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Chasing Stars

Page 4

by Cody Ryder


  "I don't know," Jackson said. "It might. But there's no way I can afford to pay for that."

  "What if I offered to cover the expenses for you?"

  Jackson looked at him like he was crazy, and maybe he was.

  "Seriously," Christopher said. "You could stay and write your book, and I wouldn't have to suffer from extreme loneliness. It'll be great."

  "No, I couldn't," Jackson said. "That's a lot of money, and we only just met. And my dad…"

  "Who cares about your dad? Do what's right for you. And it's no problem for me. Trust me, the cost of putting you up here is not an issue at all. Understand?"

  Jackson frowned. "Are you really a market researcher?"

  "No," Christopher said. "I'm not."

  "Don't tell me you're actually a sugar baby or something."

  Christopher laughed. "No, not any of that. I'm guessing you don't go to the movies much?"

  "Not if I can help it. I try to avoid Hollywood culture as much as I can. I get enough of it at home."

  "Trust me, I know what you mean." He tensed. "The truth is, I'm actually an actor. I didn't want to say anything about it, because it seemed like you didn't recognize me, and that's so rare for me. It's been a long, long time since I've been able to have this with someone else. Freedom from that life, you know? I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the truth."

  "I understand," Jackson said, eyes wide. "I really do. So that's why Amy was so enamored by you. She knows you. How interesting…"

  Christopher smiled, and felt himself relaxing. A part of him had been preparing for Jackson's disposition to change, for him to take on a different tone of voice or for his body language to become more restrained, but he remained the same. The fact that Christopher was famous hadn't fazed him at all. This one is rare, he thought.

  "Well, I really appreciate the offer," Jackson said. "But I can't accept it. I've already been relying so much on other people to get to where I am, so I think it’s time to face reality. If I can't manage to write this book, then maybe it's just beyond my abilities."

  "That's fair," Christopher said. "I understand the desire to prove to yourself what you can do. But don't ever limit yourself."

  He’d known Jackson wouldn't accept. Had Christopher been in his position, he wouldn't have either. It was a lot of money, and they were still strangers. But he had to admit, he was disappointed, and a small part of him had really been hoping he would agree to stay. For a moment, he considered asking Jackson if he'd be interested in meeting up back in Los Angeles, but then decided against it. Things wouldn't be the same. He'd be back in his old environment, surrounded by all the usual people, back to evading the paparazzi and being stopped for selfies and autographs in cafes and restaurants and supermarkets. He was able to tap into something special here. He was able to become a normal person again. Jackson would be the same person back in Los Angeles, but Christopher would be someone different. He would be back to being Christopher Lawton, movie star.

  "What time are you off tomorrow?" Christopher asked.

  "Checkout time is at ten," said Jackson. "So, around then."

  "We should get brunch. I want to see you off."

  "I'd really like that," Jackson said, flashing his shining smile.

  Christopher felt a sudden and powerful urge to slip his hand around Jackson's waist and draw him into a kiss. He really liked him, and the alcohol wasn't helping. He was then touched by an equally powerful sense of longing and lament. Jackson was leaving, and he was going to miss him. He'd only known him for a few hours, but those few hours had been wonderful. It'd felt real, and Christopher was suddenly faced with the realization that it'd been a long time since he had anything so real. The world he'd been existing in for so long had been one of fantasy and delusions and fakery. Perhaps his own no-nonsense, don't-give-a-shit attitude had been his sole defense against completely losing himself to the lie, too.

  The worst part about it was that he wanted to go back to it. Despite all the realizations, that world was his. It might make him miserable, but it was all he really knew. It was the only way he knew how to exist. A lie. A fake. Unauthentic. He couldn't even come out of the closet publicly for fear of it changing his image, of losing opportunities. He could punch a guy in the face for killing his movie, but he couldn't even be true to himself. He was trying to be a champion for queer people. What kind of champion hid their true selves from the world?

  After the fire died down, Christopher walked Jackson back to his room, which was located on the lobby floor. They'd finished the second bottle of wine, and Jackson had wrapped his arm around Christopher's shoulder and was leaning against him for support. Christopher kept his arm around him to keep him steady. It was obvious Jackson wasn't much of a drinker.

  "This is my room," Jackson said, struggling to pull out his key card. He finally did and stuffed it into the lock on the door. It buzzed red. "Dammit." He tried again. Red. "What happened?"

  "Maybe you demagnetized the card," Christopher suggested.

  "Crap."

  "It's alright, let's go back to the front and have Ms. Amy make you another key."

  "Ugh," Jackson said, drunkenly holding onto Christopher's wrist. "I'm so glad you're here, Christopher. And so sad that I'm leaving tomorrow. You're such a cool person. I'm so glad you dropped your phone on my head."

  "Wait… On your head?!"

  Jackson smiled, his eyes droopy from the booze. "So glad."

  "Jackson, you said I dropped it on your shoulder."

  "Oh, yeah. I did, didn't I? Oops. It's okay, it didn't hurt."

