Page 55 of Cocky Bastard

“It’s so good to meet you,” Theo said. “I’m so glad you came to say hello! Austin talks about youallthe time! I’m so glad he got off his butt and admitted how he felt because he’s been moping over you foryears.”

“Hey, it wasn’t years!”

“Oh, yes it was!” Theo insisted, shooting me a look that brooked no argument. “And now look at you. You’re so happy and in love. This is why you should always listen to me. In fact, I think you should get me a present for being right and telling you to get over yourself. Maybe a guinea pig… I’ve always wanted a fluffy piggy friend.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Kai said as he stood up and came over to say hello, holding out his hand to shake Kanan’s. “Hi, Kane. Welcome to the chaos.”

“Thanks for having me,” he said. I could see him relaxing and I wondered if he’d realised that none of these three cared who he was. Or if they did, they wouldn’t say anything. It would probably be oddly refreshing.

“It’s great to meet you,” Jake said, walking over to pull him into a half hug. Then he looked at me and smirked. Ah, fuck. I loved Jake, but he could be a real wanker sometimes. And I only deserved it for half of that. “Fuck me, Austin, he’s gorgeous. How did you land such a stunner?”

“Fuck off, I’m cute.”

“Not as cute as him,” Jake said. “He’s a proper ten. You’re an eight at best.”

Kane blushed. “I’m not…”

“I agree, you are very handsome,” Theo said, taking Kane from me and leading him over to the sofa. “Austin, can we have some drinks?”

“This is my house!”

“And Kane is our guest,” Theo said pointedly. “Get him a drink.”

“Baby boy, you are pushing it,” I said with a teasing smile.

“No, I’m not. Be good and get us drinks or I’ll tell Kane about the time you got sunburn on your bum because you insisted you didn’t need sun cream because we’re in Yorkshire and it’s ‘not that hot.’”

Kane laughed and raised an eyebrow at me. “Seriously? When was that?”

“Like two years ago,” I said. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“Maybe not,” Kai said with a wry smile. “But I’ve got other stories.”

“Ooh, I think I want to hear those,” Kane said, shooting me a wink.

“I’ll be happy to tell them,” Kai said. “Just maybe not over dinner unless we want to give the staff a heart attack.”

“Now I have to know,” Kane said and I groaned, knowing that these three assholes were about to share a rundown of my most embarrassing career moments. Why the hell had I hoped they’d be on their best behaviour? To them, this was probably it.

“I’m going to get drinks,” I said as I walked towards the kitchen, which was in a small, separate room at the front of the house so we could use it, and the living room, as additional film sets if needed.

I glanced at Kane as I was about to leave the room, but he was already deep in conversation with Theo. I watched him for a second, feeling the familiar kick of my heart and warmth flooding through my chest.

However much I’d loved my life before things had become serious with Kanan, I’d never imagined getting to have this. Porn and serious relationships didn’t usually mix well for a variety of reasons, but with Kane it felt so easy. Everything had clicked together like the middle pieces of a puzzle. And yes, we’d had the problem with the production company, but that was different. It wasn’t our issue; it was theirs.

But now the fucking love of my life was sitting on a sofa with my co-stars, chatting away and smiling like it was no big deal. Because it wasn’t.

Ten years ago, if anyone had told me that Kanan and I would go from casual fuck buddies who used sex as a means to escape and control our lives to a functional, grown-up, and deeply loving relationship filled with adoration and respect, I’d have asked what they’d taken because I’d never have believed it would happen.

But here we were: happy, in love, and planning for forever.

Fuck me. This was really happening.

And I’d never been so fucking happy in my entire life.

Kanan looked up and saw me lurking in the doorway. A smile blossomed across his face, love radiating from his gaze.

Yeah, my life was really fucking awesome.

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