Page 53 of Cocky Bastard

“Hmm, I suppose that’s a good enough reason,” I said, trying to get around him for another kiss as he laughed. I’d never get bored of the sound of his laughter.

It was strange, considering we hadn’t actually been together that long, that I already knew I wanted to marry him. It would just be plucking up the courage to ask him. And I didn’t want to rush anything either.

We had all the time in the world.

“Who are these friends then?” Kane asked. His lips were so close to mine I could feel his breath on my skin when he spoke.

“Theo, Jake, Kai, maybe Peter if he’s around. Sean too, although I know he’s been in California and I’m not sure if he’s back. And Felix is in Ibiza for the summer, causing chaos. They’re all guys I film with but they’re friends too.” I wasn’t close with all the men I worked with—sometimes it was a one-and-done thing—but some of them I’d just clicked with and we kept in regular contact outside of filming.

Theo was one of my best friends in the world because, despite his bratty behaviour and insistence on being overly involved inmy life, he genuinely cared and wanted the best for me. We’d met not long after he’d started out, and despite the fact he was a couple of years older than me, his sweet looks had made me worried people would try to take advantage of him. I’d been determined to help keep him safe and get his footing in the industry.

Of course, that was before I realised how vicious he could be. Underneath all the ruffles was a beautiful man who took absolutely no shit and would probably commit violent, unspeakable horrors if someone threatened the people he loved.

And there was a good chance he’d do it while wearing the frilliest dress in his wardrobe, complete with ruffled petticoats, hair bows, and knee-high socks.

“That’d be nice,” Kane said. “I’d like to meet them. Maybe we can all have dinner next time they’re up? Or if they’re not here all at once, we can do it in small groups. I don’t mind cooking, or we could go and get burgers.”

“Oh yeah, we could totally take them to see Astrid. I can’t believe I’ve never taken them before.”

“Is she still thinking about getting you to do a pin-up meat-pun marketing campaign?”

“Shit, I’d forgotten about that,” I said. “We should totally do that.”

“You just want to get your buns out and show off,” Kane said with a laugh. “Slut.”

I snorted and kissed him again. “One hundred percent. But only for you. And burgers.”

“I’m gonna get you a T-shirt that just says Burger Slut on and you can wear it next time we go there.”

“Don’t tease me, kitten. You know I’d totally do it.”

“You would,” he said, grinning fondly. “I’ll get you a second one we can cut at chest length and you can wear it with someripped denim booty shorts for Astrid’s marketing. But only if we get a print of it for our houses so I can look at it every day.”

“Done.” I kissed him and ran my hand down his thigh. There was some sort of chase scene going on in Henry’s film and a lot of explosions, but I wasn’t really paying attention anymore. I had other questions on my mind. “Can I ask you something else?”

“Of course,” Kanan said, picking up the remote and pausing the film, leaving Henry Lu striding sexily away from a fireball, his hair perfectly mussed and oil smeared on his taut pecs. “What’s up?”

“This is probably quite random, but are you okay with keeping both houses? I mean, I love you but I really don’t fancy living in London.”

“Oh, you’re definitely not selling this house,” Kanan said quickly. “I love it here! It’s the perfect retreat from London and besides, you love it. I’m not going to ask you to give this up.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course!”

“But what about your house?” I asked, wondering if it was really that simple.

Kane shrugged. “We keep that one too. It’s useful for work and having a base in the city is always nice. Maybe one day I’ll sell it and we can buy something a bit further out, or at least not in Chelsea, but that’s not a conversation we have to have right now.”

“All right then,” I said. “Both houses it is.”

He smiled at me softly. “Any other worries? Or things you want to ask?”

“Not right now. I’m sure I’ll think of something.”

“I guess I have one thing for you,” he said, biting his lip and glancing at the TV. “I know we’ve mentioned it before but there’sprobably going to be sex scenes inLlewelyn, so I’m going to have to get naked and… you know…”

“Simulate fucking Henry?”

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