Tentacle on 34th Street (Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

A lex headed straight to wardrobe where Jonas had practically the same outfit Freddie had worn ready, only in a gold that leaned closer to champagne-colored instead of the ivory.

“Try those on and then we can get you to hair and makeup,” Jonas said.

Alex stepped into the narrow, curtained space they used as a dressing room and changed into the silk. He gazed at his reflection in the mirror there and scoffed. Social media was going to have a field day ripping on him compared to Cryss. He blew out a long breath before exiting the curtain and marching over to hair and makeup.

Cindy, their lead makeup artist, did both. After covering a few blemishes, she added a tiny bit of eyeliner, gloss to his lips, and enough bronzer on his face and body to make a Kardashian happy, with the comment, “You’re a little pale for the camera, and I don’t want you to look washed out. I know it looks like a lot, but it won’t on film, I promise.”

“I hope not.”

Cindy brushed out his hair, used pomade to give it some definition, and then gave him her seal of approval. “You look great.”

Alex wasn’t so sure. He struggled to meet anyone’s gaze as he stepped out barefoot on set.

“Why don’t we start against the green screen first to get the static images before the silk wrinkles?” Jonas suggested. “We don’t have another pair of boxers big enough for Cryss to change into again, and the steam iron isn’t working well on the other pair.”

Alex glanced at Cryss and noticed he was wearing the wine shade instead of red. It was close enough, and the graphic designers could always change it, if necessary. He walked closer to the green screen while Scott slid the sleigh back and out of the shot.

Jonas fidgeted some over them both, adjusting the clothing a bit after drawing them closer. “Hold,” Jonas said, rushing off set before returning with a small box. He urged Alex back and sat on the floor. “Step up.”

Alex lifted a brow. He wasn’t short.

“How tall are you?” Jonas asked.

“Five-ten.” He was fibbing a bit. It was actually five-nine and three-quarters, which was close enough.

“Well, Cryss has eight inches on you. We need to bump you up a little so you’re closer to the same height in the frame.”

Alex sighed but stepped up without argument.

“Maybe open up the robe to the side as we shoot. Stay at an angle to the camera, leaning toward Cryss. Just be mindful of the box as you move.”

“Okay,” Alex said, his stomach a jumble of nerves.

Jonas rushed back to the camera and eyed the monitor, before giving them a few more stage directions. Cryss towered over him, muscles bulging. Alex thanked the universe for the tank and robe to cover his less than perfect body.

His scrawny body.

Alex shook that thought away and did his best to play model. Jonas was great at giving direction, and after about five full minutes, they called for a pause to allow Scott to slide the sleigh back in.

“Sleigh time,” Jonas called. “All aboard.”

Alex trailed Cryss, who sat down, taking most of the sleigh’s seat with his big body and manspreading. He sat down beside Cryss, in the narrow space left.

“Are you supposed to be on my knee?” Cryss asked.

Alex shook his head.

“You’re supposed to be on Cryss’s lap, Alex,” Jonas called over.

Cryss lifted a brow and gave an ‘I told you so’ look. He patted his thigh. “Hop on.”

The first part had been simpler. Standing beside Cryss without touching was easy. Easy was over. He had to get up close and personal. If nothing else, Alex was getting a crash course in what a model experienced in order to do one of his shoots and how uncomfortable it could be. He’d walk away with that knowledge, at least. Maybe it would help him be more aware in future shoots, so he could direct his models with empathy and understanding. The fact that it was Cryss somehow made it a little easier, which he was thankful for, but knowing there were several sets of eyes on him, and they’d be watching him rub himself all over another man, was unnerving.

Cryss lifted Alex’s chin and captured his gaze. “Just look at me. There’s only you and I here right now. No one else.”

“So you’re giving the directions now? After that poor performance you just had?” Alex asked, fighting a smile.

“He wasn’t you.” Cryss rubbed his thumb just under Alex’s lower lip. “I know what to do this time around.”

The hand under his chin led him closer. Alex pressed a palm on Cryss’s chest, wrapping the other around his neck, sinking deeper into the man’s lap. As tall as Cryss was, even on his lap Alex was still shorter and had to look up. His heart quickened, as he got lost in Cryss’s eyes. The outside world seemed to fade away when the man’s lips moved closer to his.

Cryss’s moved the hand at his chin and slid it to the back of his head, angling him for a kiss that never came. Their mouths were a fraction of an inch apart, Cryss’s warm, cinnamon-scented breath washing over his face. Alex wanted that kiss more than ever and knew he might not make it if he didn’t get to sample one soon.

