Chapter Nine

Izzy

 

The moment he heard the final ‘cut’, Izzy peeled his jacket off then tugged his shirt over his head as he stomped to the trailer they’d set up for makeup and wardrobe changes. He had to dodge Ainslie and Lorena, who had appeared shortly after leaving with Rowes, shutting his door behind him and stripping down to his underwear. His street clothes were barely back on, makeup still clinging to his face as he left, rushing straight to the hotel.

“Isthmus!”

Gritting his teeth in irritation, Izzy turned toward the shout. If it would have been anyone but the director, he would have ignored them. As it were, he liked the director, even if she was a hardass.

“Good work today. You going to check on Rowes?”

Another thing he liked about her was that she actually seemed to care about them. In season one, their director had almost ended the show, treating them more like objects than actual people. Things had been revamped with season two, and they hadn’t had an issue since.

“I’m headed there now.” He half-turned away, looking to the exit. He was almost there, so close that he could feel the freedom on his face.

“Good. I need to chat with him soon about his upcoming scene and to let him know that it won’t be breaching his contract. We’re going to shoot that next week, if he needs to do anything to prepare.”

What? They were shooting scenes all the time, what would make one so different? His heart thudded with realization. The kiss scene. Despite their female fanbase, there really wasn’t that much intimacy in the show, although there was a fair amount of suggestion.

And what did that have anything to do with his contract? As far as contracts went, Izzy’s was pretty standard. He couldn’t imagine Rowes’ being that different.

“I’ll let him know, and I’ll help him with any prep he needs,” said Izzy. The director flushed, which was something he’d never seen before. Her call of ‘good’ was lost as he spun on his heel out of the door with only one thing in mind.

The short drive and walk through the halls of the hotel were a blur, blood rushing through his ears as he tapped his key card on the door to their hotel room. Rowes was always one to put on a brave face, but his yelp was still echoing in Izzy’s ears.

He could be stuck on the bed, unable to roll over or even get into the bath. Lorena probably wouldn’t have been much help, always a stickler for not crossing the line into friendship territory. Or maybe he was close to passing out in the bath, the muscle relaxants doing their work. If he fell asleep, he could drown.

Nearing panic, he flung the door wide, rushing toward the bathroom and hitting it with his shoulder when the knob didn’t turn fast enough. The door bounced off the wall as he hurled it open, probably leaving a dent for some poor cleaner to discover.

His heart stopped, only for his blood to pound in his veins a moment later, his gut going tight and his mouth dry.

Rowes was on his way either into the tub or out of it, but it looked like he’d gotten stuck, his face screwed up in his frozen position of half bent over and reaching for the handle on the edge of the whirlpool. Water dripped down his back, a few bubbles following the path and whisking the scent of lavender into the air. The candle at the edge of the tub flickered with the same scent, soaking the room and the steam that coated the massive mirror.

The stunts on set had left their mark with bruises on Rowes’ back that were red and purple, and splotches of color on his otherwise-pale skin. The largest one had to be bigger than Izzy’s hand, stretching along his side and his shoulder as well.

“Can you pass me a towel?” asked Rowes, halting Izzy’s thoughts like a tree in the middle of the highway. “Sorry… I tried to get out when I heard the door, but you were too quick.” He winced again as he twisted and moved to lift his leg over the edge of the tub, a little gasp pushing through his lips. The bubbles dripped lower, sliding down the curve of his ass.

Fuck. Izzy moved all at once as his limbs thawed, slipping on the damp floor as he lunged for Rowes. Gently grasping his waist and shoulder, he pulled Rowes to him, supporting his weight and helping him upright. Rowes let out a pained groan before he held on, his limbs shaking with the obvious effort. “Can you make it like this?”

Rowes was trembling, the water nearly vibrating as he lifted his leg again, his body going tight at the move. Even with the heated air and the steam, he still looked pale.

“Fuck.” Rowes let out a low groan, dropping his leg back into the sudsy water. “It didn’t hurt this much on set.” His eyes were red as he bit his lip, leaning his full weight onto Izzy. Izzy grasped him around his slippery waist, his fingers tingling at the touch.

“Hey, it’s okay. That’s why I’m here.” Izzy moved both hands to Rowes’ lower back, resting just above the swell of his ass in the dip where he fit perfectly. One side was rock-hard beneath his hand, the muscle spasming as he touched it. He’d had the same thing happen to him, and he knew just how painful it could be. “You pulled a muscle really badly here. Can you put your arms around my neck?”

Rowes nodded, tucking his head into Izzy’s neck as he moved, and letting out a breath as Izzy slowly bent down, putting one hand under his knees and lifting. With the size difference between them, it should have been more difficult, but Izzy had apparently gained some kind of superpower. He reveled in it, doing his best not to jostle Rowes.

