Encore Encore (23 page)

“Like now.” Kieran groaned as David’s fi ngers wrapped around his stiffening cock and squeezed.

“Like now.” Shoving the denim over Kieran’s hips and down his thighs, David couldn’t help but notice he had no tan lines. His normally fair skin was a rich gold all over. “And you always said you couldn’t tan.”

“It’s the Cali sunshine. The house where I’m living is right on the beach and… Oh God!” As David’s lips closed around the head of his cock, Kieran’s hips shifted and his fi ngers fi sted in his lover’s hair. “David, your mouth. I missed your mouth so much.”

The hard hot length of Kieran’s dick slid between David’s lips and over his tongue. He savored the salty-sweet fl avor of pre-cum as he eased his lover back onto the edge of the mattress and spread his legs. But when he bent to take Kieran’s cock into his mouth once more, hands reached for him.

174 Gardner ~ His Leading Man

“Not like that.” Kieran tugged at him. “I want to come with your cock up my ass. I want to feel you come in me.” With those words all thoughts of anything but getting inside his lover vanished from David’s mind. He shucked his own clothes as Kieran fi nished stripping off his jeans, shoes and socks.

He lay back and held out his arms, his eyes heavy-lidded and fi lled with need. “C’mon, I need this, need you, right now.” Remembering at the last moment, David dove for his overnight bag, rummaged around inside and produced lube. He tossed the bottle on the bed and Kieran caught it one handed, popped the top and squeezed a generous amount into his palm. He motioned with his cupped hand, but David was already crawling up the bed, naked and hard and hungry for him.

Keeping his gaze focused on that beloved face, David tried desperately not to think, not to mourn that Kieran might never again reach for him in this way with every cell speaking of invitation.
No, don’t think about that.

He shook off the thought and stretched out beside his lover.

He cupped Kieran’s cheek and turned his head. “I love you.” Kieran’s eyes fi lled and he closed them quickly, but not quickly enough. Kieran knew, as he did, that this was it. All that was left now was this last time and then who would fi nally say what they both already knew.

“I love you too,” Kieran whispered, his voice suspiciously hoarse. He took hold of David’s erection. The lube, warm from being in his palm, slid smooth and slick over his shaft, Kieran’s caress at once unbearably gentle and arousing. As he stroked him Kieran brought their lips together. He lingered, savoring the contact, his mouth soft and warm and so, so sweet.

At last he broke the kiss and opened his eyes. “How do you want me?”

“On your back, so I can see you.” There was nothing better than watching the man he loved in pleasure. Kieran’s expressive features mirrored every sensation, every emotion. This time it ENCORE! ENCORE!
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might very well hurt to watch, but it was a pain David wouldn’t have given up for anything, anything except maybe that unlikely miracle.

Don’t think of it,
he once again cautioned himself as he got to his knees and reached for the lube so he could get Kieran ready.

Slicking up his fi ngers, David reached between his lover’s legs as Kieran pulled his knees up. He massaged lube over and around that puckered pink opening before pushing one fi nger inside. He wiggled it around then added a second fi nger and gently scissored them apart, spreading Kieran open.

“David, please?”

“I don’t want to hurt you. It’s been a while and you’re tight.”

“You won’t hurt me. Just…”

Removing his fi ngers, David shifted and positioned his cock.

He locked eyes with Kieran and pushed.

Kieran gasped as his body surrendered and let David in.

David paused, closed his eyes, took a breath. “Okay?”

“Give me a minute.”

Sweat broke out on David’s face, a drop sliding down from his hairline to sting his eyes. He blinked it away.

“Now.”

He felt Kieran’s body relax, the tension in his limbs ease. He pressed forward, slowly fi lling him until his balls rested against the other man’s ass. He stopped and rested there, savoring the silky heat and glorious pressure that gripped him. Leaning forward he propped himself on his hands then lowered and took Kieran’s mouth in a long, deep kiss.

“I love you.” He rested his cheek against Kieran’s.

“I know.” Kieran stroked a hand down David’s back. “Now show me.”

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

176 Gardner ~ His Leading Man

“According to what Mansfi eld says, we totally don’t need this scene.” Gavin tapped the blue index card, one of several dozen color-coded cards spread out on the bed between him and David.