  "Oh my God." Christopher couldn't help but laugh. He gingerly touched the top of Jackson's head. "You poor thing, I'm so sorry. I'm a terrible person."

  "Shut up! No. I'm telling you, it didn't hurt at all."

  They walked back to the lobby, arm in arm. A few embers glowed in the fireplace and the room was gently lit by several table lamps. The rain hadn't lessened at all and continued to streak down the windows. The front desk was empty and dark.

  "Where's Amy?" Jackson said. "Where's your little fangirl?"

  Christopher laughed and elbowed Jackson's arm. "Shut up! If she hears you she'll die of embarrassment."

  "Amyy!" Jackson said, loudly. "Aaaammyy!"

  "Jackson!" Christopher clapped his hand over his mouth, and the two of them busted up laughing.

  They walked all around the lobby floor, but Amy was nowhere to be found. "Well," Jackson said, sitting down in the middle of the floor and stretching out. "I guess I'll just sleep here, then."

  "No, no. C'mon, get up. Get up, you asshole!" Christopher tugged him back to his feet. "You're coming back to my room. We need to get you some water."

  "I don't want to intrude," said Jackson.

  "I've got plenty of room. You can take the couch."

  "You've got a couch?"

  "C'mon. Let's go."

  They made it up to the fourth floor, and Christopher flung open the door to the presidential suite. Lady came trotting over and licked both of their hands. Jackson gaped at the gigantic room.

  "Fan-cy," he said. "Wow, your bed is huge!" He ran over to the bed and jumped into the billowing covers. "Mine just has a queen-sized."

  Christopher grabbed a bottle of Fiji water from the fridge and brought it over to Jackson. He'd kicked off his shoes and had grabbed one of the big fluffy down pillows and was squeezing it against his body. "Drink some water," Christopher said. "Here." He rested the bottle against Jackson's neck. He squirmed.

  "Cold."

  "Drink," he urged, and went to the bathroom to wash up and change into pajamas. When he came back to the bedroom, he found Jackson lying on the bed holding the bottle of water against his chest, his eyes closed. "You can take the couch," Christopher whispered. "Or we can share the bed."

  Jackson murmured softly and burrowed into the covers. He seemed to be drifting off already.

  "Goodnight, Lady," Christopher said. The German Shepherd gazed over at him from her bed and then curled
herself up. Christopher slid under the covers next to Jackson, who was still clutching the bottle of water. "Goodnight," he said to Jackson.

  "Thank you," Jackson said, he eyes still closed. He then moved himself closer to Christopher, and his forehead was nearly touching his collarbone.

  Christopher pushed a strand of hair from Jackson's face. He felt that pang of attraction and longing, and sighed. Then, to his surprise, Jackson draped his arm over Christopher's waist. Christopher's heart started to pound fast. What was this? Did this mean something, or was Jackson just drunk? He didn't want to misread, but… God, it'd been a long time since he'd been with anyone, and the feeling of closeness was intoxicating. With a hesitant hand, Christopher reached out and gently stroked Jackson's hair.

  Jackson opened his eyes and tilted his neck to look up at Christopher. His hand moved from his waist, gliding up until it met Christopher's hair, and he smiled and stroked his hair, his fingers following along the curve of his head until it reached the back of his neck. Christopher shivered slightly at the touch.

  He couldn't hold back. Just one… He leaned forward and kissed Jackson on the lips. It was a light, tiny kiss, like dipping a toe into a bathtub to test the water. He braced for shocked rejection, but Jackson returned it. Christopher gazed into Jackson's eyes, feeling slightly woozy from both the excitement and the buzz of the alcohol. He felt like he was on set, and he was shooting a scene from a movie. It didn't feel real. It felt like at any moment, the director would yell "cut!" and they'd both turn away from each other, back to their own worlds, the chemistry vanishing into the ether. But this was really happening. This was real.

  Six

  Jackson had been surprised to learn that Christopher was actually an actor. It seemed like no matter how hard he tried to get away, the Hollywood life was always there, stalking him. He could move to the middle of the country and still run into someone from the industry, someone connected. Most people would get excited to meet someone connected to the family business, but not Jackson. It was better to not mention it at all. He wanted to be his own person, but it was difficult when you had a family so integrated into the industry. That was why he preferred going by his mother's maiden name.

  Getting involved with Christopher was probably not the best idea for someone trying to distance themselves from Hollywood, but the attraction had developed before he'd learned his true identity. But maybe it wouldn't have mattered. He liked Christopher. And now…

  Christopher's tongue flicked lightly against Jackson's lips as he kissed him, his fingers caressing his cheek. Jackson shivered at the touch. Christopher made him feel desired, sexy. He felt the warm rush of excitement building down below. Maybe he was a little drunk, but he realized that this was what he’d wanted the entire day, and it was actually happening.

  He slid his arms around Christopher's waist and pulled himself so their bodies were close together, and then drew in a breath of the man’s enthralling scent and felt it wash through him like the high of a drug. He was awake now, and he pushed his lips to Christopher's again, and this time their tongues touched and gently played against each other. When they broke from the kiss, Christopher stroked Jackson's cheek and hair and gazed into his eyes.