Lifting Rowes bridal style, he carefully navigated the wet floor of the bathroom, carrying Rowes to the other room before setting him on the bed. A few remaining bubbles soaked into the comforter, leaving Rowes shivering.

“I’m wet,” said Rowes, clinging to Izzy as he laid him out. His hands were trembling, and every time Izzy moved him in the slightest, he let out a tiny whimper.

“I don’t care, Ro. You could be covered in skunk, and I’d still be laying you out on this bed.” Izzy eased back, lingering even as he glanced away. “Can you roll onto your front? I’m going to try to loosen up your back.” He wasn’t a professional by any means, but the thought of someone else touching Rowes in this state, even a professional, made him clench his jaw.

“Izzy…you don’t have to. I’m sure the meds will kick in soon.” His hair was leaving a halo of dampness on the sheets, the white comforter soaking up every drop. His face looked pale, his lips stark red and his eyes bloodshot and wet.

“Rowes,” said Izzy, letting sternness slip into his voice. It was the same voice he’d used when Rowes had lied to him, and the reaction he got was the same. His pupils blew wide, his face relaxing and his mouth dropping open just enough for Izzy to see the pinkness inside.

Without a word, Rowes rolled over, clutching at the sheets and whimpering as he finally settled face down on the bed.

“Ro.” Izzy smoothed his hand down Rowes’ back, hissing as he brushed over the bruising there. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself anymore tonight. I need you to tell me if you’re in pain or if you need help. Promise me.” His skin was so soft beneath his fingertips, still damp and floral from the bubbles. He probably tasted of lavender and the bitter sweetness of the bath.

“Are you asking me as my friend or as my Dom?” asked Rowes, his voice muffled before he turned his head to the side, blinking away the tears on his eyelashes.

“Is there any difference?” asked Izzy. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered how long he’d actually been Rowes’ Dom without even knowing it. Taking care of him was one of the best feelings he’d ever had, and touching him was more satisfying than eating chocolate cake. He had to keep telling himself that just because Rowes was better than cake, didn’t mean that he wanted to fuck him.

Tell that to this guy. Glancing down at himself, Izzy tried to squash the building warmth in his groin. His cock had started to tingle with the rush of blood as soon as he’d seen Rowes naked. He was only a man, though, and he couldn’t fault his body for reacting to someone so beautiful. There was a reason Rowes had such a huge following, and why his shirtless scenes were some of the most watched.

“Is this where it hurts the worst?” he asked, touching the strained muscles of Rowes’ lower back. They jumped under his hand and Rowes grunted, biting his lip between his teeth.

“Yeah. It hurts real bad, Iz.”

He must’ve been bad. Rowes rarely called him ‘Iz’ until he was drunk, high or waking up from surgery. There had been a time that Rowes had insisted on calling him Isthmus, but that had stopped once they’d started living together.

“I’ll make it better.” Shuffling off the bed, Izzy rifled through his bag, ripping out heaps of clothing when he couldn’t find what he was looking for. He touched something cold with his fingers, grasping it and pulling it into the light.

Lube was better than nothing, and he didn’t exactly have massage oil floating around. At least it was unscented. He wouldn’t have been able to do a good massage with strawberry or cherry, although peppermint might have done the job. He was never putting peppermint on his dick again, though, so he didn’t have any in his bag. That was a lesson he did not need to repeat.

Stepping back to the bed, Izzy hesitated. If he sat off to one side, he would probably end up straining himself, or he wouldn’t be able to work Rowes’ muscles as well as he wanted to. But he didn’t want to straddle Rowes and risk hurting him that way, either.

Touching the inside of Rowes’ thigh, Izzy asked him without words to spread his legs, sliding between them and settling as close to Rowes as he could. Don’t look down. He couldn’t resist. He’d never seen Rowes’ ass so up close and personal or his delicate furl between his cheeks.

“I’ll probably have to help you into the shower again after,” said Izzy, tearing his gaze away as he grabbed for the lube and drizzled some down the middle of Rowes’ back. Rowes flexed, letting out another gasp that had Izzy chewing his lip. “Relax and let me take care of you.”

This is such a bad idea. He knew after the first passage of his hands, that he wasn’t going to end the night with his sanity intact. He’d always known Rowes was lean from his time in the gym, and he looked damn good without a shirt, but it was another thing to feel it.

With a deep shuddering breath, he worked his way over Rowes’ back, starting at his shoulders and gently skimming along the blotched bruising covering his right side. Every gentle touch sent Rowes deeper into the bed, until the tension drained from his body with a few soft sighs. Once he was fully relaxed, Izzy touched the rock-hard muscle that was causing Rowes so much pain.

The groan Rowes released was pure bliss as Izzy touched him and curled his fingers as he worked the tight spot. He slipped over Rowes’ skin, eased by the lubricant that was dripping onto the comforter. Izzy couldn’t bring himself to care about the mess. He wasn’t worried if they charged them an extra cleaning fee at the end of their stay, either. Every penny would be worth it.

