Page 37 of The Actor and His Secret

I almost choke on the last word, realising that it was the first time I’ve used it, not to speak of Greece, or New York… hell, even some luxurious hotel room I’m camped out in during press or filming.

Oli draws back and clears his wet eyes with the back of his sleeve. ‘I’m such a mess. One interaction with a toxic ex and I can barely function. I think pathetic is a word you missed out on when you listed my qualities.’

‘The only person I can call pathetic is Geoff. How could he hold the most precious thing in the world in his hands, and ruin it?’

Oli slips out a small gasp. The sound pierces through my gut and out the other end. He penetrates me - heart, soul and body.

‘You think too highly of me,’ Oli says, again trying to dismantle the possibility that a person could actually respect him. Which, after meeting Geoff, is clearly pain and trauma left over from their time together.

‘Perhaps I do, but that’s the beauty of it. Those are my opinions, and you can’t sway them with your lack of self-esteem.’

‘Lack of self-esteem?’ Oli repeats.

‘What would you call it?’

‘Heartbreak, pain, grief over a man I thought I’d end up marrying, who ruined my life instead.’

‘Ruined your life,’ I try the words out with a soured expression, telling Oli how wrong they are. ‘From the way I see it, your life is pretty much put together and solid. Whereas Geoff is suffering. Did you hear him? Because of you, he lost his job, he looks like shit, smells even worse, and clearly has a nasty habit for drugs and booze.’

I can see from Oli’s face that he’s worried about Geoff, even after everything the man did to him - or didn’t do, like actually treat him the way Oli deserves. ‘Geoff had everything. The high-paid banker job, the money, the looks. I’ve never seen him so…’

‘Pathetic,’ I answer for him. ‘As I said before, it’s certainly a word that works best for Geoff.’

Oli takes the bottle of wine and has another swig. ‘I don’t want to think about him. Just when I was beginning to forget him, he stumbles back out of the fucking sewers and ruins everything.’

‘No, stop.’ I stand up and offer Oli a hand. ‘Geoff can only ruin what you give him power over. Unless you’re going to continue pitying him, worrying about him - ’

‘I’m not worried about him!’

‘Say that to the line between your brows, Honey. Now, up you get.’

He takes my hand, and with some force, I heave him up to standing. ‘I know you had grand plans to cook for me tonight, but the thought of going back home isn’t as pleasing as it was earlier. I’ll walk in and just see Geoff everywhere.’

‘Little fucker’s haunting you, is he?’ I go for a joking tone. ‘Maybe I should call a priest to come and visit for an exorcism.’

Oli cracks a small smile. I return one, knowing I got him to do that, even as he’s clearly still miserable.

‘It’s going to take more than sage and a few prayers to cleanse the flat of Geoff’s presence.’

A spark of an idea comes to mind. It’s so enticing that I hope it catches into an inferno. ‘Then I have another suggestion.’

‘I see the devil in your eyes, Adonis.’

I narrow them, doing my best ‘evil mastermind’ impression. ‘If I’m honest, I’m a shit cook and was only trying to impress you. How about we get back… home, and I’ll order some Greek food instead?’

He wrinkles his nose. ‘But it’s peak time in London, the food will take hours to arrive.’

‘Good.’ I take his hand in mine. ‘Because something I can do, which sage can’t, is fuck you in every corner, on every counter, in every room of your house, so that you’ll never think of Geoff again.’

Oli’s eyes light up from within, his cheeks flushing a rich crimson. ‘On every counter? I have so many.’

I lean in, the thought of Oli’s naked body already making me hard. ‘Every single one.’

The delivery driver rang the bell almost two hours ago, and the moussaka, stuffed peppers, and chicken gyro wraps have been left outside the front door, likely now cold and completely inedible. I have no desire to stop myself long enough to retrieve them. And from Oli’s display of Olympic-level stamina, he’s not going to take a break either.

I’m practically dying for food, but feel full to the brim after feasting on every inch of Oli’s skin. His house, for all intents and purposes, is completely ruined. The kitchen is a mess, items strewn across the floor from where I’d brushed them off to make room to lay Oli on his back.

I made a mental note to buy him a new kettle, because the one he had is now in pieces on the floor, shattered and forgotten. But for now, my focus is on his body, making him smile and laugh, while giving him the best orgasms of his life.

---