”
The look of relief and gratitude in his eyes brought tears to my eyes. I was such a soft person, I hated that other people’s pain got to me so easily, but how could it not? How could someone with a heart not feel for what someone else may have endured? It’s why I spent so much time fundraising for shelters and various other charities.
When his lips came down onto mine once more I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful to have my mind taken back to better, more pleasurable things – such as the feel of his body on mine. Just as our kiss deepened and grew more heated, the sound of my mobile phone rang out – my manager – I had a special ringtone just for him.
Shit, shit, shit! Just when I’d decided to ignore the phone it occurred to me that I was waiting on a callback for a big movie role. The role of a lifetime! Oh SHIT! Placing my palms on Elijah’s chest I gave him a push, but in my excitement, hoping it was THE CALL, I’d put much more force into my push than intended. Catching him by surprise in a position that was already unstable my push sent him toppling off of the sofa, and onto the floor with a low “Umph” escaping his lips.
“You could have just told me to tone it down.”
“Oh, no! Sorry. Are you okay?” I didn’t wait for a reply as I leapt from the sofa and over his head, grateful I didn’t catch him in the temple with my heel as I rushed from the living room to the kitchen where the phone was continuing to wail. I’d apologize later.
Chapter 8
Elijah
Lying on the carpeted floor, I remained there a moment contemplating the events of the past 24 hours. I couldn’t hear her conversation, but assumed it was important by the way she raced after the phone like her life depended on it.
I swear I could have closed my eyes and fallen to sleep right then and there. I hadn’t been joking when I’d told her she’d been tossing and turning something awful, it was like sleeping with a jackrabbit on speed. But it was understandable considering what she’d been through and I wouldn’t trade last night for the world. Well, maybe the her almost getting raped part. I’d certainly have traded that, but it brought us together and those assholes would get what they deserved, I vowed to that.
“I got it!”
I sat upright and peered around the corner of the sofa and watched her bounce into the living room; perhaps the jackrabbit analogy wasn’t too far off. Standing, I only made it three steps toward her when she leapt onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist and arms around my neck, coating my face with quick kisses. Now, in the movies when a woman suddenly leaps at his man like this, it’s a beautifully romantic thing, but you have to keep in mind the actor is prepared – I wasn’t. In fact, it took every ounce of power in me to catch her and keep from falling backwards into the glass coffee table – I swear the chick was tiny but packed a wallop when excited like this.
Her enthusiasm was priceless and I found myself laughing with her, still perplexed over the reason for all of the excitement. But if she was happy, I was happy, end of story. “Got what? What’s going on?”
“The part.” She unwrapped her legs from around my waist and stood on her own, looking up at me and grinning wider than I’d ever seen her.
“What part?”
“Oh my God, you claim to be my number one fanboy –”
“I’m not a fanboy.” I attempted to scowl at her, but failed miserably. I couldn’t even pretend to be insulted when she was this happy.
She ignored my theatrics anyhow. “– but you didn’t know I was up for the lead role in the new Zombie Apocalypse movie, being directed by that new hotshot director Ian Cambridge? It’s going to be the next huge hit, or supposed to be, the studio is funneling an insane amount of money into production and the launch promotion budget is insane!”
“That’s amazing.”
She squealed and tossed herself into my arms again. This time I was prepared, catching her effortlessly. This time, however, her kiss was on the lips – quick, but intense. She pulled out my arms far too quickly for my liking. “Okay, so we need to go and get packed, we need to be in Vancouver in the morning.”
“What?”
“Yeah, Ian wanted to meet me and he’s filming a different movie in Vancouver so we have to fly out there tonight. You have a passport, right?”
Not under the name I use now I don’t, I mused. Shit. I hadn’t thought this through. If I got stopped at customs my real name would come up. If she were standing beside me then I’d have a lot of explaining to do.
“Of course. When do you fly into Vancouver?”
“I still have to book it. So I’ll book us both.” She chewed at her lower lip and gave me a pleading look. “Can you leave in a few hours?”
I could come clean… As soon as the idea came to mind I quickly dismissed it. No way in hell. Not yet. Eventually, but not yet. I grimaced. “Dammit, I can’t right away. How about you catch the flight and I’ll follow, I’ll only be a few hours behind. I have a few things I need to get done.”
“Then I can wait for you. He doesn’t need to see me until the morning.” She shrugged. “I just wanted to spend a little time exploring the city with you… and I don’t want to be alone.”
Awww, damn. I couldn’t let her go alone when she said it like that. “I suppose I could run the chores later. How about I take you to the hotel so you can get your stuff and while you’re doing that I’ll book the tickets.”
She grinned. “Okay.” She looked down at herself. “Let me put on some pants and we’ll go.”
