“Oh God.” Anthony shivered. He pulled Samir’s shirt completely free from his waistband. “I think I might like your brand of cardio better than my trainer’s.” His hands froze for a second as he realized what he’d just said. “I mean, this beats the hell out of a treadmill.”
Samir sat up to take off his shirt. “Well, I hope it’s less boring than a treadmill.”
“Oh, there is nothing boring about anything you do.” He pulled Samir closer and kissed along his collarbone. “Nothing boring. My God.”
“Good.” Samir ground against Anthony’s clothed dick. “Wouldn’t want you—”
The shriek of a cell phone startled both of them.
“Fuck.” Anthony fumbled for his pocket. “That’s Leanne’s ringtone.”
Samir lifted himself up so Anthony could get to his phone, but stayed over his lap.
“Don’t go anywhere,” Anthony said, running his free hand up Samir’s side. “We’ll make this quick.” Then he hit Accept. “Hey, Leanne. What’s up?”
“I need to keep this short because I need to get on the horn with your fearless coauthor.”
“Uh, okay.” Anthony looked up at Samir. “He’s actually right here with me.”
Samir blanched.
“Oh good. Can you put me on speaker?”
Anthony touched his face and mouthed “Relax. It’ll be fine.” To Leanne, he said, “Okay, hold on.” Then, when she was on speaker, “We can both hear you.”
“Samir?”
“Yep, I’m here.”
“Good, good. Listen, kids, this thing is going insane. I mean, absolutely insane. The editor is totally on board with the joint books as long as you’re both willing to work your asses off in edits. He trusts Anthony, and by extension, Samir, since we’re assuming you’ll keep each other in line. Thing is, they were planning to unveil the cover and release date for book eight at MoonCon. And now that we have book eight, well, the short version is, they want to announce Axis Mundi at the con.”
Samir paled even more. Anthony caressed his cheek as he said to Leanne, “But that’s three weeks away.”
“I know it is, hon. We’re down to the wire, though, and we can only push so long before fans start showing up at your door with torches and pitchforks.”
“Oh God,” Samir croaked. He moved off Anthony’s lap and sat on the couch beside him.
Anthony ran a hand up the center of Samir’s bare chest. “So I’m assuming you want both of us in an official capacity at MoonCon.”
“Yes. We’ll just add Samir to your Q&A, and give you both seats at the panels.”
Samir gulped. Anthony squeezed his arm gently.
“I know it’s all going absolutely crazy fast,” she said. “Believe me, it’s tripping me up too. But when all is said and done, this is going to be awesome.”
“Yeah, it is.” Anthony stroked Samir’s arm, watching his eyes as the kid struggled to take it all in. “What about contracts? Samir hasn’t even signed for all of this yet.”
“That’s the next step. The publisher and I have been negotiating like crazy for the last forty-eight hours, and we’ve finalized the contract for books eight and nine, splitting the money and rights between the two of you. It’s the same contract you’ve signed before, Anthony, just with Samir added on. You and I can discuss later how this will work with the advance you’ve already received, since this is going to take some legal and accounting gymnastics that are definitely not normal protocol.”
“Not surprised.”
“And with two books instead of one, we’re looking at a total advance of three and a half million. I pushed for more, but they’re taking a pretty big risk with this. Don’t worry, though. All the subsidiary rights? I’ll make you boys some money. Especially once the contracts are renewed for the TV show.”
Samir rubbed a hand over his face. “Holy shit.”
“I don’t hear any celebrating over there. Is that stunned silence?”
Anthony forced a laugh. “Something like that. When will we have the contracts?”
“They’re in your inboxes already. The sooner you sign them, the sooner all this gets moving. But it means I need book eight with all its requisite changes ASAP.”
“Define ASAP.”
“Monday.”
Anthony almost choked. “Leanne, that’s insane. Friday’s the best I can promise.”
“Fine, fine. Make it happen. No later than Friday, though, or I swear to God, I will be at your doorstep with a cattle prod.”