Although, the cleaning staff would probably be wondering what they’d needed that much lube for.

“How is it?” Izzy leaned forward, putting more of his weight into his hands. He could feel each bunch of muscle releasing beneath him, until Rowes felt near boneless. He’d probably be fine.

Only, Izzy didn’t want to stop. He grabbed the lube, pouring more on as some started to dry. It was tacky as it dried, which was the worst thing about water-based lubricants. Rowes didn’t even respond as the cold lube touched his skin, his lashes brushing against his cheeks. They were long and darker than his hair.

“Ro?” Izzy asked softly, switching to his knuckles and kneading ever so gently. “Are you sleeping?” His imagination ran wild. If he could only have a moment like this every day to touch Rowes—to worship him when there were no interruptions or places to be. He could take his fill and look after Rowes at the same time.

“No,” said Rowes, the muscle on his inner thigh tensing. Izzy dropped his gaze to it, his hands following.

Skimming over Rowes’ ass, he dipped his thumbs between his cheeks, easing them apart for just a moment before he moved to Rowes’ quads and started to knead. Rowes parted his legs wider, presumably to give Izzy more room to work.

Izzy bit his lip as he looked down, mesmerized as he continued. Rowes was hard, his cock pointed down along the bed and his sac resting to one side. It echoed his own cock, which was aching in his jeans, so squashed that it was painful. He made no move to release himself, moving his hands back to Rowes’ ass unconsciously.

When he rubbed just right, slipping his thumbs between Rowes’ cheeks, his cock twitched against the bed, a pearly drop gathering at the tip. The head was blushed red and shiny as Rowes let out a soft gasp. What will happen if I really touch him?

On the next pass, he dragged a finger over Rowes’ furl, not lingering before he stroked lower to the soft seam of his perineum. Rowes’ ass muscles jumped under him, his cock visibly twitching.

“Iz?”

“You’re okay,” said Izzy, repeating the exact same move just to see another drip gather at the head of Rowes’ cock. It was nearly purple now, looking so uncomfortable in its trapped position. It couldn’t be as bad as Izzy squashed in his jeans, though. “I’m not going to fuck you.”

He wasn’t so sure about that anymore. Rowes was so responsive, rocking into the next pass and arching his back. The meds and massage must’ve been kicking in, because he seemed painless, even with the dark bruises. Izzy let out a little chuckle, tapping his hand against Rowes’ ass. “No moving. I don’t want you to strain yourself again.”

This time he lingered over Rowes’ hole, massaging with his thumb in the same way that he’d rubbed his back into submission, only so soft that he was barely touching him. Rowes let out a gasp, tugging at the sheets as he clenched his fists. Izzy clicked his tongue, wrapping his hands around Rowes’ wrists and bringing them over his head where they could rest on the pillow.

“Be still,” he said softly, pressing his chest to Rowes’ back as he leaned in to arrange Rowes how he wanted him. There was the perfect angle that wouldn’t strain him at all, and once he found it, he lingered on his wrists.

Lube soaked into his shirt and skin, and even though it was unscented, they reeked of it. It brought an ingrained response to the forefront of his thoughts. Usually when he smelled lube from this position, he was already balls deep.

He squeezed Rowes’ wrists once before tilting away. “If you can’t keep still on your own, I’ll tie you up. I bought some lovely blue rope after our trip to the club. It would look so beautiful against your skin.”

Rowes let out a shuddering breath, going lax as Izzy rocked onto his heels. Peeling his shirt from his shoulders, he tossed the lube-soaked mess to the floor. That’s better.

When he touched Rowes’ hole again, he let his thumb rest there, putting the barest hint of pressure into it—not enough to breach, but enough for Rowes to really feel it.

“Iz,” Rowes whispered again, his voice urgent. “Izzy, I’m hard.”

Chuckling, Izzy leaned in again, until his naked chest was against Rowes’ slick back. He nuzzled Rowes’ neck, inhaling his scent until he caught the citrus beneath the overpowering lube. His hard cock was pressed against Rowes’ ass, giving no question to his own state.

“You can be as hard as you want, but you’re not allowed to come. That might cross a line,” said Izzy, humping as Rowes sucked in a gasp. “You remember your safeword?”

Rowes nodded. “Red. Is this a scene?”

Is it? It certainly felt like it. They were both hard, even if they weren’t having sex, and Izzy was so content he was almost high with it. There had been times with Malone that were so similar, only now Izzy was doing exactly what he had wanted to back then.

“I think we’re past scenes, Ro.” Izzy pulled himself to his hands and knees before he could strain Rowes’ back from the weight. “We don’t need a scene to do what comes naturally to us. Being on a set won’t stop me from wrapping my hand around your neck.”

