Chapter 16

"CAN WE give that another try?" the director for the commercial William was filming asked. He had been home a week. Arnie had finalized the sponsorship contract, and they were already filming initial spots. It wasn't likely these would actually be used, but management wanted to know how things might look.

William nodded and stepped off the set so the crew could reset. Once they were done, he stepped back into position, smiled, and let the energy he wanted to come across flow through him. Then, when he got his cue, he spoke directly to the camera about how rather than buying frozen pie, you could use this new prebaked crust to make one of your own. It was flaky, buttery, and turned out just like your grandmother made, only in a fraction of the time and without the work and mess. Of course he took a slice out of the most perfect pie known to man, placed it on a plate, and tasted the gelatinous mess, smiling the entire time.

"Perfect!" the director called, and William grabbed a napkin from the set and spat the bite into it before tossing it away. There was no way in hell he was swallowing that. "I loved the energy, and you came across as really genuine."

"Thank you." That was hard, considering the only thing actually tasty on the pie was the crust. Everything else was for the cameras and tasted like glue. "Do you need anything more?" This was the ninth time through, and he was getting tired, but he'd do as many takes as they needed. It was how this job worked.

"No. That's a wrap on this script. Can we do the second one?"

William knew that one as well. Letting the crew set up, he stayed out of the way and spent some time on his phone, checking email and his messages. He hoped there was one from Garvin, but other than a response to the one William sent that he had made it home, it had been largely radio silence. Garvin sent him a few pictures of Sasha, and William responded with pictures of the guys and a few of where he was working, but that was all. He didn't know if Garvin was distancing himself or if the guy just hated texting.

"We're ready for you," the director called.

William stepped onto the set, they walked through the spot, and then they started filming.

Thankfully, the director was happy with the second version after three takes. He dismissed everyone, and William returned to Wardrobe to get out of his costume before putting on his own clothes.

"What the hell was that?" Arnie asked as soon as they were off the studio and in the car. "You were fine on set, but the rest of the time you looked like someone had just killed your dog. What's up with you lately?" He pulled out of the parking garage and onto Santa Monica Boulevard. "You don't seem like yourself."

"I'm fine. I've just been busy since I got back." He settled in the seat, determined not to check his phone yet again. There was probably nothing to see anyway. "The director was happy, and I think the work was good."

"Oh, it was. But it's the rest of the time that I'm worried about. I've known you for years, and it just seemed like your mind was off somewhere else. You know we'll get feedback and changes on the commercials that have to be filmed, and then you leave for Paris in a few weeks. And you're going to need your head in the game for that."

William was well aware of that. Paris Fashion Week was always a brutal test of endurance, without a doubt, and he was going to be scrutinized from the moment he stepped out of his hotel room to until he returned to it.

"The commercials went well, and you know it. They got what they wanted and were very happy. So get off my back." William's tone was sharper than he intended, but he let it be. If it got through to Arnie, then that was what he needed.

"If you think a little snippiness is going to get me to stop worrying about you, then you're crazy." He pulled to a stop at another light. "You've been like this since you got back from Alaska. At first I thought it was because you were tired, but it's more than that. "

William didn't want to talk. It was hard realizing your hopes were being dashed in slow motion, and the last person he could tell was Arnie. He hadn't exactly been supportive in the first place. "Did you find a lawyer for me?" He figured changing the subject was a good idea.

"I did. One of the big advocacy groups. The Northern Rockies Conservancy is going to send someone up to speak to your friends. Their mission is to ensure that mining operations are being conducted properly. They have experience, and they know the law. They even have a legal presence in Alaska already. Hopefully they're on the case right now."

William sat back with a sigh, sending Garvin a message about the group. He got a smiley face in return, then a second message. We have a meeting with them tomorrow. Thank you.

He blinked at the phone, wondering if that was all he was going to get. He growled under his breath.

"Okay. This is enough. What in the hell did your phone ever do to you?" Arnie asked. "And does it have anything to do with that stick plunged up your backside? This is getting frustrating. What the hell happened up there?" He made the turn into William's building and pulled into a parking space. "Don't think about getting out until you tell me what's going on." Man, Arnie could be feisty. His eyes blazed, and he pursed his cosmetically filled lips.

"Are you sure you want to hear this?" William asked.

Arnie folded his arms over his chest. "Don't make me turn off the air-conditioning."

