Off Camera

Chapter 30

Tae POV

A chuckle rumbles in my chest as I shake my head. The scene from early is still fresh in my mind, along with Tee's adorable, and confused face. He still doesn't understand what the director was hinting at.

I shake my head, and my lips curve upward while my hands dive into the soapy water, hunting for more dirty dishes to wash.

Tee is too precious for his own good.

Ring...ring...ring...

I glance over at the counter and my phone. The director's name flashes across the screen.

What does he want?

I quickly wipe my hand off and then swipe to accept the call, putting it on speaker. "Hello. Is there something I forgot to do? Or are there changes to tomorrow's schedule or script?"

"No. I wanted to call you on a more personal item."

My eyebrow rises. "Personal? What would you need to know about that is personal?"

"Uhm..."

I wipe both of my hands off and step away from the sink. "It can't be too personal. We have a professional relationship, but you don't even know where I live unless you look at my employee files. So, we aren't really friends but co-workers. What personal item would you want to know about?"

"Well... I don't know how to ask this, so I'll come out and be blunt. How close are you with Tee? He seemed really confused with my request today for him and you to go to the dressing room to practice your lines. I could have sworn I saw something right before that, and the way he was standing with the script in front of him, I thought for sure I knew what your relationship is."

A smile tugs at my lips while I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the phone. Do I tell him? He has figured it out.

The promise I made with Tee to keep it a secret comes rushing back to me.

If the director already knows, is it really telling our secret?

The situation with Jane was a little different. She had stumbled across it when she was getting information from my phone, but the director doesn't have solid evidence yet. He only has assumptions. Plus, Tee is still torn on whether it is a good thing or not that Jane knows.

I take a deep breath.

"Tae. Are you still there?"

I nod. "Yeah, I'm still here. I'm just thinking about how to answer you."

"Wait. Does this mean what I think it means?"

I need a beer.

I shake my head as I step towards the refrigerator. "No. This doesn't mean anything. I'm just trying to figure out how to say it without you jumping to conclusions."

I open the fridge and grab a bottle of beer. As I take a big gulp of it, he huffs, "I won't jump to any conclusion. Just tell me whether I'm right or wrong."

My mind runs through the various ways to reply as I walk back over to my phone. "I'm going to ask you a question first. What did you mean by your comment?"

I know exactly what he meant by the comment, but I'm hoping maybe if I confuse him, he won't insist on getting a real answer from me. I know it is a long shot, but it is my only hope right now.

"Well, I'll be blunt. I thought you and Tee were flirting with each other to the point he was getting aroused and that is why he was covering his crotch. Am I right?"

Yep. He knew exactly what was happening.

Now, what do I do?

I nibble the inside of my cheek, hoping some brilliant idea will pop into my head.

I take another drink and lean against the counter. "Flirting? You thought we were flirting?"

Deflect. Deflect.

It has to work. Think of something better and fast.

"Yeah. My eyes might not be what they used to be, but I'm positive I saw you licking his ear. Only partners would act like that with each other. Or someone teasing and being mean. From the look on Tee's face, he was enjoying it, and he didn't push you away. Soooo....."

I know. He has figured it all out.

Dang it. I thought we were hidden enough in the corner that no one could see what was going on. Lesson one: make sure we are more secluded next time.

But the thrill of being caught makes it so much more arousing.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

"Sooo.... You want me to confirm whether I licked his ear or not."

I take another drink. Think Tae. We need to figure something out soon.

"YES! Stop stalling. You know it makes you look guilty."

My stomach sinks. Shit!

"Well..."

Tee walks into the kitchen with a towel wrapped around his waist. His pale chest is on full display and a towel is draped over his head. "Tae. I waited for as long as I could in the shower for you. Why didn't you come join me? Are you still made I ran away from you today at the set?"

My eyes lock on his slim body and delicate skin, glistening under the kitchen lights. Purple bite marks litter across his stomach and thighs. They stand out like targets against the pale backdrop.

My cock twists, and my breath quickens.

I want him. I can never have too much of him.

Desire rushes through me, and I lick my lips while my eyes devour him. "I was doing the dishes. Sorry."

I push myself off the counter and stalk towards him. He is oblivious to what he is doing to me.

My pants tighten as my shaft comes to life. I'm ready for my dessert.

He pulls the towel back from in front of his eyes and looks at me through his wet bangs. "Well, I guess I should be the one punishing you for us almost getting caught. I've told you not to tell anyone about us. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact Jane knows and has vowed to protect us. Hey. Wait. What are you doing?"

My eyes darken, and a smirk slides across my face.

He steps backwards as I seductively ask, "What do you think I'm doing?"

He shakes his head, and the towel falls down around his neck. "No. I'm mad at you. You aren't going to devour me tonight. You need to be punished."

A faint snort spills from me. "Punishment sounds about right, but not to me. I'll be punishing you for not realizing what the director was trying to do."

He puts his hand out and shakes his head. "No. Your punishment is not having a taste of me tonight."

He tries to put on a fierce face, but it looks more like an angry bunny than anything else.

I lean my chest against his open palm and wrap my hand around his wrist. "I don't think so. I want to finish what we started earlier. If only you would have understood what the director was trying to tell you, we would have finished there instead of here."

Tee shuffles his feet backwards again until his back hits the wall.

"Cough... Cough..."

Published October 20, 2022