BY THE TIME I headed home, my body was feeling it. My adrenaline must’ve been riding me the whole time I’d spent with Donovan, because once I began the walk to my apartment, I thought my legs might give out on me. I’d definitely put them, and several other body parts, to very good use earlier, and those hot visuals of Donovan kept me walking. Luckily, it wasn’t far to my place in Murray Hill, so I had more than enough material to keep me occupied.
God. The sexy moans he’d made, and the way that perfect ass swallowed my cock… It was enough that he was so good looking that I could’ve gotten off to just his face, but he had to have a personality to match, didn’t he?
I didn’t even want to think about how much trouble I could fall into with that guy, not when I was starting out in a job that wasn’t exactly conducive to having any kind of dating life. Sure I’d somehow convinced Donovan to join me not just once, but twice, but it couldn’t go any further than that. I knew it, and I still didn’t give a fuck.
That was a problem.
Just not one I needed to think about now.
My thighs burned as I headed up the stairs to my fourth-floor walkup, a place I’d gotten lucky to find with my old roommate a couple of years ago. It was small, like everything in the city, but it had two separate bedrooms, both barely big enough for a bed that could fit my six-three frame, but I made it work. The price had been manageable too, at least until Sven decided to move back home a few months ago and I realized doing a bunch of side hustles weren’t going to pay the bills.
As I put my key in the lock, the knob turned too easily—which meant my apartment was already unlocked.
Sighing, I pushed open the door and hung my keys on a hook on the wall. “Corey, you here?”
A few seconds later, a head full of wavy auburn hair poked out from the entrance to my kitchen. “Damn, dude, I thought you’d be back hours ago.”
I blinked. “Tell me you haven’t been hanging out here for hours.”
“Here? Nah, you don’t have cable. I was just looking for the sauce you put on the stuff the other day. You remember?”
To anyone else, I was sure that sounded like a bunch of gibberish, but considering he’d been my intrusive neighbor for two years now, I’d learned how to speak fluent Corey.
I moved past him and opened one of the upper cabinets, reaching for what he wanted.
“See, that’s the problem. I’m not tall enough to reach that.” Corey’s face twisted into a frown. “Wait a second, is that why you put it up so high? So I couldn’t borrow it?”
Snorting, I handed him the jar of chili oil and then grabbed a clean glass for me. “Borrow?”
He rolled his eyes. “I’d return it.”
“Yeah, mostly empty.” I punched out a couple of ice cubes from the tray before popping it back in the freezer and pouring myself a Jack and Coke. “I’ve got exactly two cabinets to put shit in. Grab a chair next time.”
“You got it.” Corey stared down at the jar, his forehead still pinched. “And you just used it on the, uh…”
Shaking my head, I pulled out a small plate and reached for the remaining sourdough tied up on the counter. It was easier to do it myself than expect him to retain the few steps to make it, especially when a complicated meal to him was putting a frozen pizza in the oven. Then again, my taking over probably had a lot to do with why he insisted on raiding my kitchen all the time. That and free food.
The lone avocado left was well past its prime ripeness, but I figured that wouldn’t matter much to Corey. As I mashed it up and added a few spices, I said, “You know, I gave you that key in the first place for emergencies only.”
“I know, what do you think this is?”
“Food? Not an emergency. Locking myself out or my apartment on fire? Those are instances that require a spare key.”
“Friends don’t let friends go hungry,” he said, giving me a toothy grin I couldn’t help but laugh at. Along with the shirt he wore that said, Zombies eat brains. Don’t worry, you’re safe.
“You’re ridiculous,” I said. I spooned a little chili oil over the avocado toast and handed him the plate. “I’m already selling my ass for rent money, but yeah, why not add your groceries to the list.”
“Hell yeah, now that’s the reason I’m really here. I need aaall the dirty details.” He started toward my couch and called over his shoulder, “And thanks for the grub.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re welcome.” I brought my drink with me as I followed Corey, stopping to kick off my shoes before planting my ass in the chair.
My living room consisted of only a single window and a few square feet, enough to put a small futon and a sling accent chair. I’d had to mount the TV, since there wasn’t enough space for an entertainment stand, but it wasn’t like I needed much. This place was far bigger than many of the studios my friends rented. Coming from an abundance of space back home to the reality of city living had been an adjustment for sure, but now it felt good. Cozy, but home.