An hour later my luggage was in the trunk of my car and I was waiting for Sidney to return with her stuff and check out of the hotel. All right. Tickets bought. They were purchased separately so as long as I didn’t get hung up in customs she’d never know my real name. I let out a sigh of relief. It was funny that every time I’d seen her at the conventions I’d secretly hoped she’d recognize me and now it was the last thing I wanted. But that was before last night happened, before whatever it was between us happened. Maybe I should just tell her. The idea kept running through my head, but it was too early. She needed to know who I was now before allowing memories of who I was back then to change her mind about me.
Noticing her coming across the parking lot, her suitcase trailing behind her, I got out of the car and frowned. She looked upset. I’d intentionally gone to the back and instructed her to enter the back of the hotel so she wouldn’t see the alleyway. She’d done as told.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as she approached, popping the trunk and taking her suitcase from her.
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“Someone in the suite beside me died. There were police inside and they were taking his body out of the room.”
Ahhh. Yes, with so much going on I’d forgotten about yesterday’s job. I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. “Don’t let it upset you. This is a great day. I have us booked on the next flight; it leaves in a few hours.”
She nodded, forcing a smile on her face. “You’re right. This is a good day.”
~*~*~*~*~
“Not to be a snob, but economy, Elijah?” She crinkled her nose up as she looked down at the small seat in the back section of the plane.
“What’s wrong with economy? Why would we pay four times the amount of money for a seat in the front of the plane? Besides, if it goes down who do you think dies first?” I gave her a little nudge to slide into the window seat, then took my place in the aisle.
“If you feel that way, why pay so much for your clothes? I saw the labels and that massive walk-in closet. And I only imagine the millions it cost for the house in Santa Monica. You don’t have a problem spending money.”
“Because, I like to look good. The first impression someone gets of you is extremely important, Sidney. And a house is where I spend my time – sometimes anyhow. A seat in a plane is only a few hours. It’s a pointless expense. It’s a matter of spending money on what really matters.”
“How can someone working security pay for those things anyhow?”
I chuckled. “Because I don’t pay for first-class seats on an airplane.” I got swatted on the shoulder for that comment.
“Ouch. Boy you’re full of questions this afternoon.”
“Shut up, I didn’t hurt you.” She went to swat me again, but I grabbed her wrist, leaned in and kissed her. When I straightened back up she was beaming up at me.
“I said I did personal security, but that’s not the only thing I do for money. Besides, it’s not like I’m a rent-a-cop at a mall. You get what you pay for.” Lying bastard, my conscience chimed in.
She cocked a brow up at me and her smile turned wicked. “What? You in porn then?”
A bark of laughter escaped me. “Hardly.” I nodded to her lap and then fastened my safety belt. “Now, buckle up.”
~*~*~*~
Sidney
“This is more like it,” I announced as we entered the suite I’d booked for us while he’d booked the airline tickets, he refused to allow me to reimburse him for the airline tickets, but at least I paid for the room. We’d have to have a long discussion over finances later. I just didn’t want to ruin the good mood both of us were in.
He smiled. “You did make quite a fuss over having to sit in economy.”
“I didn’t complain that much.” I made my way through the two-bedroom suite, exploring. While I put my suitcase in one bedroom, I didn’t miss the fact he put his in the other. I wasn’t sure if I was disappointed or relieved he wasn’t presumptuous.
“Sure.” He entered the living room and made a show of rolling his eyes at me.
“Hey! I got an idea. Well, actually more of a surprise than an idea.”
Leaning against the door jamb, he crossed his arms over his chest and eyed me. He was wearing a blue V-neck sweater that fit snugly along his sculpted torso and blue jeans. He looked sexy. The colour of his sweater matched his eyes perfectly and again I was struck by how similar he looked to someone. Damn, I just wished I knew why. It’s not like he had just “one of those faces,” because he didn’t.
“Okay, hit me with it. What’s this big idea?”
Exiting the bedroom, I went over to the closet by the door and pulled it open. As promised, the concierge had two brown garment bags hanging in the closet. “I made a couple of phone calls when you were packing, pulled a couple of strings with one of the film studios in the city and had the concierge pick something up for us.” Grabbing the garment bags I took them into “my room” and unzipped them.
“What in the hell are those?” He frowned, eyeing me as if I’d lost my mind.
I pulled the Batman costume out of the garment bag and passed it to him. “It’s our costumes for the comic con tonight. We gotta hurry, it started a half hour ago. I got us VIP passes though so there won’t be waiting in line and the convention is just down the street so we can walk there.”
Pulling the Catwoman costume out of the other bag I put it up to myself and spun to face him. “We match. Won’t it be cool? I’m going to get to see the convention from the other side of the table and not have to worry about people recognizing me.”