“But I think we do because it shows character development, which is critical to the plot because—” Gavin stopped. “Dude, you are totally not listening to me.”

“I’m listening.” On the screen of David’s laptop, Casablanca played. Ilsa had just left Rick for the last time. It was the scene everyone wanted to change to force a happy ending. Make Ilsa stay, make Rick ask her to. Except given who they were, it could never have happened that way.

“Sully?”

“What? I heard every word you said.”

Gavin sighed, took off his glasses and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “Why don’t you just call him again? Maybe he didn’t get the message.”

“I’m not calling him again.” David forced his attention back to the cards scattered over the quilt’s blue and white patterned surface then up to Gavin’s face, visible above the laptop open in front of him. “If he wanted to see me, he would have called me back.”

“Probably.” Gavin shrugged. “Up to you.”

“Aren’t you the one who told me not to make it into more than it is? What happened to that piece of sterling advice?”

“I think you chucked it.” Gavin closed his laptop. “Look, I didn’t say calling him again was a good idea.” He held up a hand when David started to interrupt. “I didn’t say it was a bad idea either. But obviously you’re still stuck on him, so you might as well see where it’s going to go.”

“I’m not still stuck on him. That would be stupid.”

“Yes, it would be, if he doesn’t feel the same. But if he does…”

“Stop. Just please, stop.” He was through with raking himself over the coals where Kieran Reilly was concerned. Bringing him ENCORE! ENCORE!
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back here last night had been a mistake, a huge mistake, and it wasn’t like he hadn’t known that. But the sex had been great, no denying that, and now he just needed to get over himself and get back to work.

“Okay,” Gavin said, opening his laptop again. “I won’t say another word about it.”

“Good.” David nodded. “Now about the scene where Novak throws the knife in the lake…” He picked up one of the green index cards and held it up. “I’m thinking it might work better if he—”

David’s cell rang.

He dropped the card. It fl uttered to the carpet as he yanked the phone off its belt-clip. It was Kieran.

“It’s him.” David fl ipped the phone open and held it to his ear. “Hey, what’s up?”

“David, it’s me, Kieran. Sorry I didn’t call you earlier. Shooting ran long today and… Well, a lot of stuff.”

“No problem.” David could feel Gavin watching him. He refused to meet his friend’s gaze, instead focusing on that green card lying on the beige carpet.

“You probably already ate but… could I see you? Just to talk?”

“Sure, c’mon up. You know the room number.” Gavin closed his laptop and got to his feet. “I’m going. See you in the a.m.”

“Actually, could you come down? I’m in the bar.”

“Sure. Okay, I can do that. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be there.”

Kieran stirred his drink then carefully plucked an olive off the stirrer and popped it in his mouth. The salty fl avor burst over his tongue as he watched the entrance of the hotel bar. From the corner of his eye, he saw a guy seated several stools away spread his legs and discretely adjust himself as he not so discretely eyed Kieran up and down.

Like a chunk of meat on a stick, Kieran thought. He switched the cross of his legs, letting his skirt ride a little higher on his thighs.

Picking up his drink, he took a slow sip and licked his lips. Did the guy realize he was mentally undressing another guy? Maybe.

Maybe not. When he dressed up, he frequently got mistaken for a woman. He sent his admirer a smile then quickly averted his gaze as if he were too shy to maintain the eye contact.

Tonight he’d taken some trouble with his appearance, and not just because of that crap with Will. He’d done it for David and for himself, because putting on makeup and sliding into something sexy made him
feel
better, like someone else, someone whose life was not a total mess. And when exactly had feeling like someone else become so important?

Hooking his stiletto heel over the rung of his barstool, Kieran signaled the bartender for another drink just as David entered the bar.

God, he looked good. Faded jeans and an open-neck shirt that might have been blue or black emphasized his lean build. His hair gleamed, bronze and gold and curling just over his collar.

Kieran watched him scan the bar. He lifted a hand and waved.

He knew the moment David saw him by the pure pleasure that lit his features.

Kieran’s heart skipped a beat. How could he have ever let this man slip away? And for what?

180 Gardner ~ His Leading Man

The bartender placed a fresh napkin and his drink in front of him just as David reached his side.

