Kiss Me Read online

  The smooth movements of the razor distracted him for a moment. There was the slight sting against his most sensitive skin, followed by the pelt of water, soothing it away. Mal was studiously careful in his strokes, and Alejandro widened his legs in order to give him more room.

  “Why?” he finally asked. “You’re brilliant, you’ve got gorgeous eyes, and your smile makes me melt. That’s a hell of a lot more than most of the guys I’m around on a daily basis.”

  Mal half-shrugged. “Just because…people generally don’t notice the guy behind the camera.” He focused on the back of Alejandro’s sac for a long, quiet moment. “Not when there are so many guys in front of the camera who are worth looking at.”

  Something about Mal’s tone made Alejandro want to pull him to his feet and hold him tight, drown him in kisses that left both of them aching. “I think you’re worth looking at.” He pushed the wet hair off Mal’s forehead, fingertips gliding across his brows. “And maybe not being in front of the camera is better sometimes. At least you can be pretty sure when someone asks you out, they’re interested in you, not whatever image you present onscreen.”

  “Well, I suppose you could have screened potential dates for somebody who never saw any of your films.” Mal lifted his head and brushed his lips across Alejandro’s shaft in a gentle kiss. “All those people who just want you for your body don’t know what they’re missing out on.”

  A warm curl of delight licked through Alejandro’s gut. The more time he spent with Mal, the more right he thought his instincts were about the man. He’d been attracted to him from the first, but it was watching him work, seeing the results of his passions, spending time with him over the past few days, that was showing Alejandro that there could be something real there for them. Something that might last longer than a week of gorgeous sex.

  “When did you want to do your photos?” He would use all his free time this week to take as many pictures as Mal wanted. “Are we starting tomorrow?”

  “If I can manage to drag myself away from you and out of bed, then yes. Although…” He looked up at Alejandro through his lashes, almost shyly. “I’d love to get some private shots of you…here in bed. If that’s okay.”

  “Whatever you want. Whenever I’m not on the job this week, I’m all yours.”

  Mal brushed his thumb over his skin, swiping away a bit of foam. “You know…” His brow furrowed and he focused on his task, the words dying on his lips. Alejandro waited for one…two…three…slow swipes of the razor before Mal finished his thought. “I like it when you say that.”

  Alejandro decided then and there that he’d had enough of shaving. Grasping Mal’s wrist, he met his questioning eyes with a smile and took away the razor, setting it on the edge of the tub as he pulled Mal to his feet.

  “I’m not into playing games,” he said softly. “So you can trust that I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”

  Mal’s shaft slid against Alejandro’s, and Mal reached between them to wrap his fingers around their cocks. Pumping his wrist, he skimmed his mouth across Alejandro’s chest, then moved up the column of his throat. His mouth was hot compared to the cooler sting of the water.

  “I do,” Mal murmured. “Trust you, that is.”

  “Good.” Their kiss was long and languid, ending in a sigh. “But as good as this feels, we should wash up, or I’m going to be late.”

  Mal moaned, but he took an obliging step back, allowing the water to cascade down Alejandro’s body to wash away the last of the shaving cream. “This is going to be a very long night for me.”

  Alejandro laughed as he ducked his head under the spray. “You’ve got the easy job. All you have to do is sit out there and enjoy. These gigs always exhaust the hell out of me anymore.”

  “Well, that’s okay. You’ve got me here to help get you back and put you to bed. And I promise, I won’t take advantage of your exhaustion…much.”

  “Good.” He shook the excess water out of his hair before reaching for Mal. “Though I’ll warn you. Sex is usually the last thing on my mind after these things. I usually get home and crash. You might have to settle for me just wrapping around you and falling asleep.”

  The corner of Mal’s mouth lifted in a soft smile. “Whatever you want.”