  "I wasn't expecting that to happen,” Christopher whispered.

  "Me neither," Jackson said. "But I did want it to."

  "Really?"

  He nodded. "I'm glad we met."

  “I wish you would reconsider my offer. But I understand why you can't, and I respect that."

  Jackson smiled. "I'm going to face my challenges head on. But I won't give up, so don't worry."

  Christopher kissed him. "Good. Take control."

  Jackson felt a flutter in his heart. "I don't want to stop with just a kiss."

  "We don't have to," said Christopher. "I'll do whatever you want me to do. We agreed to have fun tonight. Tomorrow, we'll both be strangers again."

  It was sad to hear those words, but Jackson knew that was just the reality of it. They'd both go back to their own lives, and this flash of fate would be over. He pulled Christopher into another kiss and moved on top of him, straddling Christopher's hips. He pulled his shirt off and dropped it onto the bed, and Christopher reached up and caressed his chest, circling his fingers over his erect nipples. Jackson murmured softly and came back down for another kiss. He lifted Christopher's shirt up and lowered his mouth to his nipples, teasing them with his tongue.

  Christopher's hands moved to Jackson's stomach and to the waist of his jeans. He unfastened them with a pop. Then, he leaned forward onto his knees and let Christopher help him pull them down his thighs. He was in nothing but his underwear, and he suddenly felt self-conscious in front of him.

  Christopher tugged off his own shirt and rose up so that they were both kneeling across from one another. He was wearing a pair of drawstring pajamas, and he slipped them off and dropped them onto the floor. Seeing Christopher's picture-perfect physique didn't help with his confidence.

  Christopher leaned forward and gently maneuvered Jackson onto his back. He took his hands and intertwined his fingers into Jackson’s, holding them onto the bed as he leaned down to kiss him. He kissed down his neck to the indent of his collarbone, across his chest and the curve of his stomach. Jackson watched as he moved lower and lower, and little shivers of excitement coursed up through his body. Then, Christopher’s lips reached his thighs, and he kissed all up and down inside of his legs, causing goosebumps to dot his skin. His desire swelled firm against the inside of his underwear, begging to be released.

  "You're gorgeous," Christopher said. "You're perfect."

  Jackson wanted to close his eyes with embarrassment as Christopher hooked his fingers underneath the band of his underwear and slowly drew them down his legs, but he just couldn't stop watching. He followed Christopher's lips with anticipation as they made their way closer and closer, always deflecting away at the last moment, teasing him. Jackson realized that his hips were also following Christopher's lips, moving around and trying to stop them in just the right place. He wanted to feel his lips on him so badly, it was driving him mad. Christopher, whose eyes had never left his own, had apparently sensed what he was thinking. He rose up on one forearm, steadied the base of Jackson’s cock with one hand, and finally brought his mouth over him.

  Jackson shivered as he felt the warm caress of Christopher's tongue swirling around him. Pulses of pleasure jolted through his body, and he pushed his hips up, thrusting himself deeper into Christopher's mouth. He groaned loudly and clutched at the blankets, unable to keep himself from writhing with ecstasy from Christopher's movements. It'd been so long since he'd been with anyone, and he'd been wanting it so badly.

  "Oh my God," Jackson murmured as Christopher swallowed him further. Every moment was driving him wild, sending surges through him that pulled moans from his lips and made his body tremble. It was like Christopher had full control over him, knowing exactly what to do with his tongue, lips, and fingers. "Let me," he whispered, his voice shivering with pleasure. "I want to taste you, too."

  Christopher moved back and wordlessly took off his own underwear. He looked so powerful, so in control. A man who knew everything he liked and how to get it. Would Jackson even know how to give him what he wanted?

  Christopher leaned over him and kissed Jackson once before swinging his body around so they could both pleasure each other at the same time. Jackson ran his tongue up and down his shaft just as Christopher did the same to him, their bodies quivering with pleasure as they swallowed each other. He was delicious, and Jackson relished the taste of his precome on his tongue. Their moans filled the room, and Jackson could feel himself coming towards climax.

  With Christopher's divine attention, it didn't take long for him to get there. "C-Christopher," he moaned. "I'm gonna come… Oh shit, I'm gonna come!"

  Christopher didn't say a word and just kept going until finally he whispered, "I'm almost there, too."

  Jackson was at his limit and let
himself go over the edge. "I'm coming," he moaned. "I'm coming."

  Christopher could only murmur in reply, and Jackson felt him throb in his mouth and tasted the bitterness of his come burst across his tongue. He swallowed everything, just as Christopher did the same for him. They both were caught in the throes of their finish, and Jackson felt it rolling over him like a tidal wave of the most incredible pleasure he'd ever felt.

  Christopher rolled next to him, his body still shaking gently, like some invisible force was sending electric pulses through his muscles. He wrapped his arms and legs around Jackson and kissed him, breathing heavily. Jackson laughed and nuzzled his face into Christopher's neck.

 

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