My Husband

Chapter 14

Max had called their manager over to his house early the next morning and opened the door, topless. The manager was furious, seeing the deep, blood encrusted scratches over his chest and back. The bruising and teeth marks could be covered by makeup, but the scratches would show clearly in the high definition pictures. The posters were to photographed today!

It wasn't the first time the manager felt like punching the shit out of the two boys. "You fucking pricks! I told you to keep your sex life quiet if you were taking on this project!" He ranted and raved, pacing through the living room.

Max sat wearily on the couch, holding his coffee. "Did you see how Tul behaved yesterday?" He interrupted his tirade.

"What?" The manager dropped into the chair opposite of Max and poured a glass of water. "Yeah, I did. What's wrong with him?"

"Not going into details, but this is why I look like this." Max replied. "I think it'll be better now but can you get us a few days off?"

"I have too! Cough a lot, Max. I guess both you boys have the flu." The manager sighed and said, "Two days, that's it. I expect both of you in the studio in two days."

"Thanks man, I think you're the best friend I have other than Tul." Max slapped him on the back and escorted him out of the condo.

Tul appeared in his boxers. "Who was that, Max?"

"Oh, I called the manager and got us a few days off."

"Why? We just started this project! It's not going to look good at all."

"Tul?" Max said, grinning. "Look at me." He waved his hands at his torso.

Tul blushed, hard. Even after all these years, Max just had to look at him a certain way and that damn flush started just above his nipples and slowly ran up to his ears. It fascinated Max to see it in his pale skin.

He placed his hands on Tul's neck and whispered, "Oh, you're hot. Let's go back to bed."

They shot the pictures for Manner of Death two days later, and while the scratches had healed, a lot of make up had to be used to cover the many bruises and hickeys covering Max's body.

Tul only had a few. Most of his were in places that would never be seen, but one was always placed just under his right ear, a small neat tidy one. It was so dark and had been there so long now, most people simply thought it was a beauty mark. You only saw it if Tul's hair was really short, or styled.

Max always reinforced that small hickey from the day he first placed it. It was his way of knowing Tul was his. A silent claim of MINE!

The staff watching knew the dynamic had changed. These photographs were the hottest pictures they had ever seen. Max and Tul were relaxed, so comfortable as they draped around each other, their eyes looked at each other in ways that said, "Yes, mine."

One female stagehand looked at another and whispered quietly, "Tell me they're not a couple and I'll tell you you're a liar." The other girl simply smiled and whispered back, "Who cares? They look hot."

The photograph patted Max on the back and whistled. "Boys! I think this is the best I've ever done! You guys look fantastic" He turned to Tul with a huge smile on his face. "I'll send you copies when I've got proofs."

Nodding, Tul smiled and reached up and casually buttoned Max's shirt. Max smiled at Tul and held his hand. Looking only at Tul, he said lowly, "So we're finished for the day?"

"What? Said the photographer, not taking his eyes off his laptop? "Yes, you two are free to go." Raising his voice, he yelled out to the crew to start cleaning up the set. "Thanks again, guys, great work today."

As they left, a lot of staff came up to tell them how great they looked together. Most of the staff knew not to touch either man when they were together but a new girl had just been hired. She had a predatory gleam in her eye the whole time Max had his shirt off as she held the screen directing the light.

Running up to him prior to them being able to leave the studio, she pressed a cup of coffee in both Max and Tul's hands and as casually as she could, caressed the back of Max's hand. Wishing them both a nice day, disappeared. Max swore and dropped the coffee in the nearest bin. He grabbed Tul's and did the same.

Dragging him to their car, he slid into the driver's seat and waited for Tul to enter. Tul dropped to the seat and sighed. "I'm hungry, Max. Let's eat." He knew Max was upset but wasn't sure why. Max nodded and drove.

Max took his anger out on the road, shifting the gears and driving recklessly. Tul finally spoke up, "Did I do something wrong?" He wondered. He thought about the day but couldn't find a thing that would have triggered Max.

"Fuck, Tul," Max said, pulling the car to the side of the road and pulling him in for a kiss. "That bitch hit on me. Right in front of you! Doesn't it make you angry?"

Tul started laughing, "No Max, it doesn't. Now, if that would have been some really hot sexy man, I might have been. I can't compare myself to a girl but I can to a guy. Don't you get it?"

"Oh. Oh!" Max started to laugh as well, letting the tension go. "So this really isn't about sexuality at all, it's your fucking self esteem again." He rested his head on Tul's shoulder. "Tul, I want the world to know we are together. I want to shout it from the mountain top, I want to write it in the sky. I want us to wear rings... I want to be with you always."

He could feel Tul starting to tremble beneath his head and sat back up. "Tul, look at me, look in my eyes. I love you, you fucking idiot. I love you, as you are. I always have. It's time to let the world in."

"I don't know if I'm brave enough, Max." Tul whispered. "It's scary to lay yourself open in front of the world. He held Max's hand so tightly that his fingers were turning white.

Max raised their clasped hands and pressed a gentle kiss on it. "Sweets, you're not alone this time. We are doing this together. You've never been alone since the first day of Bad Romance."