Page 18 of Salacious Star

Mark, like most of the gay community in Graystone, knew what I did for a living, as well as the other Studio Black regulars that came with me when we went out on Sundays. He'd never judged us for it or treated us any different, and it made it easy for me to lift my head and gratefully accept the beer that he slid across the counter at me with a small twitch of my lips.

"I might have fucked up. I like my new costar," I admitted, taking a slow sip of the bubbling drink.

Mark chuckled. "Okay, is that sort of porn star kiss of death? You like him?"

I shook my head, though I allow myself a small, rough chuckle as well. "No, not really. But it's not something thatIdo. I just...this is just my job, you know?"

Mark nodded, his expression thoughtful. "If he's gay...have I met him?"

"Not talking about me to the local barkeep already, are you, Tris?"

Xander's voice was like a warm balm on the back of my neck, and suddenly all of the worries that I'd had seemed to fade away. I chuckled softly, turning around to face him, and I shook my head as I looked at him. "Only a little."

Xander had changed out of the slacks and button down that he'd worn to the meeting that morning into something more comfortable, and I couldn't decide if I liked him perfectly pressed and buttoned up more than his comfortable graphic tee and jeans, but both were so fucking delicious that it took everything inside of me not to reach out for him right then and there.

"You joined Studio Black, Xan?" Mark's surprise was obvious as Xander took a seat next to me, and Xander nodded as he fiddled with a clean napkin that had been left on top of the bar. His eyes were cast down, and before I think better of it, I reached over and laid my hand on top of his thigh, squeezing.

His eyes darted over to mine, widening a little, and the flutter in my chest becomes full-blown butterflies all over again at the way that he's looking at me. With heat and nervousness and desire and...

God, I want to take him home. I want to take him home right the fuck now.

"Well, good for you." Mark hummed, and then slid another beer over the counter to Xan, seemingly oblivious to the tension vibrating between the two of us. "Tris and the others are good people. They'll take care of you."

He turned and walked away after that, leaving me and Xander alone, and I lifted my cup to take a sip of beer, my gaze never leaving Xan's as he continued to look up at me. His tongue darted out and slid along his lower lip, wetting the flesh there, and I can't stop myself from digging my fingers into his thigh, tightening my grip almost possessively.

"Is that true, Tris?" Xander whispered, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. "Will you take care of me?"

My lips parted, and the breath that rushes out of me is rough. The only thing that I can see is Xander's pretty blue eyes as he looks at me, those swollen lips of his that were fuckingmade to be sucking my cock, the flutter of his pulse in his throat as he swallows again, his entire body tense and pliable at the same time.

I reached out with one hand, waiting for him to flinch away, satisfaction flooding me when he doesn't. My hand wrapped around the back of his neck, and then I pulled him close so that my lips were pressed against his ear, and he was the only one who would be able to hear me.

"Of course I'll take care of you, baby boy." My lips brushed over the shell of his ear with my words, and I felt him shudder under my hand, making that spark of satisfaction burn even brighter in my chest. "You'll just have to listen, and be a good boy for me. Can you do that?"

Xander's breath shuddered out of him in a sound that was very nearly a moan, and if I hadn't been hard before, I waswellon my way to there now. All my good intentions seemed to fly out the window, and all I wanted was to get this beautiful man underneath me now, now, now.

But that wasn't what tonight was about. And as much as I wanted to rush things along so that the two of us could fall right into bed together...I also didn't want him to be blind sighted on his first day of filming either.

So I satisfied myself with nipping the shell of his ear and soothing the sting with my tongue before I pulled away, and was gratified with the light flush in his cheeks, the slight daze in his eyes.

He was so goddamned sweet. And he was going to be all mine.

I smiled at him, and his eyes met mine after a moment, his breathing still shallow. I reached out and booped him gently on the tip of his nose, and then nodded at his beer as I grabbed my own drink and stood up.

"Come on." I jabbed my thumb towards the corner of the bar, where the pool table lay empty - and secluded - and smiled. "Let's go rack them up, and I'll give you the run down, and then answer any questions that you might have. Okay?"

Xander

I'm not sure if the erection that I'm struggling against is any excuse for the way that I practically threw myself at Tristan, but thankfully, he didn't seem upset about it.

The opposite, if the heat in his eyes was any indication.

I followed him over to the pool table and then stood there with my beer while he racked up. I glanced around while he did some, my stomach settling some when I saw how empty the bar was. Of course, it was relatively early in the night so people could still show up, but in my experience Gunner's usually had the most business later in the week, not on a Monday night.

It made me feel a little better about Tristan and I discussing work while we were here. I wasn't ashamed of my new job, but people could be judgmental, even in queer spaces.

Tristan would protect you against any assholes, and you know it.

I shoved the whisper of reason to the back of my head as Tristan turned around to face me, and his easy grin relaxed me. "Break?"

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