Locked (PresLocke Series Book 2) (8 page)

He went to step away, but I was quicker. I unfolded my arms and wrapped them around his waist and held him in place as I lowered my head, resting my forehead against his and shutting my eyes.

“I don’t feel brave,” I whispered. “I feel like everyone is running away from me.”

Dylan touched his fingers to my cheek, and as they stroked down my jaw, he said, “I’m not.”

I opened my eyes to see his lips slanting into a grin. “No, you’re not. Are you?”

He leaned back in my arms and shook his head. “Nope. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’ll soon get sick of me with as much time as I’m spending here.”

“Impossible.”

“Ha, you say that now,” Dylan said, and then moved to loop his arms around my neck and smack his lips to mine. “But that’s ’cause you can send me home whenever you like.”
 

This time when he moved to step away I let him go, swatting him on the ass. As he reached the stove and rubbed a hand over his abused posterior, he glanced back with a mock frown and promised I’d pay for that later. And that was the other reason I would put up with whatever I had to in order to keep Dylan in my life. His innate ability to make even the darkest of days a little bit brighter.

* * *

AFTER WE’D CONSUMED enough pasta that we’d be running a few extra miles on the treadmill in Ace’s workout room tomorrow morning, we settled side by side on the comfy patio lounge in front of the fire pit on Ace’s back deck, and I cuddled into his side. His mood had somewhat thawed from when he’d first arrived home, and I was pleased I was able to do that for him. Comfort him while he was going through all of this bullshit. It was maddening to have to sit back and watch as sponsors, directors, and producers continued to pull away from him, and when he’d finally told me that the
First Watch
role had fallen through, my heart had broken for him. I remember how excited he’d been when he’d told me about that upcoming film and how being cast in it was like a dream come true, so tonight’s news had been the biggest blow so far.

As his hand curled around my shoulder and he tugged me into his body, I laid my palm on his chest and wound a leg over the top of his. When I was practically draped over him, Ace took my chin between his fingers and tipped my face up to his and kissed me reverently.
And wow… Who knew that Ace would be one of the sweetest damn men on the planet?

“I’m sick of talking about me,” he said. “I feel like that’s all I do lately. How did it go with your agent today?”

Shit.
I wasn’t sure how Ace would feel about that, so instead of answering, I decided to concentrate on the first half of his sentence.

“Oh, I don’t know. I kind of like the topic. I’m a bit of an expert.” When a soft rumble had his chest vibrating against me, I started to rattle off his stats. “Your full name is Ace Samuel Locke. You’re thirty-three years old. You’re six foot two and weigh approximately two hundred and thirty pounds. You have brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and I would say about an eight-inch cock, maybe an inch or so more—”

“Are you serious?” Ace asked as he sat up straight, and I nearly toppled off him. I reached out and clutched at his bicep to keep myself in place. “You can look up my dick size online?”

I kept my lips drawn tight in a very serious expression and feigned shock. “You didn’t know?”

He held my stare long enough that I was unable to fight back my laugh, and when he tackled me down onto my back and pinned me there, he rocked his hips against me and growled.

“You think you’re real funny, don’t you?”

I craned up to nip at his chin, but Ace moved his head to the side. “Had you worried, didn’t I?”

“Well, lately, nothing would surprise me. But if that was on there, then yeah, I’d be shocked.” He paused as he hovered over me with my arms restrained by my head. “But you made a very accurate guess, all things considered.”

I wrapped my legs around his waist and bucked up under him. “What can I say? I’m somewhat of an expert on it.”

He let out a booming laugh, and I grinned at his amusement. It was so few and far between lately it was nice to hear it, and made me hesitant to talk about the rest of my day. I was about to try and convince Ace to let the subject go when he rolled to his side and pulled me with him.

“Tell me about your day, Dylan. How’d it go with your agent?”

I pursed my lips, and when I looked away from him, Ace said my name, drawing my gaze back to him.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did you get fired? Dropped—”

“No. No. Nothing like that. Actually…it’s just the opposite.”

Ace cocked his head to the side as I gnawed on my lower lip.
Fuck. Shit.
Why did this have to be so damn difficult?