William smiled and scoffed. "Come on. You'd melt before me." He loved teasing Arnie about his little nips and tucks and the fact that he hated growing older.

Those eyes grew harder, and he didn't take the bait. "Ass," Arnie retorted. "Now spill whatever happened between you and the Alaska man. Did you meet some big bush guy, and did he rock your world to the point that you're going to want to go back there and live off the grid in a tiny shack or something?"

"I know you're teasing. And you met Garvin at a party a couple years ago. He was the one who had lost his husband a few years before. He isn't some bushman, and his cabin is really nice. It's on a lake up there."

Arnie rolled his eyes like he didn't see the difference. "But the rest is true. You fell for the guy, and now he's ghosting you. "

"He isn't. Not exactly. He just doesn't talk much. I send him texts and get one-word answers." William shrugged, and Arnie held out his hand. "What?"

"Show me," Arnie said like he was running out of patience. William brought up the texts and handed over his phone. Arnie read through them, shaking his head the whole time. "God. This is like Lifestyles of the Poor and Boring ." He handed the phone back. "You two are about as interesting as a dead fish. Not everyone knows how to text and not everyone is comfortable with it. If you want to spice up your text life, then you need to be the one to show him the way."

"And how do you suggest I do that?" William asked, wondering if Arnie's cheese had fallen off his cracker.

"Instead of sending him pictures of what's going on around you, send him ones of you, maybe in bed or just getting out of the shower. For God's sake, do not send dick pics—that's gauche and tacky—but if you really like this guy, then give him something to stoke the heat on those cold Alaska nights." He winked, and William felt like smiling, really smiling, for the first time in a while. "Good. Now change that mopey attitude. I'll let you know the schedule for the next set of commercials, and you get yourself ready for Paris. We'll go over your schedule next week. I have four shows booked so far, and there is some additional interest. You also need to be seen in the best light, because while runway shows are important, more and more fashion merchandising is being done online and with video, so I'm hoping to get you launched in that space as well. You have the experience with your other work, so it should be a great opportunity. But this mopey attitude isn't going to do it."

"All right. I'll talk to you soon." William got out of the car. He knew he needed to put this stuff with Garvin out of his mind. He had a job to do, and he was a professional, so it was time to put everything else aside and get on with it.

DAMN, WILLIAM was tired, but the commercials were wrapped up, the folks from P&G were thrilled, and William was on his way to Paris. He loved the city, with all its things to do. Of course there were too many temptations, and if he wanted to look good on the runway under all those lights, those were off limits, especially the food ones. His driver had picked him up on time and taken him to LAX. He'd flown to New York and had most of the day in the city. He got a hotel just so he could get some rest, and while he was there, William took a moment to snap a picture of himself fresh out of the shower and send it to Garvin.

Since his conversation with Arnie, he had indeed spiced up their texting, and it seemed to be working. He got a picture of Garvin in bed, and he even got one of Garvin bare-chested, holding Sasha. William has responded, lucky dog .

He also told Garvin he was on his way to Paris and that he'd send plenty of pictures. He didn't get a response right away, but one did come in a few hours later, along with another picture of Garvin, this one cut off in the most tantalizing way. It was sexy as hell.

That evening, he left New York and managed to sleep on the plane. He had learned from experience that he had to rest because he was expected to hit the ground running. At the airport, Arnie waited for him in the back seat of the car that would take William to the hotel. He'd been in Paris for almost a week already and was all smiles.

"Let's get you to the hotel. I managed to book you in an additional show, so you're going to be busy, but it's all good. You're in demand, and that's what we want."

"Really?" He knew he only had a few years left and then he'd just be too old.

"Yes. Of course. Young and pretty will always be in style, but you have a presence the others can only hope for, and that's what these designers want. Someone who will make their clothes look amazing to their customers. Now relax and stop worrying. Everything is under control." He smiled as he sat back, one of those "cat who ate the canary" expressions on his face, and for a second William wondered what the hell Arnie had been up to. "I have your room all ready for you. Here is your key card and the room number. I'm just down the hall if you need anything."

They entered the city, the Eiffel tower jutting into the sky, low buildings covering the landscape all the way to the river .

William had seen this sight before, but it always sent a thrill through him. The car dropped them off out front, and Arnie escorted William inside. "What time do we need to meet?"