His eyelids drooped, a hazy, liquid sensation loosening every muscle. He was turned so he straddled Cryss’s lap. Alex slid his palms over Cryss’s chest, bracing himself and lifting his body ever closer. Melting against the man, Alex mewled, unable to ignore the thickening brand under his inner thigh.

Suddenly, his brain rang out an alarm as he realized no one had called for them to begin. He pushed against Cryss’s chest and turned to look at the camera.

“Don’t stop,” Jonas hissed. “We’re rolling.”

Alex swallowed and turned back to Cryss, heat filling his cheeks.

“Come back to me,” Cryss whispered. “Forget them.”

It was harder to do than the first time. He swallowed the lump in his throat and attempted to focus on Cryss. “Shit… I’m screwing this up.”

“No,” Cryss said, lowering his head closer. “You’re perfect.”

Cryss massaged the back of his neck with one hand, his other dragging him close again before resting on the back of his upper thigh, under his ass. Locked in Cryss’s gaze, he leaned in closer and rubbed his nose against the man’s, their lips so close, yet so far away.

With a slide of his hand, Cryss slowly drew the silk robe off his shoulder before lowering his head to press a gentle kiss there. He trailed from that spot over Alex’s shoulder and up higher, stopping short of his lips.

Alex struggled to breathe. He closed his eyes, head falling back as Cryss trailed more kisses over his throat. Wrapping his arms around Cryss’s head, he pulled the man closer, the nibbles at his neck making him breathless.

When Cryss lifted his head, their lips came too close. They brushed together in a featherlight caress that sent Alex over the edge of reason. A barely there kiss wasn’t enough, but enough to spark desperation for another. Alex trembled against Cryss, his pulse racing in his ears. He leaned up and pressed his lips firmly to Cryss’s, finally getting his first true taste.

Cryss returned the kiss, one hand flat on Alex’s back to draw him even closer. There was no space left. They were chest to chest. Beating heart to beating heart. Alex’s thundered as Cryss deepened the kiss. He pressed his tongue against the seam to urge Alex to open to him. Unable to stop, he did, yielding to Cryss’s silent command.

Cryss broke the kiss and leaned back, looking down into Alex’s face. He dragged the robe off and tugged it away before slipping his hand under the hem of the tank and pressing his hand against bare skin. Cryss’s hand was a burning brand on his flesh as their mouths hovered close again.

“Um, guys?”

Alex froze, gasping for air.

“I really hate to intrude,” Jonas said. “But… we’re getting close to an NC-17 rating here and we might want to reel it back a little.”

Alex’s cheeks burned as he pushed both palms against Cryss’s chest and put some distance between them.

“Maybe put the robe back on,” Jonas said. “And turn around, with your back to Cryss’s chest so we can see the outfit.”

Alex rose off Cryss’s lap and snagged the robe. He shoved his arms into it and spun, unwilling to make any eye contact with anyone, before sitting back down carefully.

“The other knee,” Jonas suggested. “That way we can get Cryss’s boxers in the shot, too.”

Alex changed knees and sat stiffly, trying not to touch Cryss any more than he had to, dying from mortification that he’d lost his damned mind and made out with their model on camera. Jonas approached and adjusted their clothing some, smoothing out some of the wrinkles they’d put into the silk. Alex could feel Jonas’s gaze on him, searching, but there was no way he was allowing that.

“This is going great,” Jonas murmured. “We’re getting some amazing stuff, but we need to see a little more of the clothes. Just slow it down a bit so we don’t have something too hot for television.”

Alex closed his eyes, his mortification complete. It was what he’d worried about in the beginning. He sensed he’d lose control in Cryss’s arms, and that’s exactly what ended up happening. The whole world would witness it, too.

“Okay… let’s roll again,” Jonas said, stepping out of the sleigh.

Alex opened his eyes and let out a slow breath, his heart still speeding in his chest. Cryss moved his hand over Alex’s stomach, drawing him back.

“Come here.”

Alex stiffened.

“Alex? Can you lean back against Cryss? You look a little wooden,” Jonas called.

He closed his eyes again for a moment, begging the universe for a little help, before pressing his back against Cryss’s impressive chest.

“Now, look to the camera, guys,” Jonas directed.

Alex turned his head, his forehead under Cryss’s cheek. The edges of Cryss’s beard tickled against him.

“What happened, Alex?” Jonas asked. “We’ve lost you.”

Cryss turned his head toward Alex slightly before murmuring, “I enjoyed having your lips on mine. I can’t wait to have them there again.”

Alex drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. “We shouldn’t have done that. I said earlier no kisses, just the almost before the kiss.”