Maybe that had more to do with living alone instead of sharing the space.
Corey sat cross-legged on the couch and turned toward me, already stuffing his face. “So? Give me the goods,” he said around a mouthful.
I hadn’t told a soul about the porn stuff and hadn’t planned to, but Corey had been here raiding my fridge when I got the phone call inviting me to meet up with the owners of Xes Entertainment, and his relentless line of questioning had worn me down.
Then again, maybe it was nice to have one person in my life I could talk to about it. A lot of my guy friends were straight and would probably never come across it, but if they did, it wasn’t like I’d be ashamed of it. What I’d done today had been so fucking hot I was wondering why I didn’t get into this sooner. Even if, in the back of my mind, I had a feeling that had more to do with Donovan after the non-reaction my dick had to my original scene partner.
Stretching out in the chair, I sipped on my drink and tried to keep my face schooled into indifference so Corey wouldn’t completely see through me. “It went…well. Better than I thought it would for my first time.”
“Yeah? So the guy was hot? Not one of those his-dick-is-huge-so-you-have-to-just-go-with-it porn guys?”
I sputtered out a laugh, knowing exactly what he was talking about. Lots of guys out there did this stuff because of one reason, not because they were the most physically attractive. But that didn’t apply to Donovan.
He also wasn’t technically a porn star. Although…maybe he was after today. The masked porn star. I ran my hand over my scruff in an effort to hide my grin.
“No, the guy was”—gorgeous, physically perfect in every way?—“the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”
“No fucking way,” Corey said. “You’re not that lucky.”
“I was today.”
“Shit.” He took another bite of his toast and didn’t wait to swallow before saying, “I can’t wait to see that.”
“You’re not watching it.”
“Oh yes I am. You can’t stop me.”
“Did you forget you’ll see me naked? You’ll have nightmares.”
He shrugged. “I’m not watching for you. I’m watching for the hottest guy you’ve ever seen.”
“Then I hate to disappoint you, but his pretty face is all covered up.”
“You lie.”
“I’m not. He wore a mask the whole time.”
“What?” Corey set his half-eaten toast aside, giving me his full attention. “What kind of twisted asshole puts a mask on a hot guy?”
“Does it matter?”
“Hell yes, it matters. Masks should only be on the ugly ones.”
It was wrong, but I couldn’t help but chuckle at how put out he was. “It went along with the theme. It was a party scene.”
“Did you wear one?”
“No.”
Corey’s eyes narrowed. “What’s his name?”
Oh shit. I didn’t actually know what name would be listed in the credits for the scene. Donovan definitely wouldn’t use his real name, but I hadn’t thought to ask what he’d put down on his paperwork.
“I’m not sure,” I answered.
“He didn’t give you a name to call out?”
“You’re a little perv, aren’t you?”
“Says the porn star.”
I laughed, realizing just how strange this whole situation really was. I thought back to Donovan beneath me, my ramming into his tight body seconds before I came all over him. Had I called out his name? Or any name? I couldn’t remember that part, but it wasn’t surprising, considering how powerful my release had been. I was pretty sure I’d blacked out for a second.
Shit, if I’d accidentally said his name, surely Rafferty would edit that out, right? I’d have to reach out to him later and ask.
I swirled the contents of my glass and took another long sip, already feeling relaxed and ready to pass out soon, even though it was far too early for that.
“Well, if you end up watching, you’re welcome,” I said with a smirk. I didn’t need to see it to know what had happened between Donovan and me today had been off-the-charts scorching. So, hell, if Corey wanted to watch it, I wasn’t ashamed. I just didn’t need him trying to get in my bed instead of simply raiding my kitchen.
“Don’t worry, you’re still not my type,” he said, turning his attention back to finishing off his food.
“You might change your mind once you see me naked.” I winked.
Corey cocked his head. “Nah. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re hot and all, but you don’t even game, bro. We’d have nothing in common.”
I snorted out a laugh. “You’re right. You need a fellow nerd who’s memorized all the numbers to your favorite takeout places.”
“Now you’re speakin’ my language. And you need someone who actually likes to do all that workout shit you do to look like that.” He lifted his hand, gesturing up and down my body. “Ain’t me.”
No, that definitely wasn’t Corey. Who it was was someone I couldn’t stop thinking about. Someone with hazel eyes, an easy smile, and a body made for mine.
