“That’s it. Shh…” Cade said, touching his lips to Reece’s cheek. “Close your eyes and let me care for you.”
“Thank you.”
“No, don’t say thank you. It’s my job. I got you like this.”
“But I didn’t…” Reece thought back to earlier in the day. When they’d been playing and he’d struck Cade’s arse with the flogger, brought him to climax then had done nothing more but hold him tight for a while and let him sleep.
“I didn’t need it. It was a few hard slaps. I had a whip and a gag on you back there. You need some treatment.”
Reece couldn’t deny that. He was also looking forward to seeing the cross on his arse. His branding. It had happened just minutes before Cade had said he loved him.
Not just said it, but meant it.
Hadn’t he?
Reece closed his eyes. He’d certainly meant it when he’d said it. Plus he’d had no scripted lines, so surely Cade believed him—knew that he’d spoken from the heart.
To start with, making
Slippery Slots
had been about fucking a hot guy for a seriously large wad of cash, but it had turned into so much more. He’d fallen for his co-star and had learned so much about his desires and kinks. He wanted more. He didn’t want to go back to being a painter and decorator. He wanted to be a porn star and get invites to Malibu. He wanted to have threesomes with hot cowboys, be introduced to new sexy ways to come and most of all, he wanted to be with Cade.
“Ahh…” Reece groaned as cold spread over his shoulders, back and arse.
“It’s okay, just a wet towel,” Cade said. “To take away the burn.”
“I like the burn.”
Cade chuckled. “My… You are a pain whore, aren’t you?”
“I suppose so.” Reece had never really thought about it, but it seemed he was.
“You enjoyed that natural rush, your body’s response to pain, then?”
“Hell yeah,” Reece murmured. “Wasn’t sure to start with but I soon got into it.”
“I thought you would.”
“It was the whole thing—being on the cross, the audience.” Reece inhaled then blew out as the vivid memory washed over him. It had been so special, and sharing that experience with Cade just made it more so.
“And the plug? Did you like that?” Cade asked.
“Let’s just say I’ll be buying one as soon as I can move again.”
Cade laughed quietly. “
I’ll
buy you one.”
“Thanks,” Reece said then released yet another long sigh.
Cade was gently pressing down on the towel, making sure every square inch of Reece’s skin came into contact with the dampness. It felt good, more than good, to be touched and cared for.
Cade pressed it into the crack of Reece’s arse.
Reece parted his legs a little and moaned.
“Fuck. You’re not ready to go again, are you?”
“No,” Reece murmured. “Like you said. I’m well and truly fucked.”
Cade dropped another kiss to his temple. “You’re adorable in this state. You know that?”
“Then you’ll have to make me feel like this again sometime.”
“Oh, I intend to.” Cade lifted the towel and stood from the bed. “And the most exciting thing is, you’re clearly a switch, like me, which means lots of fun, depending on our mood and what we want.”
“We’re not talking about movies now, are we?” Reece kept his eyes shut as he spoke.
“Hell no. Haven’t been talking about movies for a while. I’m talking about us.” There was a tenderness in Cade’s voice that melted Reece’s heart a little bit extra for him. This moment felt more intimate than even when they’d been fucking. The scene had connected them, bound them together the way his ankles and wrists had been shackled to the cross, but this, this was a unique bonding moment that he would treasure always.
The scent of something herbal invaded Reece’s nostrils as Cade rubbed warm cream over his shoulders.
“Tiger balm. It will help,” Cade said.
“Okay,” Reece murmured. It felt nice to have Cade’s hands on him, healing him and soothing him.
“You suffered so beautifully,” Cade said, his voice low and almost hypnotic. “Stoic, yet passionate.”
“It was like you said. Nothing else mattered, not even hiding my demons.”
“And what are your demons?”
Reece thought about it for a moment. “I suppose the need to hide being gay was a demon for many years, but not anymore. That one I’ve fought.”
“So which one showed itself today?”
And is still showing itself
.
Reece thought back to his last long-term relationship, Matthew. It hadn’t ended well when he’d found out Matthew had been cheating on him.
“Insecurity,” Reece said quietly, as Cade rubbed the balm down the length of his spine.