“You kissed me, not the other way around,” Cryss murmured.

“I know. I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.”

“I think we both know it was inevitable,” Cryss said lowly.

“Inevitable? How so?”

“Are you truly going to sit there and pretend there’s not something simmering between us? I know you feel it as well as I.”

Alex turned his head toward Cryss so he could see the man’s face some. “I’ve already told you I don’t cross personal and professional.”

“Sometimes lines blur and rules bend when something’s so right it can’t be denied. You kissed me because you were desperate to kiss me.”

Alex turned around, so he could fully face Cryss. “Desperate? Is that what you think I am?”

Cryss caressed the side of Alex’s face. “We both are. If you hadn’t kissed me first, there’s a chance it would’ve been me. I almost did last night, but I didn’t want to cross your line. I made a promise… and I kept it.”

Alex held Cryss’s gaze. “We can’t do this.”

“Says who? You?”

“Yes. Me. It’s the right thing to do. If I cross the line with one model, it might happen again. I won’t ruin my reputation in the industry.”

“It won’t happen with another model,” Cryss said, cupping Alex’s cheek.

“You can’t know that.”

Cryss dragged him closer, until they were nose to nose again. “I won’t let it happen.” Cryss captured Alex’s mouth with a claiming kiss, one hand to the back of his neck, relentless. Alex moaned against Cryss’s mouth. It was much too easy to cross every line with Cryss, he feared, so he was incapable of stopping what had sparked between them.

“That’s a cut,” Jonas called. “I think we’ve got all we need.”

Alex dragged his lips from Cryss’s, panting.

Cryss caressed the side of his face.

Alex rose on wobbly legs and stumbled down the sleigh. Stalking with as much might as he could muster, he raced to get out of the silk and back into his boring clothes. Redressing with his hands trembling wasn’t easy. Nor was shoving his nearly hard cock inside his pants. As soon as he was dressed, he held out the items for Hector.

Hector lifted his hands away. “You know all I can do is discard those after you’ve worn them. You might as well take them home and enjoy.”

Alex almost tossed them in a nearby trash but thought better of it. He laid them over one arm before stopping by Cindy’s station. “Do you have a wipe so I can get this makeup off?”

“I’ve already packed those away, sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Alex mumbled and went in search of Jonas, who was reviewing the footage on one of the monitors.

Alex approached, face burning as he spied Cryss and him onscreen.

Jonas noticed him and shoved an arm under Alex’s. “This is straight fire. We better tell production to go ahead and order another run on the loungewear if they don’t have plenty in the warehouse because this is going to get all the views.”

“It’s silk, which isn’t cheap,” Alex murmured, transfixed by what he saw on the monitor. “Let’s not urge them to go overboard.”

“I’m calling it now,” Jonas said. “We’ll have a run on these and won’t be able to meet demand. Between Cryss and your chemistry together… it’s going to go nuts.”

“We’ll see,” Alex said, face still burning. He eyed Mickey. “Can you send all the files again tonight?”

“Yeah. I’ll go do it now.”

A thought popped into Alex’s head. “Can I ask a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Can you email the loungewear shoot separately—and then once I confirm I have it, delete it from the system? Not everything from today, just delete those parts. With me in them.”

An odd look crossed Mickey’s face. “Yeah. I should be able to do that.”

“I have my laptop with me,” Alex said. “If you could send it now, I can let you know I have it before I leave.”

“I’ve got an external drive with yesterday’s shots with me,” Jonas said. They turned to Mickey and smiled sweetly. “I can come with you, and we can back it all up on there before you delete.”

Mickey got a dreamy, awe-filled look in his eyes. “Sure. Follow me.”

Jonas headed off with Mickey, and Alex smiled to himself. He walked over to the director’s chair holding his laptop and fished it out. A few minutes later, an email popped up from Thor’s business account with the tagline ‘Loungewear’. Alex opened it and downloaded the files before opening to make sure they weren’t corrupted.

Jonas sidled up to him as he was closing up his laptop. “It’s sent.”

“I’ve got it,” Alex said as he slid his laptop back into his bag.

“Mickey’s backing up all of today’s images on my drive right now, so we’ll have another copy, just in case. I’ll make sure he deletes the loungewear files and the email out of the Sent folder, too.” They moved a little closer. “Can you tell me why you want it deleted? I think I know, but I want to be sure.”

Alex had lost control. It was bad enough everyone inside the studio had seen it. There was no way he was giving Thor control over that data.

“I don’t want Thor having access to images of me.” Especially images like that.