  * * * *

  Mal found a spot near the back of the club, close to the bar. He didn’t want to get too drunk, but he did tell the bartender to keep a steady supply of beer coming his way. He would have loved to have been closer to the stage where Alejandro was dancing, especially as the club began to fill and more bodies blocked his view, but it was probably for the best that he wasn’t close enough to reach out and touch Alejandro. Lately, whenever he touched the other man, he found it almost impossible to stop.

  He had wondered why the club would bother to book Alejandro—and pay him—on a Tuesday night, but it wasn’t long before Mal understood. Alejandro brought them out in droves. And Mal wouldn’t be surprised if the same faces returned again and again and again. Watching Alejandro turned them on, of course, but there was something more than sexual response. Alejandro also made them happy, on some level. They received joy simply because somebody as gorgeous and charming as Alejandro existed in the world.

  Of course, the joy he brought them wasn’t entirely pure. Mal had more than enough evidence of who wanted Alejandro, and how they wanted him.

  “You’ve seen his movies, right? I just want to fuck his throat raw.”

  “I’m more interested in his ass. He’d look great bent over a table.”

  “He does look great bent over a table. It’s happened in a few movies.”

  “I want to see how great he looks with my come dripping down his ass.”

  “You’re obsessed with his ass.”

  “Come on. You’re not?”

  “I hear some guys will put on a private show, if you got the cash.”

  “You’re joking. You think Alejandro would?”

  “Can’t hurt to ask.”

  Mal listened to that conversation, and variations of the conversation, without comment. Or any outward sign that he heard them at all. He almost felt uncomfortable on Alejandro’s behalf, but not quite. He knew he was more than just a sex object to these people—he was the epitome of their fantasies. And he pandered to that fantasy because it was easy, because it was fun, because it was a good way to make money, because he could.

  Jealousy didn’t enter into the equation. If any of them knew the truth, he would probably be declared their king.

  As Alejandro’s scheduled time came to an end, Mal made it a point to order his favorite beer. It was waiting for him when he finally descended from the high stage and made his way to where Mal sat.

  More than one hand slapped Alejandro on his sweaty back as he wove his way through the crowd. Though he laughed and smiled at those who called out their praise, he didn’t stop, didn’t even falter until he stood next to Mal. Then his smile warmed even more. Cupping the back of Mal’s neck, Alejandro bowed his head to brush a swift kiss across his mouth.

  Mal caught more than one set of raised brows in the background when Alejandro slid onto the stool. For his part, Alejandro seemed completely oblivious.

  “Thank God,” he said, reaching for the beer Mal had waiting for him. He gulped down nearly half of it, his throat working, beads of sweat still dripping down the side of his neck, before setting it back down. “You have no idea how badly I needed that.”

  “I had a small idea. It feels like it’s about one hundred degrees in here. I figured it was even worse under those lights.” Mal grinned. “Also, you were pretty thirsty the last time I saw you this sweaty.”

  Alejandro swiveled in the stool, not quite turning his back to the curious onlookers, but making it clear that he wasn’t there to be approached. Leaning toward Mal, he propped his head up on his knuckles, regarding him thoughtfully.

  “I couldn’t see you up there. Did you see the whole show?”

  Mal nodded. “I had a pretty good view
from here. And I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

  “The crowd seemed to enjoy it.” He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice. “Except I think the photographer they hired is a hack. I’ll bet the pictures you would’ve gotten would’ve been a hell of a lot better.”

  Mal moved toward him, almost close enough for their brows to touch. “Maybe we can talk to whoever is in charge here tomorrow before the show, and I can get a few good shots.”

  “If you’ve got a few shots to show him, there won’t be any maybe about it.”

  Mal always kept his portfolio with him when he traveled—he wasn’t going to be caught out if the chance for a paying gig came up. He was about to suggest Alejandro help him pick a few of his favorites when he noticed a man approaching. The man who was obsessed with Alejandro’s ass. No doubt, he intended to find out about that private party.

  Mal acted quickly, closing the final inch between his lips and Alejandro’s. Alejandro’s mouth was warm and damp with salty sweat. Alejandro returned the kiss without hesitation, and he didn’t seem to mind when Mal put a possessive hand on the back of his neck.