He didn’t doubt for a second that she meant it. “We’ll make it happen. Thanks, Leanne.”
“Thank you, gentlemen. And congrats, kid.”
“Thanks,” Samir said flatly.
They hung up, and Anthony set his phone on the coffee table. He wrapped his arm around Samir’s shoulders.
“What do you think will happen with your advance?” Samir asked.
“I’ll give them another book if I know what’s good for me.” Anthony ran his fingers through Samir’s hair. “Don’t worry about that part, though. Leanne will make a deal and sort things out. Trust me, none of this is normal protocol. They’re just desperate for the next book.”
Samir laughed dryly. “Good to be in demand, eh?”
“Sometimes. Sometimes not.”
“Yeah. I should be so excited, but it’s—”
Anthony drew him in and pressed his lips to Samir’s. “It’s okay. You’ll get your head around it eventually.”
“I know. I know. I guess ... God, MoonCon? Seriously.” He met Anthony’s eyes. “I’m one of the fans. I know how devoted these people are. And now I’m going to stand up in front of them and say with a straight face that I’m writing Triple Moon?”
“You know why you have to do that, right?”
“Why?”
Anthony brushed a few strands of dark hair out of his face. “Because you wrote a fantastic book that’s a million times better than what I was going to write. The fans might be resistant at first, but when they read it?” He smiled. “They’re going to love it.”
Samir held his gaze. Finally, he leaned against Anthony. “I promise, I’m happier about this than I seem. Just getting used to the idea of all of it.”
“I know.” Anthony kissed him again. “Believe me, I know.”
Samir sighed. “So much for our weekend of fucking off.”
“Yeah.” Anthony lifted Samir’s chin. “But we don’t have to start right this minute.”
“But we don’t have much time. We have— Oh.” Samir stared at him, but then pulled in a breath. “Oh.”
“We’ve got edits and contracts to deal with, but ...” Anthony brushed his lips across Samir’s. “All of that can wait. I can’t.”
He kissed Samir full-on, sliding his fingers through Samir’s hair again. Samir was tense at first, but then he sighed into the kiss.
“We should take this upstairs,” Samir murmured.
“Nope.” Anthony ran a fingertip up the center of Samir’s spine, grinning when he shivered. “I’ve almost got you right where I want you.”
“Almost?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Samir climbed back onto Anthony’s lap. “Better?”
“Oh, much ...” Anthony ran his hands over Samir’s bare chest. “Much better.”
“I kind of like this.” Samir ground against him, clothed erections rubbing together and making Anthony’s vision blur. “Don’t know if I want to move.”
Anthony squeezed Samir’s ass with both hands. “Don’t tell me you want to stay dressed.”
“Didn’t say that.” Samir kissed him. “But I like ... this.”
“So I see. I like it too. In fact ...” Anthony nipped above Samir’s collarbone. “I want to fuck you like this. Right here. Just like this.”
Samir moaned softly, arching against him. “Condoms ...”
“Damn it.” He drew Samir down to him. “You get undressed. I’ll go get the condoms.”
“I should just come up the
re with you.”
Anthony considered it, and then nodded. “Anything to save time because I do not want to wait.”
Samir kissed him once more, and they rose. Anthony took Samir’s hand on the way up the stairs. Damn, just that contact, that simple, affectionate touch, nearly caused him to stop and tear the rest of Samir’s clothes off right there on the stairs. He was hanging by a thread, and he could’ve sworn there were fewer steps between here and the second floor. But by the grace of God, they made it up the stairs and into the bedroom. The clothes came off, and Anthony wrapped his arms around Samir’s warm, naked body, fully intending to pull him down with him onto the bed now that everything they needed was well within reach.
Samir had other plans, though.
“Wait,” he murmured.
“Hmm?”
“There’s no need to rush, is there?”
Aside from the fact that just standing here with you and a hard-on is making me crazy?
“No, there isn’t.” Anthony teased Samir’s nipple with his thumbnail. “But is there any reason to wait?”
Samir grinned. “Just this little thing called foreplay.”