“The opposite? That would be…good. Right?”

I nodded, and Ace reached up and smoothed a thumb over the frown I could feel etched between my eyebrows.

“Why do you look so worried? Tell me.”

“Well…it’s just my agent is all excited because I’ve been getting offer after offer from big clients. I mean, like…really
big
clients, Ace. Gucci,
GQ
,
Italian Vogue
,
and they even want me to go to Paris and…and—”

“And what? That’s fantastic,” Ace said. “Really terrific news.”

“No,” I said, and shook my head. “You’re not understanding. The only reason I got those offers is because of you. Because of us. They weren’t interested in me before and likely wouldn’t have—”

“Hang on one damn second—”

“Ace—”

“I said hang on.”

I shut my mouth and waited for whatever he was going to say, not having a clue how he was going to react. But when a grin so wide it threatened to slide from his face appeared, I felt—confused.

“You don’t see it, do you?” he asked.

I narrowed my eyes as Ace’s gaze roved over me. “Don’t see what?”

“What everyone else sees when they look at you. Dylan, you didn’t get this because of me—”

“Yes, I—”

“Shhh…” he said, and put a finger to my lips. “I
mean
, maybe it happened a little faster because of what went down in Vegas and everything that’s happened since. But they aren’t calling you because of that. If you had been just some average Joe, magazines around the world wouldn’t be lining up to put you on their cover. No, sir. You were already on your way. You have the face of an angel. It’s perfect. I thought so even before I knew you. Hell, I used to drive miles out of my way
just
to see you. You got this all on your own merit, and the fact they noticed you a little sooner is just a bonus.”

I wondered if my eyes were as wide as my mouth, which I knew had fallen open. Wow. That was so not what I’d been expecting, at all.

“You said yes to them, right? You signed the contracts?”

“Well, no,” I said. “I wanted to think about it. Talk to you about it.”

Ace’s lips curled as he pressed them to mine. “You’re very sweet, Dylan Prescott.”

“Hey, don’t try and distract me.”

“I’m not. There’s nothing more that really needs to be talked about. This is an amazing chance, one you need to take full advantage of. That’s how it works in this industry. Connections, people who know other people.” He paused and kissed me again. “You deserve this.”

My heart squeezed at his sincerity, and just how generous a soul he was that even at his lowest point ever in his career he was right there cheering me on, truly proud of me.
 

7

KNOCKED UP

I PRACTICALLY HELD my breath as Ace limped across the deck of the rescue ship, gazing out at what was left of the ruined expanse of the
U.S.S. Alabama
. From where I sat off camera, I had a view of his strong backside, his Navy uniform looking more like tattered rags than the pristine outfit he’d worn at the beginning of the film.
 

It was the final day of shooting after a long twelve weeks, and though my last scene had been a few days ago, I wasn’t about to miss being here for Ace’s big end scene. To say my first experience making a movie was an odd one was an understatement. Things had never quite thawed between us and the cast and crew, and it felt like we’d spent more time in Ace’s trailer avoiding the stares than actually shooting.

Well, it wasn’t like that time in Ace’s trailer hadn’t been
very
well spent.

Since I had no plans to continue with acting, I was soaking in the remaining minutes, watching my man from the sidelines. The set was completely still as one of the cameras caught Ace’s reaction to the destruction before him and the fact that he made it out alive. I wished I could see his face, but I could feel the mood he’d set, could see the tension in his shoulders and the way he held his body.
 

“Daddy!”

A little boy, about four, went running toward Ace, who’d jerked his head around at the sound. Even from across the room I could see the tears form in his eyes, and the smile that lit up his face as he hobbled toward the boy had me biting down hard on my lower lip. As he swooped the kid up into his big arms and held him close, his eyes caught on a woman with fair hair walking hesitantly his way. Tears streamed down her face, and as she finally came to a stop before Ace, he pulled her to his chest and kissed the top of her head. The picture the three of them made against the green screen that stood in for a sunset background caused a couple of audible sniffs, and then the cameras panned out slowly, fully exploiting the reunion and happy ending.
 