“But you seem so confident and I admire that about you,” Cade said.
“
I’m
confident, but my heart isn’t.”
Cade paused, then, “Tell me why.”
Reece pressed his lips together. It was hard to let the words out, but he knew he could with Cade. “I was cheated on in the past. Thought someone loved me then realized I’d been lied to.”
“I’m sorry,” Cade said. “That sucks.”
“Yeah, it did. But not your fault.”
“No, and if you let me, I’ll help you fight that demon.”
“It’s a dark one,” Reece said softly, knowing how it had prevented him from falling in love with anyone since Matthew—until Cade. “And it’s buried pretty deep, I’m afraid.”
“I’m not afraid of it.” Cade rested his lips on Reece’s cheek. “Let it out to play and we’ll tame it, together.”
Reece felt tears form behind his closed eyes. He swallowed and nodded. “Yes.”
“But right now,” Cade said, “you need to rest, so shush and let me care for you. We’ll face that challenge another day, when you’re stronger. But know that we will. Know that we will beat it.” He gathered more balm and smoothed it into the hollow of Reece’s back.
Reece breathed out, long and low, and allowed himself to be vulnerable in the entirety of the emotion, in front of the man who now held the keys to his future.
“Ahh…” he said, gasping suddenly when Cade ran his balm-coated finger over the welts on his arse. He clenched his buttocks and stiffened his limbs.
“It’s okay,” Cade said. “Relax. This will help.”
“Fuck, that’s sore.” He managed to unclench as the soothing quality of the cream soaked away the sting.
“Did I take it too far with the whip?”
“Not at the time. As I was coming, those thrashes were fucking awesome. But now…”
“Now it’s a pain in the arse, right?”
Reece laughed. “Exactly.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The flight back to Gatwick was an overnighter and Reece did manage to sleep this time. He was tired from several busy days fucking, and a long hot morning stroll on the Strip with Cade to make sure they’d seen all the sights.
When they landed, a car was waiting.
“Here, let me,” Reece said, lifting Donna’s suitcase into the boot of the Merc.
“Thanks,” she said, smiling then climbing into the front of the car next to the driver.
Cade and Reece sat in the back.
“Soon be home,” Cade said, taking Reece’s hand.
Reece nodded and looked at their joined fingers. The thought of being in his small flat, alone, without Cade, didn’t appeal.
“But first to Tom’s, to collect your vehicles,” Donna said.
“And wages,” Cade added. “Need those.”
Donna laughed. “Not that you’ve found this a hard job, eh, Cade?”
“No, not at all.” Cade smiled at Reece. “Much better than my movie in Spain. That was okay, but this one… It’s been special.”
“And I’m pretty sure that will shine through on camera. Tom’s going to be thrilled with his hot new stars.”
“Do you really think so?” Reece asked.
She turned to look at him and shook her head. “Do you really have to ask? You guys are seriously hot together. Expect a fan club, huge sales and more movies.”
Reece smiled and rested his head on Cade’s shoulder. He liked the sound of all of that.
* * * *
Eventually, after battling heavy traffic and dropping Donna off at her house, they pulled up on the Henley-Smythe’s wide driveway.
Tom Henley-Smythe, the producer of
Slippery Slots
, stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips.
“Gentlemen,” he called. “Welcome back.”
“Hey,” Cade said, walking over and shaking his hand. “All good?”
“Oh yes, very good. Jack’s just doing some final editing tweaks.” He looked at Reece. “You did well, young man. Very well. I hope you’ll work for GP Productions again.”
“Yes, sir,” Reece said. “Just let me know when.” He wanted to add that he only wanted to work with Cade but he held that in. He’d see what was offered first—if anything at all.
“Here,” Tom said, holding out two fat envelopes. “Cash. I hope that’s okay.”
“Yes, fine.” Cade quickly took his and slipped it into his jacket pocket.
Reece did the same then fingered the bulky wad of notes as he gripped the envelope. Ten thousand pounds. He’d never held so much money in his life. Some years his painting and decorating company had barely made that much. He felt rich—rich, but also sad that he’d be saying goodbye to Cade in a few minutes.
Perhaps he should ask him to come back to his flat. No. Cade would have things to do. He surely needed to go home to unpack and sort out his stuff.