He touched Rowes’ neck with his slicked fingers, groaning at the pulse thudding beneath his fingertips. It was what had drawn him in the most when they’d watched the D/s fan video. Rowes looked perfect with Izzy’s hand around his throat, so soft but steady. There was a trust to holding someone’s life in his hands like that, and he cherished it.

“Izzy, I’m going to come,” said Rowes, tensing beneath him. His cock was so dark and wet that it had to be painful now, much worse than a steady throb. Izzy couldn’t dredge up any sympathy, purely fascinated as he watched. He could give in and let Rowes come, but then the moment would end. He wasn’t ready for that yet.

“Did I say you could?”

Rowes let out a high-pitched groan, biting his lip as he clenched his eyes shut. “No.”

“Okay, just checking,” said Izzy, resuming his massage as if he’d never stopped. He focused on Rowes’ thighs first, giving him a break from overstimulation as he dug his thumbs in. His calves were next, the small amount of hair coarse beneath his palms. He reapplied lube twice until Rowes was completely slathered and dripping, the bedsheets ruined beyond repair.

Massaging his ankle with one hand, Izzy focused on Rowes’ hole with the other, pressing his thumb against the furl that was calling to him. Rowes let out a whine before he started to whimper.

“Iz, please.” His voice was nothing but a pained whisper as he trembled. “I can’t stop it.”

Izzy tugged his hand away, staring at Rowes’ cock as it twitched. He had to be right on the edge, his gut throbbing and his balls tight. Not yet.

“You beg so prettily,” said Izzy, tangling his fingers in Rowes’ hair until he was sticky with lube. “I’m almost convinced, but not quite. I want you desperate.”

“I am.” He raised his voice for the first time, tugging at the bed sheets. The bed groaned as he twitched his hips. “Please. Please.”

“Okay,” said Izzy, this time pressing his thumb to Rowes’ hole and giving a little push. His furl gave way but Izzy didn’t force his way inside, massaging the tightness until it no longer resisted him.

Rowes let out a choked gasp, his cock pulsing against the bed as he started to shoot. His legs went tight against Izzy, his ass muscles jumping as his gasp morphed into a long groan.

It was the hottest thing Izzy had seen in his life. He’d had enough lovers to question if he was a bit slutty, but none of them had ever responded to him so seamlessly or beautifully, coming on command like a dream. No one had ever looked at him like Rowes did, either, or felt like him under his hands.

His chest heaved and he refused to blink, not wanting to miss a single twitch as Rowes finally stopped coming with an impressive puddle at the tip of his cock that slowly seeped into the comforter. His balls had drawn up tight, looking squashed and uncomfortable in their position.

“Izzy?”

He sounded so lost, with the edge of fear in his voice. It must’ve been the same uncertainty that was in Izzy’s chest. He’d felt the crash before with Malone, when everything had been good up until the moment it hadn’t been. He never wanted Rowes to feel anything like that or experience the crippling doubt that had haunted him for days, even with Malone’s reassurances.

“You know,” Izzy mused softly, “when I told you I wanted you as my submissive, I never suspected you would be quite so perfect. You always manage to blow my mind in the most wonderful ways, Rowes.”

Rowes let out a sigh of what Izzy hoped was relief, relaxing against the bed as Izzy continued his massage, retreating to Rowes’ lower back to make sure nothing had tightened up again. The lube had gone tacky with sweat, probably uncomfortable as all hell.

“We’re good, then?” asked Rowes. He blinked his eyes open, but the lids looked heavy, barely opening halfway.

“So good,” said Izzy. “Now let me get you into the shower, and I’ll order room service for us.”

Rowes bit his lip as he drew his legs up, slowly easing over until he was facing Izzy again. The move didn’t seem nearly as painful as it had before, but that may have just been from the way his cock looked so sated. “But did you—you know—come?”

Sometimes Rowes was the sweetest guy. Izzy had tried not to wonder what kind of lover he would be, but it was obvious that he was a giver, even as a submissive. Izzy couldn’t have asked for more.

Not that we’re lovers. That was a line he wasn’t sure if they would ever cross.

Grasping Rowes’ hand, he brought it to his groin where he was still rock-hard and beyond uncomfortable. He was practically soaked with pre-cum, the zing of the touch almost too much to bear. Memories of his dream flitted over his mind as he pictured Rowes taking him down his throat, the damp warmth squeezing him so tight.

“Let me—” Rowes started.

“No.” Izzy cut him off. “Tonight is about you.” If he had his way, every night would be about Rowes. “Now, I’m going to go get the shower warmed up. I’ll be back for you in a second.”

Rowes had a silly smile on his face as Izzy left for the bathroom. He paused at the doorway, unable to resist looking at the naked expanse of beauty stretched out in his bed. He was never going back to what they had had, because for the first time in his life, he was sure of something.

Rowes was his.