"You have nothing until a reception tomorrow evening. A number of the designers you'll be working for will be there. Until then, your time is your own. Go on out and have a little fun." He smiled as they strode through the impressive marble lobby to the elevators. William carried his own luggage and stepped inside the small elevator to ride up to the fifth floor. Arnie pointed William in the direction of his room and then turned the other way.

William had no idea why Arnie was acting strange. He usually spent the first day with William, making sure he knew everything and what time he had to be at each commitment. As he approached the door, his phone dinged with a message. I added all your commitments to your calendar. Call if you need anything. It was followed by a smiley face.

Thanks , William texted back, then unlocked the door and went inside.

Garvin lay on the king-size bed, shoes off, his head on one of the pillows, arms folded across his chest.

William couldn't believe his eyes. "When did you get here? How long are you staying? Is this real?"

Garvin chuckled. "It's real. I needed to see you, and I contacted your friend Arnie and asked when you were going to be here. He told me, and I made arrangements. It seems he has been worried about you, and he told me that you haven't been the same since you returned from Alaska. I believe Arnie used the words ‘mopey' and ‘a real Debbie Downer' to describe your new attitude. He had me call him when I arrived, and he let me into your room a few hours ago." He sat up and then stood and pulled William into his arms.

"This is the best surprise ever," William croaked as he buried his face against Garvin's neck, inhaling his woodsy scent. "It's so good to see you. I missed you so much."

"I missed you too. So did Sasha, who is staying with Devon and Enrique while I'm gone. He moped around the cabin for a week and looked for you every time I opened the door." Garvin held him tighter. "I told you I didn't think I could see you in LA, not yet. But Paris… well, that was a different ma tter."

William chuckled. "So you flew halfway around the world rather than just down the West Coast." Sometimes people did crazy things. "Doesn't really matter. I'm just so happy you're here." He pulled back and then kissed Garvin hard, pressing him down onto the bed. "I haven't slept well in weeks. It's surprising how quickly I got used to you tossing and turning at night."

Garvin chucked. "And I got used to the way you're always cold."

William kissed Garvin gently, their gazes meeting. "I could be cold now and you could warm me up," he whispered, still having a difficult time believing that this was real. He had dreamed about a moment like this since he'd left Alaska, but he honestly never thought it would happen. His plan was to complete his fashion week engagements, clear things up in LA, and then head back to Alaska for the late spring or early summer. William figured that was the soonest he'd be able to see Garvin again.

"What are you thinking about?" Garvin asked.

"You surprising me like this," William answered. "I didn't expect it at all. Did you do all this because of what Arnie told you?" He could imagine his manager meddling just to make sure William was in the right frame of mind.

"No. I came because I spent nearly two years in my cabin and I was perfectly happy. Then an old friend came to visit and managed to turn everything on its head. All my friends ask about you all the time, Sasha moped for weeks, and last week Devon asked me when you were coming back because he swore my cold, dour expression was delaying the onset of spring." He rolled his eyes.

"I take it neither of us has been particularly happy." William brushed a bit of Garvin's floppy hair out of his eyes. "You need someone to take care of you."

"And you need someone to keep away the grumps." Garvin leaned forward. William's eyes drifted closed as Garvin kissed him, slowly, deeply, rolling him on the bed until Garvin's weight pressed him into the mattress.

"I needed you so many times," William admitted. "I went to the beach to watch the sunset and wished you were there with me. More than once, I turned to the hills in the area but saw that view over the lake." He sighed. "I don't know what we're going to do." Damn, he loved looking up into those deep, incredibly blue eyes. "I have a number of commitments that I have to meet, and they require me to be in LA." There was no way he could ask Garvin to leave Alaska. "But I miss the guys and the sense of community up there. I always felt like I belonged, even though I really didn't."

Garvin drew close enough that his breath tickled over William's lips, and his green-flecked eyes grew wider. William could damned well get lost in those eyes if he allowed himself. "You did belong. Being a part of a place and a community isn't about how long you've known people, it's about caring and being there. You threw yourself into everything from rescuing miners to getting us a good lawyer who has gotten the mining company's license suspended."

William was thrilled about that. "You do realize that we're together again on a damned bed and we're talking about mining rights and snowmobile trips that nearly froze my nuts off. We could put our time together to much better use." He kissed Garvin hard, and passion between them built quickly.