“He’ll see it when the ads come out,” Jonas murmured.

“He’ll see the edited version I approve the public to see. Not the raw film.” Heat crept up Alex’s neck. All he could imagine was that asshole watching him lose control with Cryss, and that sent chills up his spine.

“True,” Jonas replied. “I better head back up. I’ll make sure we have everything, and he’s deleted what you want gone before I leave.”

“I’ll hang out and wait for you,” Alex said, pulling his bag over his head.

“You don’t have to.”

“We don’t know Mickey all that well. He seems like a nice guy, but I’m not leaving you here alone with him at night. Everyone else has already left.” Trans women were too often the target of violence. There was no way he was going to allow Jonas to be another statistic. “I left last night without checking that you had an escort to your car. That’s why I texted late, asking if you made it home safe.”

“I appreciate that, but you don’t have to wait because Scott already offered. He’s giving me a ride home, too.”

“Good,” Alex said. “Then, I’m off.” He glanced around, realizing he hadn’t seen Cryss or Qylar hanging around. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Bright and early,” Jonas said. “The next few weeks playing catch-up are not going to be fun.”

“Tell me about it. I’m usually starting prep for Valentines soon.”

“We’ll manage. We always do. Night, Alex.”

“Night.” Alex walked toward the exit when he noticed his bike was gone. He searched around but didn’t see it anywhere. Scott ambled by, and he hadn’t seen it anywhere. “Great. Someone stole my damned bike.”

“Need a ride? I’m waiting for Jonas.”

“Nah,” Alex said, ready to get out of the studio and never return. “I don’t live that far. I’ll grab a train. Night.”

“Night,” Scott said.

Alex walked down the two flights of stairs and burst through the door. Cryss was leaning against his truck bed directly outside the studio, parked illegally. He had his arms crossed over his chest, watching Alex closely. “You took a while. I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”

He descended the stairs and walked closer, stopping about a foot in front of Cryss. “I had to wrap a few things up before I could leave.” Alex eyed the man, his lips still swollen from their kisses. His face warmed, remembering them. “Thanks for everything the past couple of days. And again, I’m sorry I stepped across the line in there tonight. I’ll see you at the parade in November. We’ll check in a week before and confirm everything. Tell you where you need to be and what time, etcetera.”

Cryss lifted a file from the back of the truck and handed it to Alex. “There’s no mention of the parade in my contract. Just a two-day shoot.”

“What?” Alex snatched the file. He flipped it open and moved under the streetlight to read.

“Would it be easier to sit in my truck with the light on?” Cryss asked.

Alex sighed. “Yes, please.” He marched closer, noticing a bike in the back. His bike. “Is that mine?”

“I went ahead and loaded it while I was waiting for you to come out.”

“A bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”

Cryss snorted. “No.”

Alex’s lower lip fell open. Cryss opened the passenger door and waved a hand, ushering him inside. With a growl, Alex climbed up and turned on the overhead light switch, after fumbling a moment to find it. He opened the contract and scoured it.

“Fuck… this is an old version we’d sent M&A before we were given the spot in the parade. I asked them to discard the old contract and only use the new.” Alex closed the folder and handed it back. “How much do you want to secure your place in the parade?”

“I don’t need money. Buckle in,” Cryss said before shutting the passenger door and rounding the front.

Alex frowned, watching him. As soon as Cryss was in the driver’s seat, Alex asked, “Are you saying you won’t do it?”

“I will. You just need to make it worth it for me.”

“You just said you don’t need money,” Alex snapped.

“I value… other things.”

“Like?”

“You.”

“I told you… I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

“The parade is the day before Thanksgiving, correct?” Cryss asked.

“Yes.”

“Which means our business relationship will be over by Thanksgiving.”

“Yes,” Alex repeated.

“If you want me in that parade… then I want you from Thanksgiving to New Years.”

Heat flooded Alex. “What do you mean… you want me from Thanksgiving to New Years?”

“I want to spend the holidays with you.” Cryss leaned closer. He lifted Alex’s hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re making me wait seven weeks before we can change this relationship from professional to personal. If you want me to participate in this parade—I get that time back. You will stay with me, in my home, for the duration. And we will celebrate the holidays together.”

Alex’s mind short-circuited. It was ridiculous.

Outrageous.

So why did he want to say yes with every molecule in him?

“I have work.”

Cryss scoffed. “Just last night you said that December was slow for you and your team. That you often take time off during the holidays.”

“I-I don’t know if I have that much vacation time accrued—and even if I do, I doubt my boss will let me take that much time off all in one lump.”