  “Tim the manager said there’s a great Italian place around the corner that does delivery,” Alejandro said when they parted. “If you want to come back with me to the dressing room, you can place an order while I clean up. It should be ready by the time we’re ready to leave.”

  Mal bit back his enthusiastic agreement in favor of a mere nod. He was more than happy to get out of the hot, crowded room. Especially since the other men were still eyeing Alejandro like hungry lions. He slid off his barstool and let Alejandro take his hand to guide him through the crowd and backstage.

  A young man with lashes thick enough to make women hate him and a bulge in his crotch to make the men love him stepped in their path. “Hey, Alejandro, can I get your autograph?” he asked with a smile that suggested he wanted a lot more than a signature.

  Alejandro returned the smile. “Sure, have a pen?”

  Someone shoved one into Alejandro’s hand as the young man whipped his shirt off. He stepped closer, pointing to a spot on his well-muscled chest. “Right here would be great.”

  Mal frowned, watching as the young man took another bold step forward. Anybody else might have taken advantage of the obvious invitation to do more than just scrawl his signature across the other man’s chest, but Alejandro didn’t seem interested. The young man ran the tip of his tongue over his top lip as Alejandro dutifully drew a big, round A, and he casually rested his hand on Alejandro’s shoulder. Mal couldn’t help but smile as Alejandro treated the situation as professionally as possible, drawing a marked look of disappointment from his fan.

  A couple other excited young men pushed forward, demanding he sign various parts of their anatomy, too, before Alejandro finally raised a hand to stop the next one from approaching.

  “I’ll be back here tomorrow night.” Blindly, he reached back and grasped Mal’s hand, tugging him close. “And I have a date who is going to tan my ass if I make him wait any longer.” He paused, pretending to consider what he’d just said. “Which normally would be enough to make me stay, but then I’d miss out on everything else he does that makes my toes curl.”

  Waving off the groans of protest, Alejandro pulled Mal the rest of the way to the exit off the side of the stage area.

  “Now you’re going to have everybody in the club hating me,” Mal complained good-naturedly.

  “I’ll just have to hide you in my dressing room tomorrow night then.” They came to a stop in front of a narrow door, but before opening it, Alejandro pressed Mal to the wall. “Thanks for being so cool about this. I know it’s a meat market out there.”

  Mal smoothed his palms down Alejandro’s back. “I can be cool about a lot of things, as long as I know you’re coming home with me at the end of the night.”

  “Well, that I am.”

  The kiss this time was slow and sweet, a tender exploration as their tongues tangled, Alejandro’s fingers tickling at Mal’s waist. The roar of the club was a distant echo, growing fainter with each caress of Alejandro’s lips.

  “You really do make my toes curl,” he murmured against Mal’s mouth.

  Mal’s groin tightened, and at that moment, all he wanted to do was push Alejandro into his dressing room and fuck him until they were both wasted. But he still had enough concentration to remember that Alejandro had already told him he was more interested in sleeping than sex after a gig at a club.

  “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

  Alejandro pushed the door open. “Don’t forget the Italian.”

  “Of course not.”

  Mal followed him into the tiny space, more than happy to watch him strip out of his damp pants and towel the sweat off his body. He couldn’t help but feel more than a little privileged. Not just because he got to share Alejandro’s bed, but because at the end of the night, not one of the men lusting after Alejandro had any idea about the sweet, shy, talented, sometimes boyish, and always charming man who had so willingly welcomed Mal into his life.

  Chapter 7

  Alejandro had deliberately not taken the booking for Thursday when the job came through because he knew he couldn’t take three nights straight on the club scene. Now he was just glad that he was getting a night in San Francisco with Mal. Most of Wednesday had been lost when they’d both slept in until well past noon, then the show in the evening. When Alejandro had woken up Thursday morning, Mal was already gone, off to the job he’d booked in order to make it a working trip.