In a matter of minutes the cloud that had hung over William for weeks was gone. He could think again, and all he wanted was Garvin. William tugged at Garvin's shirt as he did the same. Due to mutual squirming, it took longer than he would have liked to get Garvin's shoes off and his shirt over his head. Their breathing came in short, intense pants as William kissed him once more, tugging at Garvin's lower lip as they got each other out of the last of their clothes. It was like they needed reassurance that this was real. William's hands roamed all over Garvin, refamiliarizing themselves with contours that had become so familiar.

"Did you bring stuff?" Garvin whispered.

William grinned. "What stuff? It wasn't like I was expecting anything to happen here. I haven't so much as looked at anyone else. You're all I wanted, and you were supposed to be back in Alaska."

Garvin nodded. "Then it's a good thing I came prepared." He smacked his hand on the bedside table, flashing a foil square, and his gaze grew heated once more. Damn, Garvin knew how to turn him on. There was something in those eyes and the way Garvin touched him that got William's heart racing.

"It's a good thing you did or…." William's words turned to a groan as Garvin slid down him, his tongue blazing a trail over his chest and belly until Garvin slid his lips around his length, taking William all the fucking way. It was like reaching for heaven and getting a touch of it. "Are you trying to kill me?" William mumbled through the haze of passion that clouded his mind.

"I can stop."

William growled from deep in his throat. "Don't you dare."

Garvin chuckled, gripping his cock hard as he sucked it into scorching wet heat. William whimpered, his cries becoming more insistent as Garvin slid two fingers deep inside him. William panted, his nerves firing in so many directions at once that he didn't know what to concentrate on. Eventually he just let it all overtake him and placed himself in Garvin's trusted hands. There was nowhere else he wanted to be, and when Garvin's lips and fingers paused, William opened his eyes, locking onto Garvin's gaze as he rolled on a condom and then slowly entered him, both of them sighing as they came together once more.

"Just like that," William whispered. Garvin knew just how to touch him and how to blow William's mind. He wrapped his legs around Garvin's waist, returning his kisses as he slowly rocked back and forth.

"I know what you want. I remember."

"You also remember that I'm not made of glass." Garvin had decided to go slow, and it just tickled the edges of William's excitement. There were times when William liked things slow, but right now, after weeks apart, everything inside him needed more, now .

"I know."

"So quit with the Driving Miss Daisy and get with the Fast and Furious ," William said, holding Garvin's cheeks in his hands. "Give me more."

Garvin smiled, drawing closer, kissing him. "You'll get what I give you, and at the moment, I kind of like you like this: a little frantic, eyes blazing, and your mouth parted like you can't get enough." He kissed him, harder this time and with more urgency, but his pace never picked up. It was frustratingly incredible. Garvin had such control. Most of the time William was a fan, but at this moment, he needed more so badly he could taste it. "You look like you're about ready to fly apart."

"I feel like it."

"Just relax. I'm not going to let that happen." Garvin held him tighter. "I came all this way to tell you that you're mine and I'm not going to let you go. I don't know how it is going to work between the two of us." He snapped his hips, sending a zing of pleasure racing through William. "But it will."

He moved his hips faster, and William gasped. "We'll figure it out. I promise. Just like I will never leave you hanging and I'll always do my best to make you happy." Garvin moved more quickly, rocking the bed as he snapped his hips. Skin smacked skin, and William arched his back, giving himself over to Garvin. There was nothing else he could or wanted to do.

"Hell yes," William groaned as the world outside their room fell away. There were no fashion shows, commitments, or anything else to occupy his mind, just Garvin and the way he loved him. "Don't stop."

"Never will," Garvin promised. William's entire body felt like it was on fire. Gaze to gaze, skin to skin, they stayed locked in their incredible dance until William could hold on no longer. Garvin pressed him to the top of passion's mountain, and then with a push, they tumbled off together, coming in a haze that left William spent, exhausted, and feeling more alive than he had in a long time.

He didn't want to move, not that he had the energy. Still, William hugged Garvin to him, not wanting to break this moment. Eventually, Garvin slowly slipped away, only to return with a towel, and after a quick wipe-up, he lay back down with him.

"You know, we could take a nap," Garvin offered.

"Or we can step out of our room and hotel to explore," William offered. "Have you been here before?"

"No."

William groaned as he slowly sat up. "Then we probably need to get something to eat and then hit the town." Suddenly with energy to spare, William got up and tugged Garvin to his feet. "There's plenty of sights that will take your breath away."

Garvin pulled him into his arms. "Nothing will ever be more breathtaking than you."