“I’ll be in touch,” Tom said, stepping back to the house. “And thanks again. You’re a couple of real pros.” He shut the door.
Cade pulled his keys from his pocket and grinned at Reece. “Bet you’re glad you took this decorating job now, eh?”
“Not that I did much decorating, but yeah…really glad.” He swallowed and looked at Cade’s Porsche as it beeped to life. “So, you heading off now?”
“Yeah, got things to do.” Cade shrugged. “Could get together later though?”
“Yes, yes, I’d like that.” Reece knew he’d spoken too fast, been too keen, but he couldn’t help it.
Cade smiled, reached for his face and held his cheeks. “So you’d best tell me your address then.”
“Flat eighteen, Warburton Apartments, off New Road.”
“Yeah, I roughly know where that is. I’ll find it.” He brushed his lips over Reece’s. “I’ll find you.”
Suddenly he stepped back and a grin spread over his face. “Go get some rest. You’ll need your energy for when I visit.”
“I hope so.”
“Oh, you can count on that.” He picked his bag up, threw it in the back of his car, then climbed in and revved the engine. As he drove away, the tires spat up little pieces of gravel that sprayed onto a flowerbed.
Reece sighed as the sound of the meaty engine faded. Perhaps he should splash out on a second-hand Porsche like Cade had? Get something trendy and cool. He looked at his van. Cade had a van too, for his gardening work—the Porsche he’d treated himself to after his first porn movie.
With a sigh, Reece unlocked his van and climbed in. No. He had bills to pay, a credit card debt to settle and it wouldn’t do him any harm to have a nest egg for a rainy day.
He turned the engine on. It chugged and complained but eventually came to life. Yes, he needed a bit of backup money in case his van died. He might be a porn star, but he also needed to make a living decorating if no other movie work came his way. At this point in time,
Slippery Slots
could just be a one off.
As he drove down the high street toward home, he thought of the invitation he and Cade had to go to Malibu. Maybe he could spend some of his money on flights for that? If Cade was still up for it, that was. Hell, that would be fun.
He smiled and thought how different his life was to this time last week. Now he was smitten, obsessed, infatuated and fast falling in love with a gorgeous man. He had money in his pocket and a fabulous holiday to look forward to. He was also more physically satisfied that he’d ever been in his life.
He shifted on his seat as he pulled up at his apartment block. His arse was still tender from the whip but he liked that. It reminded him that Cade had been there—that Cade had branded him, made him his then claimed him in a wild fuck that was for everyone to see.
Reece grabbed his bag and wandered up to this flat. He didn’t care if people he knew saw
Slippery Slots
. He was proud of it. Cade was a hottie, he knew he passed as okay and what was more special? How many other people had filmed footage of them falling in love?
He let himself into his flat, dumped his bag then flicked on the shower.
For a moment he stood still and listened to the pounding water. It was strange to be alone after spending every waking and sleeping moment with someone else.
He hoped Cade wouldn’t be long.
He missed him already.
* * * *
After a long, hot shower, Reece put his washing in the machine, made himself food then settled on the sofa with a beer. It was mid-afternoon but it felt like evening. He was tired and jet-lagged but he couldn’t sleep as Cade had suggested. He was too on edge. Too anxious that Cade might not find his way to him.
He checked his iPhone for the tenth time to make sure there were no missed messages.
None.
He flicked through the channels on the TV. There was nothing on to watch. He sorted through his mail—junk, a few bills and confirmation of a decorating job for the next week.
There were children playing outside. He watched them kicking a ball around on the grass for a few minutes then pulled his blind half shut—it was too bright out there.
His washing finished and he set it out to dry in the airing cupboard. He decided to change his bedding in case Cade wanted to stay.
Where is he?
After a few minutes fluffing and smoothing, his bed was fresh and ready for action. He checked the drawer had an ample supply of condoms and lube—it did.
Damn, his cock was hardening just with him thinking about getting Cade naked, bending him over and ramming into him—showing him how much he needed him, wanted him and always would.
He went back into the living room and flicked on the TV again. He sat then stood, paced to the mirror and checked his hair. It was getting long. Perhaps he should get a trim at the weekend.