“Take off what you can. I suppose working during the day for some of it is fine. As long as I get your nights.”

As long as I get your nights. Alex struggled to breathe thinking about what those nights would be filled with. An image flashed in his head. Him in a bed, under Cryss. The tingling was back, his blood roaring in his ears. Oh god, I want him.

Cryss’s nostrils flared, his eyes going heavy lidded.

“You can’t ask this of me,” Alex said, his heart pounding against his ribcage. “A month of sex in exchange for your participation in the parade?”

“It’s closer to five and a half weeks, actually. And I never mentioned sex,” Cryss said, a broad smile stretching across his face. “You did.”

“You’ve already said you wanted to take our relationship from professional to personal. The implication was there.” Especially after what happened at the shoot.

“I have many friends in my personal life that I don’t fuck,” Cryss said. “I’ve also never had to coerce a man into my bed with schemes or ploys—and never will. If you wish for our time together to be platonic, so be it.” He smiled, the little dimple appearing. “If you consent, even better.”

Alex tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but his mouth was too dry.

Cryss leaned closer. “There’s something here between us. I feel a tug to get closer, and I think you feel it, too. I simply want to get to know you, Alex. Without distractions. I won’t force you to say yes, but I hope you will.”

“You’re not forcing me? I need our Santa for the parade.”

“There are other models you could hire. This city is filled with men who’d likely love to be your Santa.”

“But I want the one from our ad campaign,” Alex snapped.

Cryss sighed, seemingly frustrated. “I didn’t want to be in your campaign. I don’t want to be in your parade, either, but I’m willing to do it for you. I only ask that you spend time with me in return. Is the idea of being in my company that horrifying?”

“Of course not!”

“Do you feel what I feel?”

“Yes,” Alex snapped.

One of Cryss’s brow arched higher. “Then why are we arguing?”

Alex huffed. “I don’t know.”

Cryss leaned closer and took Alex’s hand in his. “Will you be mine for the holidays?”

A tremor raced down Alex’s spine, heat radiating from where Cryss held him. “Yes.”

Cryss’s wolfish smile grew.

“But I have a stipulation,” Alex added.

“Which is?”

“We’re already months behind on this campaign. The next few weeks are going to be filled with early mornings and long, long nights—probably straight up to Thanksgiving. Plus, I’ll need to clear my desk of anything major I was planning to do during December so I can free my schedule. I’ll need to focus on all of that.”

“I overheard Jonas say much the same thing. I won’t interfere with your work.”

“We go no contact after tonight. No calls. No texts. No stopping by my house or the office. I don’t need the temptation of you taking me off course. Are you okay with that?”

“No.”

Alex lifted a brow.

“But I have a counteroffer. I agree to no calls and no stopping by your house or your office until Thanksgiving— unless I have an important question pertaining to this parade of yours.”

“Okay. Fair enough. And as long as it truly is an important question. Don’t use it as an excuse.”

“I promise you that I won’t, but I wasn’t done with my counteroffer.”

Alex tilted his head. “What else?”

“I get two texts every day. A simple ‘good morning’ when you rise and a ‘good night’ before bed, so that I know you’re home safe each night.” He grinned. “I don’t want you to forget me completely.”

Alex fought a smile. “As if I could?”

Cryss smiled as he leaned farther over the center console. He pressed his lips against Alex’s. The kiss was gentle at first, but soon deepened to something more. Hunger blossomed, the need to consume the man taking root, just as it had inside. A whistle rang out, and Alex turned his head to see a group of men pass on the street, leering at them.

Alex pulled away from Cryss. He breathed in and let it out slowly, settling back in his seat. “I’m not yours until Thanksgiving, remember?”

Cryss grinned. “Well, technically, my contract is now expired. I haven’t signed another one yet. It’s a gray area.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Alex said, leaning closer again for another kiss. “We can have one more kiss before you sign on the dotted line.”

Cryss captured Alex’s mouth, holding the back of his head with one hand. Alex moaned against his lips, grasping the front of his shirt to tug him even closer. One more kiss? That wasn’t nearly enough. He needed more than that. A lot more.

Maybe they could have one night together before they went no contact. The contract wouldn’t be signed until the next day, at least. Technically, he wasn’t crossing any lines. Was it a gray area? Sure… but the contract was expired.

It was Cryss who pulled away that time. He ran a thumb over Alex’s lower lip, his warm, cinnamon-scented breath tempting another kiss.

“I should drive you home now. You need your rest so that you can finish your campaign in time for the parade,” Cryss murmured.

He leaned back and started the truck, to Alex’s dismay. “Okay… I guess you’re right.”