20. Chapter 20

When I wake up, it's clear I'm in a hospital. The why of it takes me a moment to remember.

Right. My inners trying to become outers.

I groan to myself quietly, but when I catch sight of Teddy asleep in a nearby chair, the sound dissipates. The furniture is barely big enough to hold him, and Teddy himself is slumped down, his head hanging back at an awkward angle. But fuck. He's here.

And that means a lot.

As if sensing I'm awake, Teddy stirs. He cracks one eye open and then the other. "Hey," he says, stretching and sitting upright. "You're up."

"Yeah, hi. Um… How long have we been here?"

Teddy checks the time on his phone, although the light streaming in through the window tells me it's at least the next morning. "About ten hours. Are you feeling better? You were pretty out of it for a bit."

"Yeah, I'm okay." I think. I notice the IV drip and hold up my hand. "I'm guessing this has something to do with that."

Teddy rubs his eyes as he stands and comes over to the bed. "Yeah. They gave you a bunch of fluids and some meds. You don't remember?"

"Only bits and pieces," I admit. "Food poisoning?"

He nods. "Seems so."

I blow out a breath. "Well, considering you didn't get sick, I think we can rule out contamination from the apartment. Must've been my lunch."

"What'd you have?" he asks.

I grimace a little. "Shrimp tacos."

Teddy's lips twitch.

"Never again," I groan. "No more shrimp. Ever. Actually, no more crustaceans, period."

"I thought you wanted a hermit crab."

It takes me a minute to remember what he's talking about. I'd almost forgotten my fifteen-second conviction that I wanted a pet crab like Emil's.

"Well, I wouldn't eat it," I point out.

Teddy huffs a laugh. "The doctor said you're fine to leave so long as you're feeling well enough. What d'you say? Should I grab a nurse?"

I nod. "Please. Take me home, Teddy. I just want to lie on the couch all day and be a potato."

"You'd be a very cute potato," he says, leaning down and kissing my forehead. My pulse skips, and I'm grateful I'm not hooked up to a heart monitor. "I'll be right back."

As Teddy steps away, I look down at what I'm wearing. "Am I in your sweatpants?"

He shoots me a little grin as he opens the door.

"I have my own sweatpants, you know!"

My call goes unanswered, and Teddy chuckles as he walks away.

Pft. Dressing me in his clothes like I'm… Like I'm his… Fuuuck. Like I'm his doll. Because I am. And great. Now I have a boner in a hospital.

Niko is never going to let me live this down.

"Hey, Teddy?" I call.

The man appears from down the hall, his shirtsleeves pushed up past his forearms. It's been twenty-four hours since we got back from the hospital, and although Teddy spent some of that time in his office working, right now he's freshly showered, his hair damp. I drink him in for a moment before remembering my very important question.

"Why do you never talk to me in French?"

He cocks his head. "Do you want me to? You wouldn't understand me."

"Yeah, but isn't it supposed to be sexy?"

His lips twitch. I hate that damn twitch. And by hate, I mean love.

Teddy walks into the room slowly, stopping at the end of the sectional where I'm lying and have been for most of the morning. He leans close, his hand on the back of the couch, his arm muscles doing very nice things. "Comment te sens-tu, ma p'tite patate?" he says.

I open my mouth before clearing my throat. Twice. "What, um… What does that mean?"

"How are you feeling, my little potato?"

I bark a laugh. "Seriously?"

"Mhm. Did it sound sexier in French?"

"Um, yes. Yes, it did. And now I'm very much lamenting the fact that I'm still as tired as a dog because I'd really like to hump your leg right now. Which, okay, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But you know what I mean."

Teddy leans back and crosses his arms, although his expression is soft. "You sound better."

"I feel better."

Recuperating at home with Teddy probably had a big something to do with that.

Teddy twists his lips a little. It doesn't look like a happy twist.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I'm supposed to head into the studio this afternoon. Would you be okay if I left?"

"Oh," I say, not surprised exactly because it is still the work week, and of course Teddy would be scheduled for filming. I'd just gotten so used to having him around while I played legitimate hooky, and the idea of him leaving now bums me out.

But I'm an adult. I don't actually need a keeper.

"It's fine," I say quickly. "I'll be okay."

"Hm," is all he says.

"What hm?"

"Would you want to come with me?"

I perk up immediately. "Come with you to the studio? Where the porn is made?"

There go those twitching lips again. "Mhm."

"Could I watch?"

"Would you want to?" he asks, sounding genuinely curious.

"Um. Yes. Obviously. Holy fucking fuckballs, can I seriously? Would that be allowed?"