Anthony shivered. “Being in the same room with you and breathing is foreplay.”
“Flatterer.” Samir kissed him once more, and then he sank to his knees.
Anthony gasped. “Oh fuck.”
“Not yet.” Samir winked. “But soon.” Hands on Anthony’s hips, he teased every inch of his cock and balls with those talented lips and tongue. Okay, so maybe this foreplay thing was all right. God knew he wouldn’t have minded just lying in bed with Samir for hours on end, touching each other every which way, but the more Samir sucked his cock, the more Anthony wavered between wanting this to last all night and wanting Samir to turn around so he could fuck him.
Samir added his hand, alternately stroking Anthony’s shaft and cupping his balls, all while he relentlessly teased the head of his cock.
And when Samir groaned softly, Anthony couldn’t take any more.
“Get on the bed,” he slurred. “I’ll get ... I’ll get a condom.”
Samir immediately stopped, which took Anthony’s breath away. He grabbed the edge of the bed for support as the world listed under his feet.
“You all right?” Samir wrapped his arms around him. “You look a little off-balance.”
“My natural state when you’re here.” Anthony kissed him, and they pressed together, Samir’s dick rubbing against his hip. Anthony wrapped his fingers around it and stroked, keeping Samir’s body close to him with his other arm so he could feel every shiver.
“Oh God,” Samir whispered between kisses. He rocked his hips slightly, fucking Anthony’s hand as much as the tight embrace allowed.
Anthony leaned down and kissed his neck. Samir tilted his head back. Jesus Christ, this was perfect—hot skin against his lips, a slim, powerful body against his, Samir’s hard cock thrusting into his hand the way Anthony couldn’t wait to thrust into Samir.
“I want—” Samir shuddered hard. “F-fuck me.”
Anthony kissed the exposed side of his throat. “I thought you liked this little thing called foreplay.”
The sound Samir made was somewhere between a groan of frustration and a sigh of surrender. He gripped Anthony’s shoulders and thrust faster, harder, creating hot friction that must have felt incredible on his cock.
Jesus. Yeah. Fuck foreplay.
Anthony released Samir’s cock, gave him a chance to catch his balance, and loosened his embrace. “I want you on top. Like you were on the couch.”
Samir nodded. “Okay. Yeah.” He looked dazed, especially with his pupils as huge as they were.
“Let me get a condom.” Anthony kissed him, and then guided him to the bed before letting him go.
After Anthony had put on a condom, he sat against the headboard, and Samir straddled him again. Anthony lubed himself up, and started to put some lube on Samir, but Samir grabbed his wrist.
“You wanted me on top.” Samir grinned. “Let me be on top.”
Anthony didn’t fight him. Between them, they guided his cock to Samir’s ass, and as Samir slowly took him, inch by inch, Anthony let his head fall back against the headboard.
“Christ, you feel ...” He closed his eyes. “Oh my God.”
Samir groaned softly, lifting himself up, and when he came down again, he took Anthony all the way to the hilt, and stopped. Somehow, kissing had become complicated. The simple act of even finding Samir’s lips had become more challenging than it should have. But they did find each other, and they kissed as if they had suddenly started back at the beginning—light, gentle kisses that happened when clothes were on and no one had suggested they move to the bedroom, never mind while Anthony was already inside Samir. The gentle kisses became deeper ones, the embrace tighter, and as Samir opened to him and let him explore his mouth, he also started moving, lifting off Anthony’s cock and coming back down in slow, fluid motions that made Anthony’s head spin.
They were in no hurry at all. Orgasms would happen when they happened—for now, it was sex for its own sake. Bodies moving together, lips moving together, hands moving over skin.
“Everything you’re doing is perfect,” Anthony whispered. “Everything.”
“Likewise.” Samir leaned back a little, and their eyes met.
Anthony touched Samir’s face with a shaky hand. Like this, they were perfect, completely lost in each other while the rest of the world did its thing outside. Samir wasn’t overwhelmed and intimidated; he wasn’t panicking about his life changing overnight. He was just in the moment, blissed-out and happy, and Anthony wanted that to last as long as he could make it.
