Chapter 11

Reality cameto Cameron slowly as he woke up, first hearing the sounds of the hotel room—the hum of the heating system, voices in the hallway, the sound of water in the pipes as someone in another room above or below took a shower. Then the feel of the cool sheets and comfy pillows, and the heavy warmth of Dusty's naked body pressed against his.

At this exact moment, everything was right in his world.

He was reminded of how that world could change quickly as his phone rang.

"Ignore it," Dusty whispered. "Call them back."

He nodded. "Good idea." Whatever it was could wait.

Dusty sighed, not moving at all. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's just a phone call. It's not this."

"I just want a little more."

"Have you been awake for a while?"

"Longer than you. I was listening to you breathe and just appreciating being comfortable."

It was good to slow it down and be in the moment when you could. And right now, he could. "This bed is ridiculous. It's like sleeping on a cloud. I want one."

"I didn't notice the bed, but you're comfy." Dusty lifted his head to kiss his ribs, then settled back again.

"I'm probably easier to get ahold of than one of these mattresses anyway." He grinned, liking that little joke. Go him.

"True that."

"Are you hungry?"

"Getting there."

After all of their hot tubbing and a second round, they'd had a shower before climbing into these smooth sheets, so he was good to start his day whenever Dusty was. He wasn't in a rush—his flight out wasn't until tonight. "How long are you in town?"

"I head home tomorrow."

"Oh, yeah? Are you busy? Maybe I can change my flight, and we can have some fun."

"I don't think I have plans, but you never know when Ann might call. I asked her for the extra day in case last night was crazy." Dusty picked his head up. "And it was crazy, just not how I expected."

He took a kiss while he could, craving everything Dusty would give him. "It was quite an evening."

Dusty stretched and pushed up on one elbow, blue eyes looking down at him curiously. "So, I know you can't give me details about like, who or whatever, but how does it work? Do you just do whatever the client wants? Do they dress you? Can they like, call you whatever they want?"

So many questions. He got it, what he did was mysterious because he wasn't allowed to talk much about it. Anyone would be curious.

"Well, I think I told you that I have a list of things I won't do, but if it's not on that list, it's fair game. It makes me personally uncomfortable to do fetish-type things, but if a client wants me to wear something reasonable that they provide for a night out or they want me to use a different name, that's allowed."

"Like if they made up a boyfriend, so you had to be that person for a family dinner or something? Do you do that?"

"Absolutely, and I have. People ask for all kinds of random things. I've been hired to make wives jealous. I've been hired to babysit. Once I was hired to pretend I was someone's son. And yes, sometimes I'm hired by people like Jasper, who want to kiss my cheek, have me bring them drinks, and dote on them like they hung the moon for an evening. Fine by me."

"But no sex."

"Nope. That's on my no list, I told you. I wouldn't even stay in the spare bedroom in Jasper's suite. That's too tempting for the client, you know? I need a door that locks."

"Have you had issues?"

"I haven't. But I refuse contracts if they sound off to me, and I've walked off jobs a couple of times. I add things to my ‘nope' list once in a while. I'm kind of a prude, I guess, but I make a good living anyway."

"Sounds like you're just being safe to me."

He stroked Dusty's cheek. "Are you jealous?"

"Well, is what's happening here the kind of thing that would give me the right to be?"

Oh, the answering a question with a question game. "Do you want that?"

"Do you?" Dusty's blue eyes were laser focused on him.

Someone had to answer for real first, so he did. "If you're really this amazing new guy that I feel in some ways I'm meeting for the first time, then yes."

Dusty sighed and lay back down on his chest. "Yeah. I mean, I don't think I deserved all those awful things you said to me, but?—"

"You're right, you didn't. But I was right to be upset."

Dusty snorted. "But—as I was saying—Ann suggested I talk to someone, and I did. And I was…made aware of some things. And I worked on that."

"I know. I can see it."

"But I'm not perfect, okay?"

"Who wants perfect? Putting in the work is good enough for me."

After a quiet pause Dusty asked, "Can I be honest?"

"Of course. Please."

"Even if you're not going to like it?"

Wow. He was curious and a little worried about what Dusty had to say, but that didn't change his answer. "What good is this if we're not honest with each other?"

"Okay." Dusty propped up on his elbow again. "I still feel like you owe me an apology."

"I'm sorry."

Dusty sighed. "Don't just say that, that's too easy."

"It is easy, though, because I am. I don't need to think about it, I am actually sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way."

He'd had his own issues that night. He'd had a lousy week, had a little too much to drink.…There were a handful of reasons that Dusty hadn't deserved the horrible things he'd said. Even if he'd been legitimately upset.

Dusty's expression changed so rapidly he couldn't follow what any of it meant, but it ended with a kiss, so he figured everything was okay.

A kiss was good.

A knock at the door startled them both, and Dusty sighed. "Are you expecting anyone? Tell them to go away."

He chuckled. "This is your room, Dusty."

"Oh! Shit. Right." Dusty groaned and hopped up. "I'll tell them to go away."

While Dusty pulled on a robe, he slid out of bed and hid in the bathroom. Overkill maybe, he was off the clock, but he didn't want to stir something up in case it was Jasper.

He couldn't hear what was said at the door, but he did hear it close and Dusty sang out, "Room service!"

"I'll be right out." When had they ordered room service? He took advantage of the moment and relieved himself, then quickly brushed his teeth with a weird, tiny hotel toothbrush before rejoining Dusty. "When did you order?"

"I didn't. But there's a note." Dusty picked it up and looked at it.

"A note?"

Dusty nodded. "It's for you."

"For me? In your room?" He frowned and took the note, then pulled it out of the gold-lined envelope. It was handwritten in very neat cursive.

Dear Cameron. I can't believe I failed to make the connection between you and Dusty Harding myself, but a guest at my party was more observant. I'm sure it's not your fault, and I am fortunate to have discreet friends, but it was an embarrassing coincidence to explain. I thought you should know that I've made your employer aware of their oversight. No hard feelings, I had a lovely evening. Good luck to you. Jasper.

"Oh, shit." He went for his phone.

"Cam? Who is it from?"

"Jasper. Here." He handed Dusty the note.

"What's the matter?"

He had two texts from the agency that were sent early this morning and a voice mail from just a little while ago.

Elite

You've been rebooked on an earlier flight.

The second text was a link to a boarding pass for a flight leaving for LA in two hours.

"Oh, shit. Cameron. What does this mean?"

"I don't know yet. I have to get to the airport."

"But your flight isn't?—"

"They moved me up. I have just over two hours."

"You have to go?"

"Yeah. Now." He didn't even want to listen to the voice mail. He'd do that on the way to the airport. "I'm sorry."

Dusty watched him dress. "I have to get my stuff from my room and…fuck. I was so careful last night."

"I don't think it was your fault. It sounds like someone just recognized you."

That wasn't good either. But was that his fault or the agency's? He sighed and headed for the door. "Whatever. I guess I'll find out."

"Cam?" Dusty followed him, and the worried look made him stop and take a breath.

"I'm sorry. I will call you as soon as I know anything, but it's a long flight, so…"

Dusty nodded, still worried. "Okay."

He could spare one minute. He pulled Dusty in and kissed him hard, not letting go until they were both breathless. "I will call you. I promise."

"Okay." Dusty nodded and seemed more reassured. "Safe flight."

He gave Dusty a half smile and left the room, his heart still pounding.

He'd take the time to think about this later. Right now he had to make sure he got on that flight.