  Be back around four.

  —Mal

  That left Alejandro to his own devices for the day. He could have gone out, spent some time wandering the city, but doing it on his own after having Mal for company for most of the past ten days was unappealing. He settled for relaxing in the room, indulging in soap operas. At two, he pulled out his sketch pad and started to doodle. Before he knew it, the door was opening, and Mal was standing there, and his smile came automatically.

  “How’d it go?”

  “Great. Fortunately, nobody seemed to notice that I was very distracted.”

  Alejandro rolled onto his side, propping his head up in his hand as Mal set down his gear. “Why were you distracted?”

  “Because I kept thinking about the way you looked when I left this morning.” Mal shrugged off his jacket, then sat on the edge of the bed. “Like you needed to be licked from head to foot.”

  “You always think I need to be licked head to foot.”

  “It’s not my fault you’re delicious.” He leaned over like he intended to demonstrate just how delicious he thought Alejandro looked, but he paused when he noticed the sketchpad. “What have you been up to?”

  “Oh, just killing some time.” He pushed the pad away to make more room for Mal. “So how brilliant were you today? Pick up a hot young thing I need to be thoroughly jealous about?”

  “Are you the jealous sort?”

  “Not if you tell me I don’t have to be.”

  Mal smiled. “You don’t have to be. There were plenty of hot young things at the shoot, but none of them could begin to compare to you. A few familiar faces were there, though. Some of your former costars.”

  But Alejandro didn’t hear much after, “You don’t have to be.” His possessiveness toward Mal surprised even him. Maybe it was because he had so little that he could truly call his own in his life. And Mal seemed to genuinely like being with him. He hadn’t even balked when Alejandro had fallen asleep halfway through his lasagna on Tuesday night.

  “Did you have thoughts about what you want to do tonight?”

  “No. Whatever you want.” He squeezed Alejandro’s fingers absently. “Maybe go out to dinner. Or we can stay in and find a bad movie on television.”

  “You wouldn’t mind staying in?” The eagerness in his tone made him flush slightly, abashed. “Sorry. I guess…I think I’m a little worried you might have these expectations.”

  Mal tilted his head.
“What expectations? The expectations of parading you through the city?”

  “That. Or that I always need to be out. I don’t. When I’m not working, I’m really boring. I tend to be a bit of a homebody.”

  “You’re not boring, and I’m hardly a social butterfly.” Mal pushed gently on Alejandro’s chest, forcing him to slide over a little. He stretched out beside him, their chests pressed together. “I’m more worried that you’re going to be bored with me.”

  Alejandro frowned. “Why? Have I given you that impression?”

  Mal took a deep breath to speak, then paused, and shook his head. “No, no. Not at all. So, what were you drawing?”

  It was an obvious ploy. “You’re changing the subject. What’s wrong?”

  “It’s just…when it’s just the two of us, I forget what you do when you are working. It’s just not that important. But I spent the last three hours taking nude photos of some of hottest guys I’ve ever seen. Some of them you’ve already…hell, let’s not talk around this. Fucked. And the others, you probably will at some point soon.”

  His gut clenched. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of. “That’s what I do, Mal,” he said carefully. “It’s just sex.”

  “Sex that you really, really enjoy. I mean, if you don’t, then your acting talents are being wasted in adult entertainment. And I just don’t see…how I can even compare to any of that.”

  “But you do.” He had known Mal felt a little insecure at their first couple of dates, but he had thought—hoped—that he’d proven to him that he didn’t have anything to worry about. Obviously not. “Here. Look at this.”

  Reaching over the edge of the bed, Alejandro picked up the sketchpad he’d discarded, flipping it open to the last couple of pages he’d been working on. He laid it out so that Mal could take a good, long look.

  “This is what I spent most of my afternoon working on. Does this look like I’m not thinking about you twenty-four/seven?”

  Mal looked unconvinced, but he glanced down at the pad anyway. Alejandro just hoped that it was enough.