Chapter 9
Elijah
“You look just so sexy, Elijah. Wow!” Sidney stated, smiling wide as I emerged from my room decked out in the costume she’d given me, a replica of the Batman costume Michael Keaton wore. It was heavy and hot, a combination of thick sculpted rubber and fabric – mostly rubber and it was very stiff to walk and move in. It was going to be a nightmare to wear tonight, no wonder so many people stank of BO at conventions wearing stuff like this.
However, taking a look at Sidney in the shiny leather Catwoman costume that was an exact replica of the one Halle Berry wore in Catwoman made it all worthwhile. She even had a black bullwhip dangling from her fingertips. If it had room my cock would have quickly swollen to full potential, but the thing was so tight there was virtually no room for swelling of any kind.
“You know, when I decided to take this job, there’s a lot you didn’t disclose about the duties.”
She laughed, moving into the living room and finding an open space. “Look at this. I’ve been practicing while waiting for you.” She swung the whip, but was a little off center and instead of it snapping against the marble floor the tip of the whip slammed into a vase, sending it flying across the room and at my head.
“Fuck!” The costume wouldn’t allow a quick dodge, but I manage to shift positions just enough to get out of the way and catch it. I mean, literally, the vase grazed my rubber-clad cheek. Had I not reacted as quickly as I did I would have gotten it right in the fucking face.
“Ooops.” Her blue eyes widened and she clamped her lips tight together, but I could see she was fighting back laughter.
“Ooops. That all you got for me, huh?”
She shrugged. “How about I treat ya to a photo op with a celebrity to make it up to you?”
I planted my hands on my hips in classic Batman style, not because I was imitating Batman’s iconic stance, but because it’s one of the only motions I could make comfortably. “Did you not see my stalker binder last night? Did you not notice the only photo op I ever get is with you? Why would I want a photo op with someone else?”
She allowed a grin to spread on her lips as she walked… no, she sauntered over to me, her hips swaying seductively – catlike – in the leather pants that rode low on her hips. She needed to lose ten pounds my ass. She was as sexy as fuck just the way she was. “Trust me, looking like this, the convention-goers will have a field day taking pictures of us together.”
I sighed. “I suppose.”
She had a little black leather utility belt on and she opened up the pocket to produce two passes on lanyards. She hooked one onto my belt and then one onto hers. “This is going to be so much fun! I feel like I’m crashing a party or something.”
“Right.”
“Oh, and my old co-star is there signing autographs.” She looked up at me. “You remember Rebecca? She used to play Tilly on the show.”
“Vaguely.”
“I can’t wait to see her expression when I get in her autograph line and ask for an autograph, bet she won’t even recognize me. It’s going to be so much fun being like everyone else and not having to be badgered for autographs and selfies and all that. Not that I mind normally.” She shrugged again. “I just want to have a fun night with you though.”
“Well, come on hun, let’s go.” I opened the door to our suite and offered her my arm, which she quickly accepted.
As promised the walk to the convention center lasted less than five minutes an
d I was grateful for the cool weather outside otherwise I’d have been a sweat-covered mess. And she’d been right, we got stares. Despite so many other people dressed up we got more than our fair share of stares and several requests to pose for photos – which she insisted we accommodate.
“You’re really going to owe me Boss,” I leaned down and whispered, my lips close enough to her ear that I saw her tremble, as we were ushered into the packed convention center by staff.
~*~*~*~*~
Sidney
Looking over my shoulder at Elijah, I couldn’t help but feel blessed I’d met him, regardless of the circumstances that brought us together. He was such a good sport. How in the hell was he single? He seemed to have everything, looks, charm, sense of humour – he was a full package guy. A little tight-lipped on his past or himself in general, but that’s okay, I liked a challenge. But most of all, I felt secure around him, like I’d never, ever be hurt. Could he be rebound boy? Was I rushing into the arms of another man as a way to speed track my getting over Anthony? I didn’t know the answer and preferred not to dwell on it. But it had only been 24 hours, I was a long way from knowing him.
“Your costumes are amazing!” I heard someone exclaim behind us. I stopped walking, Elijah by my side and we both turned to see a group of four teenagers, all in homemade cosplay costumes to look like The Fantastic Four, eyeing us with envy. “Did you make those yourself?”
“No. Borrowed.”
“Can we get a picture? Batman and Catwoman would be so cool for our Facebook page, you guys look just like the movie versions!”
I flashed her a smile, answering without bothering to check with Elijah. “Of course. We’d love to.” Instead of the usual side-by-side we’d given previous people I slid my whip around his neck and pulled him towards me. He cocked a brow at me, but obliged, bending down to me and pulling me into his arms.