Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Xander made sure to thank him multiple times before he went towards his bedroom.
He’d gazed up at him with those blue eyes, blinking as he whispered against his cheek, “I’m so grateful it’s you, Cassie.”
He’d wanted to tell Xander he was grateful too…every time he looked at him like that.
That was how far gone he already was.
Instead, he’d murmured into his thick hair, “Get some sleep, Lane.”
By the time he’d finished working on his laptop, reviewing God and Day’s reports, updating the security rosters, and approving payroll, Xander had fallen asleep on the bed, with one creamy thigh peeking from beneath the crisp sheets and a hand tucked beneath his head.
Cassidy stood there staring much longer than he should have before he removed his T-shirt, turned off the light, and crawled into bed behind him.
Xander stirred enough to find him, then eased back into his chest, sighing in his sleep, his warm, solid body molding against him.
He slid one arm around his waist and held him there, staying awake several hours after Xander had drifted back into dreaming.
He told himself he was in Xander’s bed for protection.
But in his heart, deep down, he knew it was far from that now.
Cassidy stood near the side of the soundstage with God, Day, and Steele while they briefed him on the new staff.
Steele had cut eight of his men from the roster in two days.
The enforcer had watched Cassidy’s guys during drills and dismissed the ones who checked their phones, stepped out of their lanes, postured for an actress, or failed to communicate effectively during a disruption.
Within a week, West Protective Solutions had lost several employees but gained a handful of replacements God and Day vetted.
His company was in capable hands. For the first time since this mess had begun, he could focus solely on Xander without tracking every issue in his own company.
Steele was responsible for perfecting perimeter drills. Day worked on their crowd reading while God focused on reaction formations.
“They’re improving,” God said, gaze cutting toward a group of agents posted near the stage entrance.
Cassidy grunted. “High praise.”
“From him it is,” Day said.
Cassidy’s focus drifted to Xander at the side of the stage, where the stylist misted him and roughened his hair until he appeared flushed, disheveled, and dangerously sexy.
The upcoming scene was an intimate one between Xander’s character and Arthur, played by Wyatt Stanis, an actor with too much confidence and charm.
Wyatt had been hovering near Xander all morning.
Laughing at any little thing he said, touching his back and shoulder when he spoke. Saying little flirty things that could pass as playful to an unsuspecting man.
Xander handled him with professionalism, being polite but distant enough to keep the line crystal clear.
A production assistant hurried past with a clipboard. “Closed set in five.”
Nonessential personnel began to leave. The intimacy coordinator, a soft-spoken woman named Rena, stepped onto the bedroom set and spoke with Wyatt and Xander in a hushed tone.
Cassidy turned his back before Xander removed his robe. He wasn’t interested in watching him film a romantic scene with another man.
He understood it was acting, knew the difference between performance and real life.
But knowledge didn’t make it easier.
Especially not after he’d tasted those lips, caressed his body, and held him in his arms while he’d slept.
Day glanced up at him. “You good?”
“M’fine.”
The director called, “Quiet on set.”
The stage fell silent.
“Roll sound.”
“Roll camera.”
“Camera rolling.”
“Scene one-twenty-six, take one.”
The clapboard snapped.
“Action.”
At first, Cassidy did pretty good ignoring Xander’s character speaking to Arthur in a sultry whisper and Wyatt answering in an annoyingly smooth voice—until the dialogue was replaced by shallow breaths.
Cassidy stiffened.
The scene turned erotic quickly.
The sound of sheets rustling filtered across the set as Wyatt’s deep moans blended with Xander’s soft ones.
“You want me, say it,” Arthur demanded.
“I do. Yes Cass…”
Cassidy whipped around. So did God.
Day’s brows shot up.
Even Steele’s toothpick went loose in his mouth.
It wasn’t loud, barely more than the first syllable of a name that didn’t belong in the scene.
Xander froze over Wyatt Stanis with one hand braced on the pillow, the other gripping the sheet.
The warm lights overhead highlighted the dark flush climbing his throat. Wyatt stared up at him, confused for half a second, before he tried to lean back in for another kiss.
Xander recovered badly.
“A-Arthur,” he stammered, trying to bend the word into place. “Arthur, I…”
“Cut,” the director yelled.
Xander scrambled off Wyatt as if the bed was on fire. His face was beet red, eyes wide with the kind of mortification that made everyone look at him with pity.
Elliot hurried over with Xander’s robe.
He took it with both hands and pulled it around himself. He tied it with jerky movements as he muttered something to Rena, then hurried toward his trailer with his head down.
Ruxs and Green rushed after him, falling into their protective positions as Xander crossed the stage. Ruxs took the outer lane, while Green covered the rear.