Anthony had no idea what drove Samir—if the kisses made him ride Anthony faster, or if picking up speed made his kisses more desperate—but the end result was Anthony in heaven. He didn’t even care about the headboard biting into his back; he was just glad it was there to hold him up.
Samir broke the kiss with a gasp. He shuddered, tightening around Anthony and losing his perfect rhythm. Didn’t matter. Didn’t matter at all. Anthony was so far gone, rhythm and angles and all that nonsense was irrelevant as long as Samir kept moving, kept making those helpless little sounds, kept digging his nails into Anthony’s shoulders as each stroke seemed to send him a little further out of his mind.
Then his eyes flew open.
Met Anthony’s.
And Anthony lost it.
He pulled him down onto his cock, burying himself as deep as Samir could take him, and came as jets of Samir’s semen landed on his abs and chest.
Samir slumped over him, panting and shaking. Anthony stroked his hair and breathed him in.
This is going to be a wild ride, he wanted to whisper, but I’ll be here with you for all of it.
Say the word, he wanted to tell him, and I’ll make you feel this way whenever it gets too much.
But he didn’t. He just held Samir tight.
And breathed.
Chapter 16
Samir was used to getting up early, so he left Anthony to sleep in while he showered and brewed himself a swimming pool–sized mug of coffee. It took Anthony a solid thirty minutes to roll out of bed—and by the time he’d shuffled into the library, Samir was already curled up in an armchair and working his way through the pages.
Over the rim of his own coffee cup, Anthony grumbled, “You are way too busy for this early in the morning.”
Samir smiled. “The sooner it’s done, the sooner I can send it back and forget about it.” He paused, shifting in the chair. “You, uh, don’t mind me taking over your library, do you?”
“You’re not ...” Anthony glanced around, and seemed to bristle a little. Then he cleared his throat. “No, you’re fine. How much have you done?”
“The pile over there—” Samir pointed at a neat stack on the table beside him “—that’s the edited chapters up to and including four.”
“That’s quite a bit of text.”
/> “You’re telling me.” Samir took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “It’s a lot.”
“It is. I think we’ll end up with two books that are roughly in line with the lengths in the second half of the series so far.”
Samir put his glasses back on and looked up. “Why did they get longer?”
“My editors stopped bitching about how I should stay below a hundred thousand.” Anthony took a seat on the armchair next to Samir’s. “I was originally looking at the fast-paced thriller type of book than a sprawling paranormal. And then the publishers started pushing for bigger books to justify price increases. Luckily, I’m quite flexible in terms of how many subplots I have running. But nothing like being told, ‘Oh, add two more subplots and you have till the end of the month, because somebody lost track of the project and now we’re getting too close to the date for the ARCs.’” Anthony clutched his coffee and looked over all the neatly organized piles of printouts and handwritten notes. “So, yeah, writing the damn thing isn’t even most of the work.”
“Oh God.”
“Yeah, well. I found a trick with this editor that works quite well to keep him off my case. I make it all as perfect as I can, put in a really obvious and serious mistake—like starting with the wrong chapter. He of course finds the problem, I resist a bit, for show, but then I yield. He’s happy, I’m happy because he doesn’t fuck with the things that are important to me, and we’ve been best friends ever since.”
“What do you mean, start with the wrong chapter?”
“Well, he has this thing about what he wants the first chapter to accomplish, and that usually meant a bloodbath in edits. Now I give him a first chapter he can slice and dice, and I sneak all the other stuff past him without any trouble.” Anthony tapped his temple. “Psychological warfare. What does the editor want to accomplish? Some of them just want to see their paw prints all over the manuscript. It’s an ego thing. Those types are often failed writers. If I give them something they can feel is a major improvement, they won’t go out of their ways looking for places to print their paws.”
Samir shook his head, but as sick as he felt about having to make such major changes to Axis Mundi, he still grinned at Anthony’s devious little smile that accompanied those words. “Why do I get the feeling you enjoy these games?”
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