“Hey, you look amazing.” A warm hand settled on Kieran’s bare shoulder and David leaned in for a kiss. His lips were so soft, the contact so brief and Kieran felt that funny little fl ip in his chest again.

“So do you, like you just stepped out of GQ.” He ran a fi ngertip up David’s chest then cupped the back of his neck, pulling him in for a longer liplock.

When he leaned back, David’s cheeks were slightly pink.

“Wow.”

Kieran laughed and slid a glance at the guy down the bar, the same one who had been checking him out. The dude’s gaze was resolutely fastened on the fl at-screen TV above the bar.

David propped a hip on the stool beside Kieran’s and signaled the bartender.

“Do you mind if we sit at a table?” Not waiting for an answer, Kieran picked up his glass and got to his feet.

Once David had a drink in hand, they moved to a booth in the back where the shadows were deep and they could have more privacy. David slid in on one side of the booth and Kieran took the bench opposite.

“When did you start drinking martinis?” David stirred his drink, the ice rattling against the glass.

Kieran smiled and lifted his glass. Sipped. “I like the way they look. Classy, you know?”

David laughed. “Yeah, that’s what I look for in a drink.

How am I going to look drinking this?” Reaching out he caught Kieran’s hand in his and held it. Their gazes locked. David’s eyes warmed. “Frankly, I think you’d look good drinking a carton of chocolate milk. Then I could lick your moustache.”

“I don’t have a moustache.”

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181

David’s smile was warm and sweet. The dimple at the corner of his mouth fl ashed. “Everybody has a moustache when they drink chocolate milk.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

There went that little trip in his chest again. No other man had ever been able to make him feel that. And David had done it from the fi rst, seemingly without even trying.

Under the table, Kieran slipped off his shoe. He trailed his stockinged foot up David’s calf then back down, watching for a reaction. He wasn’t disappointed. His lover’s—ex lover, Kieran reminded himself—ex lover’s dark eyes heated, his gaze dropping to Kieran’s mouth and lingering there for a long, long moment.

“It’s probably way too soon to say this, too fast.” David’s fi ngers tightened on his. “I know it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

“We saw each other just this morning, silly.” He laughed, the sound overly loud, overly fl irty even to his own ears. He lifted David’s hand and pressed it to his cheek before rubbing his lips over the knuckles.

“Kieran, stop. I’m trying to be serious and you’re distracting me.” He brought their joined hands down to the table. “I’ve missed you. I just about gave up on seeing you tonight.” Kieran tugged his hand free and grabbed his martini glass as if it were a lifeline. He took a large swig and set the glass down. “Never give up on me, babe. You should know better than that.”

Why was he suddenly so nervous? His heart fl uttered like a trapped bird, his stomach churned. David looked so serious, so intent. Kieran wanted to press his fi nger to David’s lips, to stop him from saying whatever he meant to say next. Why couldn’t they just keep it light, fl irty and sexy? He so wanted fl irty and sexy and not this seriousness. When things got too serious, people got hurt. He got hurt.

“I nearly didn’t go to Christine’s party last night. Gavin guilted me into it. He said if he didn’t show up with someone, his sister
182 Gardner ~ His Leading Man

would be fi xing him up with every gay guy at the party.” David laughed, his eyes growing serious as they looked into Kieran’s.

“Now I’m really glad I did.”

“David—”

“I don’t think I knew how much I missed you until you were standing in front of me. But then it was like…” He spread his hands, momentarily helpless to fi nd the right words. “And then you were right there and I was kissing you and—”

“Stop.” Kieran raised a hand in a warding off gesture as if he could push the words back into David’s mouth, make him unsay them. He couldn’t do this, couldn’t hear this, couldn’t deal.

But David didn’t seem to hear. “I want to try again, Kay. I knew it the minute I kissed you, the minute your lips opened and I tasted you again. Nobody ever—”

“We can’t. I can’t. David, I’m seeing someone.”

“What? You’re what?” A montage of reactions played across David’s features: shock, dismay, embarrassment and fi nally disbelief.

Kieran nodded. “It’s true. His name is Will. He’s a producer on my show. We’ve been together for quite a while now.”