He smiles for real this time, his cheeks dimpling at the sides. "Should be fine. I'll check with Jerome, but as long as you don't interrupt filming, I don't see why not."

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God." I fling myself off the couch, nearly tripping over my blanket in the process. "Best day ever. Bring Kipp To Work day. Yeah, okay. What do I wear? Leather?"

"How about your normal clothes?" Teddy counters.

"Really?" I ask, frowning. "Not, like, normal leather clothes?"

"What leather clothing do you own that would be considered casual wear?"

I ponder that. "The thong?"

Teddy stares at me for a long time. "You own a leather thong?"

"Yeah, the black one with the little bow in front?"

He spins around, walking down the hall. "Tu vas être ma mort, chéri."

"What?" I ask, following after him. "I heard chéri. That's sweetheart, right?"

He doesn't stop until he's in front of his dresser. He opens one drawer, and not finding what he's searching for, he opens another. When he rifles through my underwear selection, locating the piece in question, he hangs his head for the briefest of moments. His eyes, when he turns my way, are lit like fire.

"Are you really feeling okay?" he asks, pushing off from the dresser and stepping close, the thong between his fingertips.

I swallow, my voice nearly lost. "Yes."

He nods, looking me over before he undoes the button of my jeans. "I'm going to make you a smoothie before we go. And you'll eat a protein bar, too. And if, at any point, you're not feeling well, you tell me, all right?"

I nod, not breathing a word.

Teddy tugs off my pants, tapping my legs so I step out of them. My briefs follow, leaving me in the nude from the waist down. "You're going to wear this for me," he says, his tone not leaving any room for argument, not that I would argue. "And while you watch me fuck my scene partner, you can think about how I'm thinking of these."

Fuck.

Teddy eases the leather up my legs, the motion gentle and smooth. He tugs it over my half-hard cock, positioning me just so beneath the unforgiving fabric. His fingers glide over the little bow last, eyes meeting mine.

"Beautiful, babydoll."

I nod, my heart pounding.

Teddy replaces my jeans before standing up. "Ready?"

"Yep," I eke out.

Teddy's grin is a touch feral.

True to his word, my tease of a husband has me eat a protein bar before we leave and drink a smoothie on the way to the studio. Honestly, I don't mind him looking out for me, especially considering I have been regaining my strength after the complete upheaval of my intestines.

I've seen the outside of the Elite 8 Studios building before, but I've never been inside it. Today, Teddy leads me right to the nondescript door on the nondescript building, enters a code, and we walk inside.

"Oh my God," I breathe.

Teddy chuckles as I hasten toward the massive neon "Elite 8 Studios" sign on the wall inside the door. It's bright yellow, and I remember it from when Niko started here. He took a picture in front of it and sent it to me.

I hand Teddy my phone. "Please?" I ask excitedly.

He capitulates, taking a picture of me grinning like a fool in front of the sign. I hop on my feet a little when I see it, and then I send it right to my best bro-friend.

"Show me everything," I say to Teddy, heading further into the building. His soft laugh follows.

I gasp when we reach the doors leading into the studios themselves. There's three of them, aptly named Studio 1, 2, and 3. Block-letter titles sit beside the door to each, above which rests a light to indicate whether or not filming is in progress. Studio 2 is lit red. The rooms are completely closed off, a necessity from a soundproofing standpoint, and just like I imagined in my most perfect dreams, someone steps out of one of the doors in nothing but a jockstrap.

I grab Teddy's arm, a huge grin on my face as the man walks down the hall. "That was Thor," I hiss. "Did you see? Teddy, did you see?"

He laughs silently as I sprint ahead. Down another hall are what look like offices. Teddy tells me the private rooms are that way, too. There's a glass-walled gym that Teddy uses a few times a week. Next up is a room that, at a peek, is lined in pink orchids. Seeing the table stationed in the middle, I deduce this is where the wax torture happens. I pass quickly by.

Further down the hall, there's a break room filled with comfy couches and chairs, all sorts of snacks and drinks, and nude art on the walls. Past that is a large, open studio space where props are stored, from beds to inflatable pools to a motorcycle. And then… Then, there's the locker room.

I spin to Teddy with wide eyes. "Can I?"

He shakes his head, a small smile on his face. "Afraid not. Performers only."

I groan, although I understand the need for that sort of privacy. Even in porn production, boundaries are important. "Fiiine," I mutter. And then add, because I can, "My husband is mean."

The playful slap to my ass has my blood pooling south real damn fast.

"Fuck," I breathe, my cock pressing against the leather of my thong.

"Behave, sweetheart," Teddy says, grabbing my chin in a light hold and placing a kiss near my ear. He hums before leaning back, and I swear I can feel the rumble of it in my cock. "Come on. You can hang out in the break room while I go talk to Jerome."