“Cut! And that’s a wrap on
Insurrection 2
!” Ron called out, and the remaining cast and crew on set burst into cheers and whistles.
 

I stood up and clapped along as Ace set the boy down and then rubbed the back of his neck. When he glanced up, his eyes met mine, and the grin he gave me was more heart melting than the scene we’d all just witnessed.
 

As Ace headed in my direction, Ron continued speaking, but I couldn’t tell what he said. My focus was solely on the gorgeous—though slightly worn—man in front of me.

“Congratulations, mister. Great scene,” I said.

Ace’s smile grew. “Coming from my biggest fan, that means a lot.”

“I am
definitely
your biggest fan in bed, and don’t you forget it. I kinda like your movies too.”

He laughed and gave me a shove. “Ass.”

“Mhmm, I like that too.”

“Oh yeah? Maybe I’ll let you kiss it later.”

“Maybe I’ll do more than that.” Then I winked at him and said, “So how does it feel? You’re all done.”

“Well, except for any pick-up shots, but yeah. Feels…like a relief, honestly.”

“You know I have no idea what a pick-up shot means.”

Ace’s arm went around my shoulders, and he walked us toward where Ron and the cameras were. “How about I explain it tonight
after
you give me what you promised.”

“I could get on board with that…”

He gave me a final squeeze, and then his arm left me, reaching out toward Ron instead.

“I just wanted to say thank you. I think the film’s going to be great, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Ace said.
 

Damn. I had to hand it to the guy for being the bigger man, considering the hard time Ron had given him for weeks on end. No way in hell would I have done the same, especially with the way Ron was eyeing Ace’s hand before reluctantly shaking it.

“Always a pleasure, Ace,” he said, and I didn’t miss the way he wouldn’t look in my direction. As Ron let go and shoved his hands in his pockets, he rocked back on his heels. “And, uh…I meant to talk to you before you left.”

Was he about to apologize?
He fucking better.
Ace deserved at least that much.

“You mentioned before that you would throw the wrap party, and I just wanted to make sure that was still on. Announce it to everyone before they head out today and all.”

Are you fucking serious?

To his credit, Ace didn’t blink. Instead, he replied smoothly, “Of course. I’ll have my party planner email everyone the details.”

Ron clapped Ace on the shoulder and nodded. “Great.” Then he turned around and went back to deconstructing his setup.
 

Without even thinking about it, I reached for Ace’s hand, linking our fingers. After months of being so careful not to throw our relationship in anyone’s faces, I couldn’t give a fuck anymore what these pricks thought. How could anyone in their right mind treat the man beside me with anything other than total respect and admiration? He’d give the shirt off his back for a stranger. He’d throw a stupid wrap party and spend his own money to make sure the people who’d turned against him still had a good time. He’d bite his tongue instead of saying how he truly felt.
 

Once we were outside of the soundstage, I found it hard to keep from biting my own tongue. “Why did you do that?”

“Sometimes you have to suck it up and be a team player.”

“Or you could just tell them all to go fuck themselves.”

“I did in my head.”

“Not the same thing.”

“What good would it do to stoop to his level? It would just make things worse.”

“But this guy is going to make a shit ton of money off you when this movie explodes. The least he could’ve done was say, ‘Sorry, I’m a dick, and I should’ve been more understanding and treated you like a human being when someone stole your private life away from you and aired it out to the world for everyone to talk about.’”

Ace brought our hands up and kissed my knuckles. “Thank you. But it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine.”

“We’ve gotta let it go.”

As we stepped inside his trailer, I sighed, but deep down I knew he was right. Still didn’t make it fair, though. Ace continually amazed me with the kind of man he was. Every day he showed me another side to himself. A side I never imagined someone like him would have, and today it was humility.
 

Here was a man who, by all standards, was a very influential player in this business. Yet he’d spent the past few weeks doing everything within his power to keep the peace on set. He’d done everything possible to make things less awkward for me and the entire flipping cast, when really he could’ve acted like an egomaniac and demanded things I probably couldn’t have even imagined. I also knew he would’ve been able to have Russ fired in a heartbeat, and yet he hadn’t, which made him…well, it made him pretty damn incredible.