"Yeah," I say, clearing my throat. "Sounds good."

As Teddy heads off to clear my visit with the boss, I peruse the art on the walls inside the break room. It looks like stills of the performers, possibly taken during filming. But they're cropped such that they look tasteful, in a way. Like classy erotic art.

I wonder if Teddy would let me hang some of him in our apartment. His apartment. His. Because I won't be there forever.

Shit. The reminder is sobering.

An excited gasp draws my attention toward the door. "Kipper!" Alex cries.

"Hey, Alex," I say with a grin.

The blonde man comes in for a hug, squeezing surprisingly tight. My fragile insides. "Teddy said you were here. How's it going?"

"Good," I say, grateful when the vise-grip hug is finished. "Teddy thinks Jerome might let me watch his scene today."

Alex waggles his eyebrows. "Fun. Excited to see your husband in action?"

"God, yes."

His responding smile is bright. "You two are so cute. The husbands that share together stay together."

I huff a laugh. "Sure," I hedge. "Except we're not actually together."

Alex's eyes narrow ever so slightly. "Hm."

"What hm? Why does everyone keep hming me?"

"Just, you know," Alex says, "Teddy has been smiling a whole lot these past few weeks."

"He's always smiley."

"And as soon as his scenes are done, he puts his ring back on. Odd, isn't it? Almost like he doesn't want to be without it."

My heart pounds.

"I notice you're wearing yours, too," he says, hazel eyes sweeping pointedly down to my hand.

"Um. It got stuck."

"Oh. Want some help?"

As soon as Alex reaches for my hand, I yank it away. "I'm good," I say quickly.

His smile is much too knowing. "Mhm. Whatever you say, boo."

Teddy sticks his head into the room, eyes seeking me out. He gives me a warm smile. "Jerome said it's fine. We're ready."

"Have fun, Kipp Kipp," Alex sings, flouncing off toward the snacks while I head out of the room.

Once Teddy and I are walking down the hall, I shake my head. "That one's trouble."

He snorts. "Always."

And that's when I notice what my husband is wearing. "Oh my good God almighty."

"All right?" Teddy asks.

My eyes sweep over his body. From the much-too-tight faded jeans to the toolbelt slung low around his hips to his bare chest and the neon vest hanging off his shoulders.

"You're a slutty construction worker," I breathe.

His smirk is devastating.

"Are you oiled?" I ask in awe, my gaze trailing down his stomach. It takes considerable effort not to touch. "So slippery."

Teddy opens the door to Studio 1 with a flourish. "This is us."

I walk inside, my head on a swivel. In the massive, high-ceilinged room, prep for filming is already underway. There's a pseudo-construction set off along one side, the detail astounding. Crew members are walking about, wheeling cameras into place or connecting wires for lighting. There's someone with a clipboard directing a few assistants. And standing off to the side, looking through a script, is Emil.

"Hey," Teddy says, heading his way.

Emil looks up, giving Teddy a smile. His expression shifts to curiosity when he sees me trailing after my slutty construction worker of a husband.

"Mind if Kipp hangs out in the wings for filming today?" Teddy asks Emil. "Jerome okayed it, but if it'd make you uncomfortable, he can watch from a viewing room."

"Oh, no," Emil says quickly, fidgeting with his glasses. "That's, uh, totally fine. I don't mind. Not at all. Nope."

As Emil blushes, Teddy gives me a grin.

"All right," Jerome booms, entering the room. The door shuts behind him with a click, and he stalks forward, total DILF material in dark jeans and a leather jacket. "We ready to get this show on the fucking road? Felix? Teddy?"

Niko told me how Jerome only refers to his performers by their stage names. And how yelling is his default. Not gonna lie, the dude is a mite bit scary.

"Ready," Emil answers.

Teddy turns to me. "Good?"

"So good," I assure him, giving a thumbs-up.

He huffs a laugh, eyes flicking down to my crotch for a moment. "Remember what I said?"

How could I forget? While I'm watching him, he'll be thinking about me. More specifically, the thong he dressed me in.

"Yep," I squeak.

Teddy nods, giving my shoulder a squeeze before following Emil onto the set.

Jerome faces me, lowering his voice but not by much. "No talking. No moaning. No touching yourself. Got it?"

I nod quickly.

He points to a spot behind him where there's a chair. "You're there." Facing the room at large, he shouts, "Let's do this. Places, everyone."

Heart pounding, I take a seat. Teddy finds me, giving me a wink before focusing on his work. I smile so wide I'm pretty sure my cheeks will be aching for the rest of that day.

Worth it.

"Aaand," Jerome shouts, "action."